Wednesday, August 29, 2007

How do you solve a problem like Madeline?


Madeline has been a little PICKLE latley! I don't know if it's the teeth or the mobility or what but she's just been whiney! All she wants to do is play in the dog bowls and the fireplaces. The 2 places that mean ol mommy won't LET her play! But her absolute favourite pasttime? Pulling up on mommy's legs! Yesterday I was trying to get ready for an event at Ball State and the entire time she would pull up on my legs, fall on her behind, and cry. She must have done it about 25 times. She also seems to love doing it while I'm cooking. I don't know if she's trying to say she wants "up" or if she's just found something new she likes to do.

She's still working hard on those 2 upper teeth. They are just taking for-EVER. I wish they were born with all of their teeth! I don't even want to think about one year molars. Boo Hoo.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Whose baby is this?


Climb Mt. Daddy!


The race is off!


Madeline's the most popular girl in the house when she steals the dogs' bone!







Go Cardinals!! (Everyone calls her a boy in this shirt!:(

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Cry just a little for me

As I sit here typing this, I am sitting on the bed listening to my Madeline cry. I've actually turned down the TV that the Pediatrician told me to turn UP so that I couldn't hear her.

She's been up every night this week. Tonight we thought we'd slidden by because she usually wakes up much earlier if she's going to wake up. But alas, here I sit - listening to my baby, my flesh and blood cry -- because she wants her mama.

I took her to the Pediatrician today to make sure she didn't have an ear infection. (She gets them like every other week. Thanks Dad!) ;) The doctor cleared her, and told me that it's really really normal for babies to wake up around this age. I went through everything we had tried (which literally, was everything) and she said that it was time to let her cry it out.

Three words no mama wants to hear. I wanted to say, "Don't you realize I'd rather be hit by a bus or have to sit through a real estate seminar before I'd let her cry?" Deep down in my gut I know it's okay to let her do this. I KNOW she needs to learn to soothe herself. This is the first step of like 3 million that are going to be hard for me. But my sweet, bald, cuddly baby is crying for me- and I just have to let her calm herself down.

She said it was usually a 4 day process and by the 4th day they've learned to really deal with their "upsetness" and get back to sleep.

But it's ripping my heart out. I want to just wisk her up so she will immediatly cease crying, tell her that "mama's here" and rock her back into dreamland. But I don't want to create a monster. Her little manipulative side is already thinking, "Hmmmmmmmmm if I cry long enough I'll get want I want."

I just wish there was an easier way. I know I'm not the first mom to go through this - thank GOD I have THE best group of mom friends who, because they have slightly older children, have gone before me in this and are amazing with advice and support.

At the end of this process I don't know who will have cried more!

Peeps

Madeline had a friend over on Monday. She's older, so she taught Madeline some tricks!














"I think I'd like to start a band. Would you like to be in my band Marielle?"







"I'm so honoured that you'd ask! Can I wear this cool hat?"



"Smile Marielle!"













"I love my new Cheer Shoes Mom! READY OK!"













"If I close my eyes, maybe you'll disappear!"


































































Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Bringing Preppy back


Fresh Start

I've HAD it with my old blog. I couldn't ever upload pictures so I am officially DONE with Wordpress. ICK!

However, blogger doesn't have an import feature so I'll have to copy and paste all of my old entries in here eventually. Won't that be fun.

Had a fun playdate today with baby/toddler Marielle and mommy Jessica. Pictures to come.