Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Motherhood word vomit part II.

{written a couple months ago}


part I can be found here.

We have always had E on a strict schedule. Ever since she was about 2 months old. Ever since you could actually start a schedule. And we have stuck by it every day of her life {for the most part}. I think {for us} a schedule has been a huge life saver. And? It works. Plain and simple.
I have never cried when E got her shots. Maybe it is the nurse in me. Or the "they are fine" mentality that I live by.... but it has never made me shed a tear. Do I feel bad for her for .1 second? Yes. But just as quickly as she is done crying about it, I am over it as well. Shots are shots. And believe me... our babies hurt themselves more by the things they do {i.e. run into walls, fall off couches, etc} then some silly old shot.
E won't nap on us. With us. Nothing. She will only nap in her crib.

When we put her down for a nap, or bedtime. She is always wide awake. Thumb goes in her mouth and thats it. 99% of the time she won't even make a single peep. The 1% that she does? It lasts for less than 2 minutes.
I'm not into reading baby books and researching every little age and milestone. I don't need someone/something telling me what my child should be doing. I trust my mommy instinct and it hasn't failed me yet.

We have brushed Elliana's teeth since she first got teeth at age 7months. And we brush them every night. However, we didn't have her first dental appointment until she was 17 months old.
I refuse to give Elliana a haircut. I want it to keep growing and growing and growing. Until one day she will look like pocahontus.  


I have never let Elliana spend the night with anyone except when I had no choice because we went out of town. Otherwise? I am super paranoid and a worry wart.
I don't think we will ever have a babysitter. Ever. I just don't trust people, aside from my family. So teenage babysitters? You guys can text on your phones at home thank you very much. Maybe I will get a babysitter when my kids are like 15. And yes, they will have a babysitter then. ::giggles::
Elliana is a slapper. She slaps her thigh when she is upset. And you have to be paying attention to her. She will keep slapping her thigh until you give in. Which I don't. Not always.

She is also into hitting us these days as well. A slap on the leg when she's upset. Naturally, we are not very happy with this. And she wins herself trips to time out.
I am stern when it comes to nap. We don't miss naps. We don't give in when it comes to naps. Elliana can cry and whine all she wants, but she has to nap. And mama knows best. Because within 5 minutes? She is out. Sometimes she will babble herself to sleep, which is fine. But it is very important that she is used to napping every day so that on nights that I work, we don't have battles. And so far? No battles.
Motherhood just keeps getting better and better with time. With every day. Every week. Every monthly milestone. 


And it's a constant learning experience.

25 comments:

  1. oh this was a sweet post. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are not alone in our motherhood boat. my son, Caden, is into slapping right now too & he thinks it's hilarious. it breaks my heart when he gets in trouble for it & he cries real tears!
    love those pictures, she is adorable!

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  2. I could have written this! Love a schedule. We are pretty strict about it too. Makes everything better!

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  3. This was a great post, and I agree, no babysitters whatsoever other than family. You cannot trust people these days.

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  4. I agree with so much of this. Scheduling, teeth, family only babysitters, sleep habits. And I'm on #4 with my oldest being 9 yrs old. You're a great mom!

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  5. I love this! Although we do use HS babysitters...but only my most responsible dancers. I'm lucky that way! If I didn't teach them...yeah I wouldn't either. ;)

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  6. We're pretty strict about a schedule too and my NOah is only 4 months! Hopefully we can stick to it so he's as good a sleeper as your girl! :D

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  7. Schedule = law. Without it we would all be lost in a land of no naps and heartache. All the power to parents who can get things done without a nap, but I know that I have certain times in the day when we can leave and certain times when we cannot! I am someone who thrives from a schedule and I think as a stay-at-home-mom implementing a schedule is something that keeps EVERYONE sane!

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  8. I agree with you about having a schedule. We've had a schedule since the start with our 3 year old and it has worked out really well especially with regard to naps and bed-time. We have one for our six month old too and he is so content. I think that children respond well to routine in their lives. It gives them security knowing what's coming next.

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  9. Tell me more about the schedule you started her on at 2 months. I def want to do this for Piper but I'm clueless on where and how to start.

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  10. This is a great post! I definitely wish I had been more strict on having a schedule, it would have saved me a lot of hassle. We really need to work on a bed time for my little guy.
    Sounds like you got this whole motherhood thing in the bag ;)!

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  11. Great post! We try to stick to our schedule with naps. But now that Kaylee has started school its been hard to keep her on her nap schedule at least for her summer program. But when she start school in the fall it will be back to their strick 12:30 nap. Keira has been hitting lately too and throwing which has landed her in lots of time outs too.

    Your a good mama and it shows in your daughter. Elli is just too cute for words! Neither of my girls have gotten hair cuts either. Kaylee is 3 and Keira is 19 months. I don't plan on cutting their hair either.

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  12. Wow, your mothering sounds so much like mine with the schedule, naps, no haircuts, no researching and worrying. The only good thing is my family lives two minutes away so I got awesome babysitters!
    Ellianna is adorable!
    I'm a long time reader and I've never commented.
    Congrats on Baby #2! xo

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  13. Schedules are so important for us! Sometimes it's hard to stick to it, but for us, it's worth leaving somewhere earlier and making plans around our schedule rather than getting off track.

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  14. I agree with you, it is SO important to have a schedule!! Olivia is a slapper/pounder too! I KNOW once she is walking she is going to be a foot stomper too!! It is cute but we don't give it!!

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  15. our parenting sounds similar :) i don't use sitters, just family but i wish there was another option! it's hard finding a family member available and willing (we have 3 kids under 3).

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  16. Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job!! :) Your little gal is adorable and sounds like such a delight. We try to stick to a schedule but unfortunately our own schedules are always changing depending on work at the time but she has been so great about adjusting with us!

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  17. I love that you don't read all the mommy books and all of that, I never did either and trust my mommy gut. I am right there with you on a sitter, I feel like that are better taken care of by either my husband or myself and if needed a family member. There is too much crazy in the world to trust teenagers these days. You are just such an amazing mommy to E and I can't wait to see you with baby #2!

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  18. How did you get her to only sleep in her crib?? We have to put Matthew down in his swing for naptime and in our bed or rock him for bedtime, THEN put him in his crib. We tried putting him in his crib at night and let him cry it out a bit, but he throws up!

    Sticking to a schedule really makes things easier.

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  19. I feel like I could have written this post! I feel the exact same way on all points. Although I must admit, I have shed a few tears when Kyla has had her shots. I blame it on the pregnancy hormones though this last time :)

    I have only had my mom babysit. My husband wants to find someone else in our area, but I just can't do it.

    Kyla isn't a slapper, but likes to throw things at me. She just got two timeouts the other day. One for throwing the remote at me and the other for throwing rocks at me.

    Love this post :)

    Amy

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  20. Great post. Especially after my pregnant lady word vomit I had on twitter earlier after feeling like people try and tear pregnant people down. :P Thank you for your parenting insight! LOVE it! :)

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  21. I thought I was the only heartless mama who didn't cry during shots. ;) Glad I'm not alone. Seriously...it's a shot. Sure, it stinks, but they'll get over it. ;)

    Same here about all things napping, mostly...but especially Ethan sleeping anywhere other than his crib. Won't happen.

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  22. we're REALLY big into routine and schedules too! But I bawl every time that P does at the dr's office

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  23. Love this, and totally agree with most of it, especially schedules and naps. But? LOVE my teenage babysitter, and could not survive without her. She's so great that if its been three weeks or so she'll text me "Mrs Johnson? Do you need a night out with Mr Johnson? I'm free xyz". Bless her heart.

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  24. I'm a firm believer in schedules too! Sounds like she is turning out great! Way to go!

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  25. My daughter pretty much created her own schedule. I swear she could tell time at 6 months! I'm always shocked at the moms who say "my child just stopped napping" all I can think is of course kids don't want to nap but YOU are the mom. YOU make the rules!!! It's silly!

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