Saturday, October 1, 2011
Christmas Card Traditions
Yeah yeah. I know it's not even Halloween yet, but my post in Christmas cards got me wondering what all of you who celebrate it do. Do you send letters? E-cards? Traditional cards? Or do you not send any? Personally I love cards, but I wrestle with the cost and waste of it all in so many ways. I think I enjoy e-cards just as much from less immediate family. Thoughts?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
*Sniffle*
Oh the glory and the horror of having a babysitter watch your baby on your extra day off while you get big house projects finished.
Tiny Prints and Christmas Prep
I have decided that this year I will prepare early for Christmas because it actually seems possible now. I've finally adjusted as much as I'm going to to being a full time working Mom. I fought it and tried to find a way around it, but there's just nothing for it. I've got to be happy that we have enough money coming in and a good healthcare plan through my employer. But there will always be that bit of sadness that I couldn't wallow in my baby's sweetness and willingness to love on Mommy while it's here.
But I'm definitely digressing. The point is, I'm trying to time manage much better. Do you remember last year? Things weren't so easy there as Christmas came upon us. I don't want that to happen again. So this year, I started investigating card options early and found that Tiny Prints was offering cards in exchange for a blog post where I could say anything I want about their cards! Usually I shy away from any sort of reward for product endorsement or review, but I felt really comfortable with this because they saved my butt last year. I did a lot of research online for a company that would let me do all my card prep online, including sending them out to family members, and Tiny Prints was the only one that I felt was reasonable. Their system is so easy to use. It allows you to catalog your favorites and keep an address book of recipients. I have heard lots of people express despair over fully printed Christmas card giving, but for me that year it was either that or no cards at all. I chose to employ help.
There was definitely an upcharge for the extra options, and it was a lot more expensive than sending out my own cards, but it was worth it at the time. It was also one of the most reasonably priced options on the internet. We were very pleased with how our cards turned out, and now it holds a special place in our memory box as our first Christmas card as a family.
This year's?
This year, I think I'll send my own out from Tiny Prints because I have gotten a bit of a better handle on this Mommy thing, but this is one of those "Mommy club" things I felt left out on before E - sending a photo Christmas card. I didn't mind when others did it, but it stung that if I did, it would just be me and Hub... looking pretty much the same. And by damn, now that I can have fun with it, I'm going to glory in it!
But I'm definitely digressing. The point is, I'm trying to time manage much better. Do you remember last year? Things weren't so easy there as Christmas came upon us. I don't want that to happen again. So this year, I started investigating card options early and found that Tiny Prints was offering cards in exchange for a blog post where I could say anything I want about their cards! Usually I shy away from any sort of reward for product endorsement or review, but I felt really comfortable with this because they saved my butt last year. I did a lot of research online for a company that would let me do all my card prep online, including sending them out to family members, and Tiny Prints was the only one that I felt was reasonable. Their system is so easy to use. It allows you to catalog your favorites and keep an address book of recipients. I have heard lots of people express despair over fully printed Christmas card giving, but for me that year it was either that or no cards at all. I chose to employ help.
There was definitely an upcharge for the extra options, and it was a lot more expensive than sending out my own cards, but it was worth it at the time. It was also one of the most reasonably priced options on the internet. We were very pleased with how our cards turned out, and now it holds a special place in our memory box as our first Christmas card as a family.
This year's?
A portion of the proceeds from this card go to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research
Foundation’s efforts to cure the skin disorder that affects thousands of
children each year.You can choose from other options that help different charities. I like that.
This year, I think I'll send my own out from Tiny Prints because I have gotten a bit of a better handle on this Mommy thing, but this is one of those "Mommy club" things I felt left out on before E - sending a photo Christmas card. I didn't mind when others did it, but it stung that if I did, it would just be me and Hub... looking pretty much the same. And by damn, now that I can have fun with it, I'm going to glory in it!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Bedtime Saga Updated
So we realized that E no longer seemed as comfy in his crib, so we fluffed it up a bit, and his naptime improved dramatically. He had longer, more restful sleeps and went down without crying again.
As for the other steps in our training plan, we got through step 6 with flying colors. He had been fighting all bedtime and crying in the middle of the night even with me. We got to where he ran eagerly fir bedtime and only took minutes to fall asleep rather than hours. And there was no more wailing in the middle of the night. We even started on step 7 and didn't have a lot of angst at first. I pulled the futon up beside his crib and snuggled in. He threw a fit... A fit that didn't stop. He kept asking for the "bed." He started to heave and gag.
At this point, I conceded defeat and asked him if he wanted a big boy bed like "Caillou." He said yes and we talked more about a bed while he indicated he didn't like the crib. We had wondered about this. So sadly now he doesn't want to go to sleep at all again, and we're resetting. We're also at the sad junction of realizing that we now need to really toddler proof his room and convert his crib to a bed. Nothing big I guess seeing as it's not like he's ever been a fabulous sleeper for more than a month at a time. It's more an emotional adjustment. There's a lot of worry about his safety, and a little angst about this big neon, "I'm not a baby!" flashing sign.
We will adjust the plan to his new bed as soon as it's ready. Oh my baby. In the meantime, I welcome advice and thoughts.
As for the other steps in our training plan, we got through step 6 with flying colors. He had been fighting all bedtime and crying in the middle of the night even with me. We got to where he ran eagerly fir bedtime and only took minutes to fall asleep rather than hours. And there was no more wailing in the middle of the night. We even started on step 7 and didn't have a lot of angst at first. I pulled the futon up beside his crib and snuggled in. He threw a fit... A fit that didn't stop. He kept asking for the "bed." He started to heave and gag.
At this point, I conceded defeat and asked him if he wanted a big boy bed like "Caillou." He said yes and we talked more about a bed while he indicated he didn't like the crib. We had wondered about this. So sadly now he doesn't want to go to sleep at all again, and we're resetting. We're also at the sad junction of realizing that we now need to really toddler proof his room and convert his crib to a bed. Nothing big I guess seeing as it's not like he's ever been a fabulous sleeper for more than a month at a time. It's more an emotional adjustment. There's a lot of worry about his safety, and a little angst about this big neon, "I'm not a baby!" flashing sign.
We will adjust the plan to his new bed as soon as it's ready. Oh my baby. In the meantime, I welcome advice and thoughts.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Small Success
Tonight, for the first time in weeks, and after day 3 of our training plan, E wasn't nervous about his room, asked to go to bed, and fell asleep quickly and easily! Yay for the right path!
Addendum to Training Plan
Note that we will move him to crib sleeping as soon as he's falling and staying asleep easier in bed with me. And in addition to spooky and scary, he's saying Die and Dead. Wth? He acts freaked out about it too. Could he possibly have any idea??
Training Plan for my Toddler
E is in a phase of SERIOUS sleep regression. We're talking sleep regression in every way possible. Part of it is developmental I'm sure. He's saying a lot of, "Scary Mommy! Spooky." and "Not comfy!" But there are more issues that aren't really important to delve into here. Suffice it to say, it got to the point where I said to myself, "Barb. Think about this from a training perspective. Addressing all this little issues is just slapping a temporary band aid on them and not treating the whole problem." So after talking to Hub and Jen, I did just that.
So now you get to see what a real training plan in action looks like. (Crying it out failed spectacularly) And it may fail. And we may need to retrain. But that's ok. We have a plan and consistency, and that helps. So here goes...
1. Play time in E's bedroom and crib before bed.
2. Upon bedtime, go straight to our room and have him wind down by stories and him "talking it out" (he seems to need this now) before falling asleep.
3. Repeat for 2-3 days.
4. Add reading books in the rocker to play time in E's room.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for 2-3 days or until the rocker seems comfy.
6. Add turning lights off and singing while in rocker (he's been weird about the dark even with a night light)
7. Repeat steps 1-6 until he is comfortable.
8.Try putting him in the crib after adding some more "comfy" stuff, and Mommy may stay to help him.
9. At this point, either go back a few steps if there is a fail, or phase Mommy out of staying by reducing time in there. This step is still in development depending on his reaction.
The end.
So now you get to see what a real training plan in action looks like. (Crying it out failed spectacularly) And it may fail. And we may need to retrain. But that's ok. We have a plan and consistency, and that helps. So here goes...
1. Play time in E's bedroom and crib before bed.
2. Upon bedtime, go straight to our room and have him wind down by stories and him "talking it out" (he seems to need this now) before falling asleep.
3. Repeat for 2-3 days.
4. Add reading books in the rocker to play time in E's room.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for 2-3 days or until the rocker seems comfy.
6. Add turning lights off and singing while in rocker (he's been weird about the dark even with a night light)
7. Repeat steps 1-6 until he is comfortable.
8.Try putting him in the crib after adding some more "comfy" stuff, and Mommy may stay to help him.
9. At this point, either go back a few steps if there is a fail, or phase Mommy out of staying by reducing time in there. This step is still in development depending on his reaction.
The end.
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