Night time tonight. I have my head leaned on my arm, which is rested on her crib.
We just get done w/ a good five minute conversation.
The she says.....
BabyGirl: Mommy?
Me: Yes baby?
BabyGirl: I want you to stay wiff me.
Me: I know but it's time to go ni-night.
BabyGirl: I want to yell.
Me: You want to yell?
BabyGirl: Yes, because then you will come back and talk wiff me.
HA! Clearly she's got this figured out :)
Monday, June 22, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Progress
The list of things being renovated in the house:
--new roof
--new outside A/C unit
--new trim color outside and new gutters
--repair/replace all rotted wood on house trim, powerwash entire house, replace several rows of rotted wood on garage
--removing all wallpaper in many rooms and repairing sheetrock, cracks in ceiling, etc.
--painting all ceilings, walls, trim, doors, baseboards (baseboards being replaced throughout whole house)
--new everything in master and guest bath--including tubs, sinks, countertops, toilets, faucets, shower fixtures, plumbing, vanity in master, resize master tub area so deck around is smaller and shower is bigger so I can have a bench--woop woop!
--all new flooring everywhere (replacing w/ wood, tile in wet areas, and carpet in bedrooms)
--new kitchen--keeping cabinets and painting/glazing them, but that's about it. New countertops, appliances, sink, faucet, garbage disposal, reworking the bar so you can actually sit at it, adding beadboard.
--all lighting fixtures inside out
--removing dated 'decorative' molding all over walls and columns
--new fireplace hearth/surround, backdoors (2 of them) replaced
--widen the guest bath doorway--was so narrow I couldn't hold a child and walk through at same time
--replace several closet doors so they slide instead of open like a door, re-size master closet entry so new doors could be installed
--adding wainscoting in formal living area, new hardware throughout house like door handles, etc.
--replace hinges in all doors and plantation shutters, replace all A/C vents
-I'm sure there's a few things I'm missing
The house built in the 90's is getting a total facelift--and draining my account. I knew it was going to be costly going in, so I made sure I got a great price on home to allow for all of these changes.
As with any remodel there are bumps along the way--even though we are not moving a single wall.
Here are some pictures of the flooring saga.
 |
| First stain too light--zebra effect. |
 |
| New Stain Options/ Color samples on the floor. The two boards in the picture were the original sample choices that the floor underneath was supposed to look like (one on right). |
 |
| Floors ALL sanded down again to get rid of stain color chosen in above picture. Looked nothing like it as you can see from the corner that they missed of sanding. I couldn't bear to take a picture of how bad they looked when the stain was on all the floors. |
 |
| Fourth attempt at color and the left is pretty much what we had the first time and the right is too brown/black, not a nice rich brown. |
I've basically thrown up my hands and handed it over to the designer/specialist lady who is helping me. I told her last night I've lost my patience and just need her to step in and handle. Because every time something new is done w/ the floor I have to run over there and look at it to decide what to do. Since I have so much time on my hands. It wasn't just the stain, but a few issues w/ the install itself--they needed to replace some boards as the joints weren't flush, etc..
The designer does this on the side (helps people choose things for new houses/remodels) as she actually has a flooring business of her own. Why didn't I use her company, you might ask? I did ask her to bid out the job but it was soooo much more than the current general contractor. What's crazy is that the guy doing the floor is a professional floor guy and has worked with my contractor for years. No idea why it's been such a problem.
And that's just a slice of what I've been trying to manage on top of working, traveling to Colorado for work, and taking care of my babes. So many decisions, selections, choices, it is just flat out overwhelming. The designer is helping BUT, I'm learning a lot as I'm going along....as an example, we picked out all the plumbing fixtures....well, I did research on the brand and found some troubling reviews on how they make the faucets, tub spouts etc i.e. they are making things out of plastic material, even tub spouts...who knew!!....I just didn't want that so I decided to change up all the plumbing and start over.
I've spent countless hours researching brands, materials, how things are made, etc.. I have become an expert!
If you've made it this far, congrats. I know it isn't super exciting reading material, but once I started updating on the house reno I got carried away, I guess. It's been all consuming during the day, after work, and weekend hours.....
Monday was the first day our weekend nanny became our full time nanny. Things are going okay so far, I think. I get the sense that she is a routine kind of person and wants to have that in place. Fine by me. My daughter hasn't cried while I left for work, so that is promising. She certainly still says "I don wan you go work" over and over, but when I have to go, she settles into her cur.ious geo.rge show and her morning bottle. Now, she threw a pretty good tantrum this morning while I was still here....she woke up that way, but thankfully settled down. My son had a rough night last night and was up every 3-4 hours....me too.
It is teething, for sure.
I mentioned the other day that he had two teeth growing in....well, to correct that his lower right tooth popped through first....followed closely by his lower left tooth. They are now visible but he really fights when I want to get a picture, so I'll just keep trying.
It's been very busy and thankfully our old babysitter has come about 3 times now to help out in the stretches where I needed someone. It's also been great having company at home w/ the kids. Even though I am back in my old city, I just haven't seen a lot of my old friends. None of them have young kids, either.
Hanging in there......
Oh wait, on to paint color!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Wonderful Moment
Our nighttime routine w my girl has ebbed and flowed. She started out being able to be put down in her crib, walk away, then sleep. After we moved when she was around 18 months it went downhill from there, then we got a little better and she would go to sleep again w/out much fuss, then the bottle was taken out, etc etc. basically it hasn't stayed consistent.
We are now back into wanting mommy to lay on the floor, wets talk about it, cry and fuss mode. She is getting really good at negotiating. Mostly because she learned that it worked. The last few nights when I go to leave she says, "Mommy instead of leaving, I want you to stay here wiff me". She says she wants to "read a story for me". "Stay here and rest wiff me", she says. She wants to just kiss and hug me again.
If it's not that, she wants me to cover her again, she wants a sippy cup w/ water, wants her diaper changed, she wants "itty bitty milk" in a bottle, something in her room is scaring her....you have to hand it to her, she's creative.
Tonight I decided I should be firm and tell her what was going to happen....she would lay down, we would talk, then I would leave to rest, and she would go to sleep. She pulled out all of her tricks, wanted to read me story, me to lay on the floor next to her, but I was resolute I would not go back in there once I left.
She whined and hollared "Mommay...Mommaaaay".....and not too quietly. After a short while I lost my resolve. I am sure it would have worked if I had stayed out, but I didn't. I went in to try and quiet her down and then left again. Well, that made it worse. Of course. So after a few more minutes I just said I'm back in.....I went in, brushed her hair back w/ my hands, told her I would lay with her for awhile. I got my blanket pillow, fluffed it up for a long while of rest.
Once I laid down I reached my hand up between the crib slats and she wrapped her hand around my fingers. It just fit. Then.....she put her other hand on top of mine and just patted it tenderly and then rested it there......The smile on my face was so wide and my heart just swelled. Swelled.
I moved my hand slightly and she again, just patted my hand and gently brushed hers back and forth over mine.
It brought me to tears. The power of that touch just hit a deep spot in me......it was so....connecting.
Made me remember holding my own mother's hand.
What a great way to end what could have been a battle of wills evening.
She was asleep in 5 minutes.
Smile.
Sigh.
We are now back into wanting mommy to lay on the floor, wets talk about it, cry and fuss mode. She is getting really good at negotiating. Mostly because she learned that it worked. The last few nights when I go to leave she says, "Mommy instead of leaving, I want you to stay here wiff me". She says she wants to "read a story for me". "Stay here and rest wiff me", she says. She wants to just kiss and hug me again.
If it's not that, she wants me to cover her again, she wants a sippy cup w/ water, wants her diaper changed, she wants "itty bitty milk" in a bottle, something in her room is scaring her....you have to hand it to her, she's creative.
Tonight I decided I should be firm and tell her what was going to happen....she would lay down, we would talk, then I would leave to rest, and she would go to sleep. She pulled out all of her tricks, wanted to read me story, me to lay on the floor next to her, but I was resolute I would not go back in there once I left.
She whined and hollared "Mommay...Mommaaaay".....and not too quietly. After a short while I lost my resolve. I am sure it would have worked if I had stayed out, but I didn't. I went in to try and quiet her down and then left again. Well, that made it worse. Of course. So after a few more minutes I just said I'm back in.....I went in, brushed her hair back w/ my hands, told her I would lay with her for awhile. I got my blanket pillow, fluffed it up for a long while of rest.
Once I laid down I reached my hand up between the crib slats and she wrapped her hand around my fingers. It just fit. Then.....she put her other hand on top of mine and just patted it tenderly and then rested it there......The smile on my face was so wide and my heart just swelled. Swelled.
I moved my hand slightly and she again, just patted my hand and gently brushed hers back and forth over mine.
It brought me to tears. The power of that touch just hit a deep spot in me......it was so....connecting.
Made me remember holding my own mother's hand.
What a great way to end what could have been a battle of wills evening.
She was asleep in 5 minutes.
Smile.
Sigh.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Drum roll please.....
Let's start out w/ a really sweet picture from a new work camera phone...I didn't even know how to work the thing.
Now......onto.........the teeth!!
I got home from work tonight and started feeling around in his mouth (I do this regularly) because I kept wondering when they were going to pop through....and sure enough tonight I felt two little nubbies on his lower gums. I, of course, had to take a picture...at the end of his day. You can see how much he liked it. Can't really even see them but it's the best picture I could get. They are actually towards the back of his gums, closer to his tongue.
So exciting. He's been drooling like a faucet for months now, so it's about time. I looked back to when my girl got her first teeth and it was about 8 months too!
My big boy has some new tricks....he can roll over from back to front now. But, still gets stuck. He will cry out in his crib (loudly, mind you) when this happens. He screeches and just can't seem to figure out how to roll back over. I hope he learns soon because I turn him back over worried about him sleeping on his belly. The Dr. says it's fine but it's just a fear I have of him not being able to breathe somehow.
He also has a voice. He's starting to communicate all the things he does not like.
Let's see, he's not a fan of:
--being laid down on his changing table
--when his sister takes a toy from his hands
--getting pulled out of the tub when he is done. I put them both in the tub at the same time now and while it is more stressful (he cries almost the entire time he's out until he is dressed and has his night bottle), it still seems easier to do it at the same time. That's the hardest part of the day for him given he doesn't nap the best and is just so stinkin tired.
--when I put him down on the floor to sit and he sees me walk the other direction
How he's grown....here's a comparison of my little guy the day we brought him home from the hospital and now....just look at the those legs.
He is also back to sleeping pretty much through the night. We were on a roll there, but then our previous babysitter came over to stay w/ us last week since our current nanny was out of commission. She said she would get up w/ him and was just used to feeding him when he cried out during the night, so he slipped back into wanting fed more throughout the night. Since she's gone back, I've had to do a few cry it out sessions last couple of nights and think we are better. He went to sleep around 7 last night and didn't cry out until 5:45 am this morning. I fed him and he went back to sleep!! He got up after 7:30am.
Of course I say he is all smiles and so happy, but when my friend who hadn't seen him yet came over this past weekend, he was about as fussy as can be. It was hilarious though, because when she came in his room to see him after I got him out of the crib she just stopped in her tracks. Looked at him, looked at me, looked at him.....somewhat speechless. Well, except for saying...."What?!"....could not believe how much he looked like me. It is true, he's a mama's boy.
A positive in our lives is that our weekend nanny decided she wanted the full time job!! She kept asking me about how the search was going and I told her dismal. I said I had a few more interviews and she said not to make any hasty decisions. No chance there. So, weekend before last she sends me a text and says if I still wanted her, she would like to take it. YIPPEE KAY YAY YAY!!! I think she just needed to be comfortable w/ the decision to change yet again...she has had a rough go w/the last few families and just wanted to move towards something. I knew all along this would be a good fit, but it was important for her to come to that conclusion. She just didn't want to do overnights (will do the shopping), and I said that is far easier to get someone for weekend/overnight than it is for full time. I think what tipped her was we had gone to see the house where we will be moving when the massive renovation is done. She could then picture what it would be like, how close it is her to house, where the parks are, etc..
Now, as with any childcare situation, nothing is perfect. I fully get that. I'm sure there will be situations that come up. She is a bit more firm than I am w/ my girl. But, perhaps I could learn a thing or two. She's been in childcare most of her life. My son just melts into her lap. My girl....well, she's still wary of new people but seems to be in good spirits when I come home during the weekends when they are together
I will just feel so much more at ease knowing a very experienced, mother of grown children, dependable (so far) woman will be caring for them when I am not here. A grandmotherly-type in the warmness, but will still be firm when needed. I've already learned a lot from her. She gave me the courage to start putting my boy down for a nap (in his crib) and let him cry it out a bit to fall asleep. I had not done that ever with him. I don't know why...well, I do. I get anxious when he cries. It makes me want to fix whatever is wrong....and quickly. My other two babysitters were the same, so we all picked him up, rocked him, shushed him, etc..
So in that vein, I never let him cry more than a minute or two. Perhaps he'd be on a better schedule now if I had started earlier, but I was so surprised and proud when it worked! She just looked knowingly at me and said, "see!"...."you can do this". Just having someone support, encourage, and help me learn a new way of doing things was so wonderful.
Time will tell but I am glad she will be with us.
I can't post w/out sharing what my girl is up to....that's her in the store....pooping.
With a blue mouth from a ring pop to boot.
Now......onto.........the teeth!!
I got home from work tonight and started feeling around in his mouth (I do this regularly) because I kept wondering when they were going to pop through....and sure enough tonight I felt two little nubbies on his lower gums. I, of course, had to take a picture...at the end of his day. You can see how much he liked it. Can't really even see them but it's the best picture I could get. They are actually towards the back of his gums, closer to his tongue.
 |
| Really, mom?! |
So exciting. He's been drooling like a faucet for months now, so it's about time. I looked back to when my girl got her first teeth and it was about 8 months too!
My big boy has some new tricks....he can roll over from back to front now. But, still gets stuck. He will cry out in his crib (loudly, mind you) when this happens. He screeches and just can't seem to figure out how to roll back over. I hope he learns soon because I turn him back over worried about him sleeping on his belly. The Dr. says it's fine but it's just a fear I have of him not being able to breathe somehow.
He also has a voice. He's starting to communicate all the things he does not like.
Let's see, he's not a fan of:
--being laid down on his changing table
--when his sister takes a toy from his hands
--getting pulled out of the tub when he is done. I put them both in the tub at the same time now and while it is more stressful (he cries almost the entire time he's out until he is dressed and has his night bottle), it still seems easier to do it at the same time. That's the hardest part of the day for him given he doesn't nap the best and is just so stinkin tired.
--when I put him down on the floor to sit and he sees me walk the other direction
How he's grown....here's a comparison of my little guy the day we brought him home from the hospital and now....just look at the those legs.
He is also back to sleeping pretty much through the night. We were on a roll there, but then our previous babysitter came over to stay w/ us last week since our current nanny was out of commission. She said she would get up w/ him and was just used to feeding him when he cried out during the night, so he slipped back into wanting fed more throughout the night. Since she's gone back, I've had to do a few cry it out sessions last couple of nights and think we are better. He went to sleep around 7 last night and didn't cry out until 5:45 am this morning. I fed him and he went back to sleep!! He got up after 7:30am.
Of course I say he is all smiles and so happy, but when my friend who hadn't seen him yet came over this past weekend, he was about as fussy as can be. It was hilarious though, because when she came in his room to see him after I got him out of the crib she just stopped in her tracks. Looked at him, looked at me, looked at him.....somewhat speechless. Well, except for saying...."What?!"....could not believe how much he looked like me. It is true, he's a mama's boy.
A positive in our lives is that our weekend nanny decided she wanted the full time job!! She kept asking me about how the search was going and I told her dismal. I said I had a few more interviews and she said not to make any hasty decisions. No chance there. So, weekend before last she sends me a text and says if I still wanted her, she would like to take it. YIPPEE KAY YAY YAY!!! I think she just needed to be comfortable w/ the decision to change yet again...she has had a rough go w/the last few families and just wanted to move towards something. I knew all along this would be a good fit, but it was important for her to come to that conclusion. She just didn't want to do overnights (will do the shopping), and I said that is far easier to get someone for weekend/overnight than it is for full time. I think what tipped her was we had gone to see the house where we will be moving when the massive renovation is done. She could then picture what it would be like, how close it is her to house, where the parks are, etc..
Now, as with any childcare situation, nothing is perfect. I fully get that. I'm sure there will be situations that come up. She is a bit more firm than I am w/ my girl. But, perhaps I could learn a thing or two. She's been in childcare most of her life. My son just melts into her lap. My girl....well, she's still wary of new people but seems to be in good spirits when I come home during the weekends when they are together
I will just feel so much more at ease knowing a very experienced, mother of grown children, dependable (so far) woman will be caring for them when I am not here. A grandmotherly-type in the warmness, but will still be firm when needed. I've already learned a lot from her. She gave me the courage to start putting my boy down for a nap (in his crib) and let him cry it out a bit to fall asleep. I had not done that ever with him. I don't know why...well, I do. I get anxious when he cries. It makes me want to fix whatever is wrong....and quickly. My other two babysitters were the same, so we all picked him up, rocked him, shushed him, etc..
So in that vein, I never let him cry more than a minute or two. Perhaps he'd be on a better schedule now if I had started earlier, but I was so surprised and proud when it worked! She just looked knowingly at me and said, "see!"...."you can do this". Just having someone support, encourage, and help me learn a new way of doing things was so wonderful.
Time will tell but I am glad she will be with us.
I can't post w/out sharing what my girl is up to....that's her in the store....pooping.
With a blue mouth from a ring pop to boot.
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