Archive for April, 2008
While the extended weekend away from home started off on a cranky note, mainly be me, it ended on a tired note. Aiden has allergies apparently and with each night he slept worse and worse. Our moods were really pushed to the edge for each of us and it seems we need a vacation from the vacation.
The trip for me was really nice (once I got over my grumpiness). I was able to hang out with my friend and finally meet her youngest daughter. They live by the other ocean and I don’t get to see them often (other than on the computer). Chris was kind enough to wrangle Aiden, which was not relaxing for him. Not that he doesn’t enjoy daddy time, but Aiden has been quite the toddler lately.
The Baptism was short and sweet and quite an honor for me. I am a godparent for several family members, but it is nice when a friend thinks that highly of me. I think I pulled off a good outfit for my ever expanding belly and Chris looked super handsome. I love it when he gets dressed up (or down for that matter). I can’t help it, he is still pretty sexy to me (17 years and counting!). But I digress…
We are glad to be home and hope that we are somewhat rejuvenated and ready to continue with all the madness that is the basement. Sadly, this is the the last trip we will take as a 3-person family. Maybe that isn’t so sad, but it is the end of the only way we knew how to function as a family. The new addition will be a happy one, but it will be a little sad to say goodbye to our little unit. The next trip should be interesting with four of us.
April 14th, 2008
This morning we are leaving for a mini-vacation in the Washington, DC area. It’s a 4-day weekend that consists of a hotel stay, a Baptism and some visiting with old (and new) friends. My friend from Junior High has asked us to be the godparents of her second child, of which I am very honored. I am nervous about how Aiden will interact with her 2 girls, but he needs as many experiences with other kids as possible. I hope he is not as aggressive as he has been.
The reason I am still sitting here writing (instead of driving) is that yesterday we had the sheetrock hung in the basement, much to Chris’s happiness. They would have been finished yesterday, however the estimate of needed pieces was off by about 5 sheets. So, here we sit (or should I say pack) waiting for them to finish the last few sheets. They arrived at 7 am (much to our unhappiness) and they are almost done. While it did put a little crimp in our schedule, we are thrilled by the idea that we did not have to complete this part on our own (or should I say, CHRIS did not have to do it on HIS own). The thought of walls being up before we leave is very exciting.
So, we will be on our way southbound soon. We are both looking forward to not thinking about planning or actually building anything for the basement. It is a much needed break for all of us.
April 11th, 2008
I am very verbal about telling people my age and my experience with children. Since I don’t look my age and I have a ton of kid experience, I have no problem letting people know that about me. Sometimes though, I should just keep my mouth shut to avoid any embarrassing situations…
Aiden has been acting out and becoming “that” kid that no one wants their kid to be around. He pushes and yells at other kids, throws and takes toys away and cries when he doesn’t get his way. I was originally attributing this to toddlerhood and the fact that he is home with me all the time and doesn’t have the social experience that some of his friends have. At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
I have been racking my experienced brain to try and figure out how to modify his behavior. Mind you, I am feeling much better with the pregnancy now that I am 6 months pregnant so I am trying to give him more of my attention. I was hoping that his behavior was about the impending baby and the lack of attention from me. With tons of brainstorming, book reading and discussions with many moms, I realized that it is a result of my behavior from the pregnancy, but has nothing to do with the new baby (yet).
It has finally dawned on me why he is behaving in a not-so-nice manner: Disney movies. Right around the time I became pregnant, Aiden stopped taking naps and I started needing them. At first he would play in his room while I napped, as I was never feeling well the first 3-4 months. This didn’t last long and I decided that a Disney movie would be the perfect solution to keep him occupied while I napped. Seemed like a harmless solution, or so I thought. I am realizing now that after 5-6 months of watching the same movies everyday, Aiden has picked up on the pushing and meanness that some of the characters portray. Mulan is about a war (lots of fighting), Baloo teaches Mowgli how to fight in The Jungle Book and there are countless other examples in these movies that he has picked up on.
Being a former preschool teacher, I should have known better. I am familiar with the effect that tv and movies have on kids, so how is it that I completely missed it with my own child. Fortunately I am able to possibly reverse this effect by altering the type of programs he watches while I get the much needed rest required to allow this new baby to grow. Some of my mom friends have said on occasion they think of me as a super mom and I am so sorry have to give up that title because I should have known better.
April 7th, 2008
Today I wanted to go to the gym. It has been about 2 weeks since my last visit. In addition to wanting to work out, I thought it would be good to get Aiden acquainted with the idea of going. We waited until the afternoon so the high school girls would be there, as he likes them better than the women during the day. I thought once he recognized them he would be ok. Oh how wrong I was.
First we arrived a little too early and the girls were not there yet. So, 20 minutes on the treadmill of watching him cry in a chair all by himself did not a good workout make. The women do not nurture kids when they cry, which makes me crazy. I saw that the girls were arriving and decided to go in and help him make the transition (I also left my water in the diaper bag and was thirsty). He did not take too kindly to me coming and going again. The girls really tried to help him, but he was having none of it. I went off to do the weight part of my training anyway. He needs to get used to being without me BEFORE the baby comes so it’s not such a shock. He will be fine, we just need to keep trying.
April 4th, 2008
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