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Showing posts from October, 2015

Game Time

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to invite you to play a game!  People of all ages, gather round for a guessing game that I like to call: Toddler or Cat All you have to do is correctly guess the answer to each question by using the word either Toddler or Cat.   Winners will receive the right to pat themselves on their own back.  No further prizes exist. So now, if you're ready, let us begin!!! 1.  Likes to scream at the door anytime she or he is not allowed to follow the dog out. Did you guess cat?  Give yourself one pat!  He will continue to cry until the dog comes in or he manages to escape, resulting in much cursing, crying and barefoot chasing around the yard. 2.  Likes to dig into the laundry and get a pair or pairs of underpants wrapped around her or his head. Did you guess toddler?  One more pat!  This is an EVERY. DAY. OCCURRENCE.   3.  Attempts to get all of the things off of all of the surfaces all of the time (think counters, tables, etc)

3AM Won't Last Forever

During the newborn phase of parenting, I found it important to remind myself that those middle of the night wakings would end.  I needed to keep up the mantra to myself that it won't last forever.  Newborns take a lot from a parent; all of that missed sleep is such a difficult thing.  Knowing that at some point I would get back to a normal sleep schedule was the only thing that got me through. Now, though, every night at some point, The Munchkin will fuss herself awake.  At 21 months, she goes to bed like a dream and sleeps most of the night through.  But somewhere between 3 and 4, inevitably, she wakes and needs a cuddle. I go to her and lift her from the crib, bring her to the rocking chair and we rock.  Usually only five minutes or so, sometimes longer if one of us needs.  Sometimes I have a bit of an internal battle with myself about this nighttime ritual.  I tell myself that I am only reinforcing the waking by picking her up and rocking her.  I tell myself I should let her