What is Normal?

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I have been wondering lately, "What is normal toddler behavior?" Is it normal for my toddler to scream because he doesn't want to paint, then decide he does, then scream because he doesn't want the paints I give him, but his OTHER paints, then change his mind, then scream because I am using a wet washcloth to clean him, then he throws it across the room, then he picks it up and says "Mine!" and wants to take it to his room. When I try to take it from him, he screams! Seriously - this kid is moody. There are good days, and there are bad days. He is especially moody when he is tired, which I think he is today, because he has wanted to sit with his blanket all morning. Yesterday he took a bad fall in the morning - at breakfast he tried to push his chair out from the table but ended up pushing the WHOLE chair backwards, so he fell and hit his head on the chair and the floor, hard. So yesterday was a hard day too.

I keep wondering "when does this end?!" When will he be my easy child again like he used to be? I could take him anywhere, totally content, and he would just look around and smile. Now he wants to be in control of everything, everywhere we go, and how we get there (yesterday on a walk, he got mad because I went down one street and he wanted to go down the other).

It is always nice to talk to other moms and hear their stories, no matter how bad they are, because it helps me feel like I'm not alone. Today I need to hear some of those stories! :)

Who would ever guess this face could have bad days?!

The Experiment

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Micah and Jaden have shared a room since Jaden was born, and it has worked out okay so far. They do wake each other up occasionally which is frustrating, so last night we tried a little experiment. We had friends over, so we set up the play pen in our room so Jaden could go to bed at 7:30pm, and the boys could keep playing in Micah's room. This morning, with both boys in separate rooms, they woke up at 8am (insert "Hallelujah" chorus here). They normally wake each other up at 6am. We put Jaden down for his morning nap in our room again (which is normally 1 hour), and he slept 2 solid hours. We put them both in separate rooms again today for their afternoon naps, and they are both sleeping soundly past the normal time they wake up. Oh, the bliss. The problem? We can't keep them in separate rooms! We have no walking space in our bedroom with Jaden in there, and we would like our room back.

So, today I'm bummed again that we live in a tiny 800 square foot house, and I'm longing for a bigger place. A 3 bedroom, perhaps. I don't want to keep them separated forever, but during this stage in their lives, it sure would be nice. Today I saw L.A. on the news as one of the top 10 worst housing markets in the country. The average home price in Torrance is around 600k. Everywhere else in the world? Around 200k - something we might actually be able to afford. Arrrgghhh!!!

Micah's First Crush

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Both boys are now feeling great, thanks to two rounds of antibiotics (1 each) and lots of rest :) Thanks so much to everyone who prayed and wished them well!

A few months ago, I received a catalog in the mail of kid's party supplies. I don't know how I ended up on this mailing list, but somehow they knew that Micah's 3rd birthday is coming up and I would need some. Micah swiped the catalog from me since it had things like the Disney Car's characters on the front, and he began flipping through it. When he came to the page of Miley Cyrus party supplies, he stopped. He stared at her. He carried the magazine around the house, setting it down wherever he went to play, and it was always turned to the page with her on it. I tried to turn the page to show him something, and he threw a fit. He turned it back to Miley. "Uh Oh," I thought. Keep in mind that this kid has never seen Miley Cyrus before, as we do not have cable. He kept the catalog and even wanted it under his pillow that night. I then intervened while he was sleeping and got rid of it.

A few days later, she happened to be on Oprah, and he recognized her. He watched intently. Then we were shopping at Wal-Mart, and we passed the posters they have for sale. It was turned to a poster of Miley Cyrus and he stopped and pointed.

So, looks like my kid has his first crush. I don't know what it is, but he seems enthralled by her! I do admit, she is cute, charismatic, and popular. But talk about liking an older woman!! :) At least she loves the Lord!! :)

When It Rains, It Pours

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I'm having a pity party for myself today. Jaden got an ear infection three days ago and has had a fever between 101-104 for three days, WITH tylenol! Today, Micah woke up sick and we looked in his throat and saw white pocks all over. So, strep throat. He also has had between 100-103 all day. Today I took care of two very cranky boys. Now my throat is also hurting! The last time the boys were sick was in January, so it wasn't too long ago. I would just really like a break for more than a few weeks! This seems to be the season for both of them, from about December-April. I am looking forward to the days when they are older and will be past this...

My Favorite Products as a Parent

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I have to tell you about a few of my very favorite products I have used as a parent.

1) The Exergen Temporal Scanner - this thermometer is AMAZING. You use it on the forehead and it measures your temperature using the temporal artery, which is the most accurate way of taking a temperature. I have compared it with rectal and found it to be accurate every time. I can use it when the kids are asleep and it doesn't wake them up. What more could you ask for? I got it for about $40 at Wal-Mart. Here is a link if you want to read more about it. http://www.exergen.com/medical/TAT/tatconsumerpage.htm


2) My second favorite item is called the Ear Check Ear Fluid Monitor. My boys have both had repeat ear infections, and this instrument measures the level of fluid in their ear, letting me know if they might have an ear infection. It is also great for checking the fluid after an ear infection is over, to make sure the fluid has gone away. I got this on an ebay store for only $9.99 (brand new) but it is also in some stores. http://www.earcheck.com/


3) My third favorite is my shopping cart cover. I remember before I had it, there was one time where I put Micah in the shopping cart and he started sucking on the handle. Ewww! There are SO many germs on those handles, I don't even want to think about it! There are many brands out there; you can get them on ebay, or at Target or Babies R Us.


I have many more favorite products but that is all for now! :)

The Worst Present I Ever Received

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For some reason today I remembered receiving a Christmas gift that was (to me) the worst present I ever received.  I believe I was around 10 or 11 at the time, and my extended family had come over for Christmas.  I was SO excited to open my gifts. I still remember that when I was about to open (the worst present ever), my aunt got all excited and wanted to see me open it.  I thought it had to be something pretty amazing since she was so excited.  I ripped open the wrapping paper, and the gift was a doll called "Poor Pitiful Pearl."  For someone who was expecting a new Cabbage Patch or American Girl doll (both my favorites), I was devastated.  There before me was the ugliest doll I had ever seen, dressed in rags, with a slogan on the box that said "I need a mommy!"  I looked around and tried my hardest to pretend I was happy. I still remember fighting every urge within me to run, and instead I put on a smile and said "Thank you" in my nicest voice.  However, within minutes, I ran into my room and sobbed into my pillow.  My mom came in the room, and I remember telling her that I hated the doll.  But I wasn't only crying because of that; it was also because I felt so BAD for hating the doll!  I really wanted to like all my gifts, even this one, but everything in my was repulsed by the doll.

To this day, I don't know why I hated it so much. Maybe because it was the exact polar opposite of a Cabbage Patch or American Girl doll.  My mom said I didn't have to keep it.  I don't think my aunt ever found out.  Poor doll.....

The End of an Era

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This morning I woke up and realized that "Today is the Day."  Okay, okay, I know I said that about potty training last month, but this wasn't about that.  Today I gave up nursing Jaden. :(  My baby is growing up!!!  We had slowly been weaning the last two months to the point where I was only nursing him once a day for the past two weeks.  After feeding him first thing in the morning, he would cry and cry because he was still hungry.  I realized that my supply was dwindling more every day.  He is now 10 1/2 months old, so I feel like I gave it all that I had and he was ready and I was ready.  I am still a little sad about it and will miss that special bonding time, just between us.  

He is getting to be such a big boy already.  About two weeks ago he started crawling, full speed ahead.  He is getting into EVERYTHING now!!!  Now I have two boys who are into everything!  I don't know what I'm going to do!!! :)  In the morning they both wake up around 7am, and are at full energy by 7:05am.  For this girl, who is NOT, I repeat, NOT a morning person, I am trying my hardest to adjust.  Micah's favorite thing to do is jump on the bed while we are still asleep, and then go to the bottom of the bed and fall backward on us, laughing hysterically, doing it over and over until we finally wake up.  It is fun for him until he inevitably smacks Jaden in the head on accident, since Jaden is also in the bed with us because I had just nursed him.  

So, the baby stage is almost over.  It is sad to move on, but we are also looking forward to what is ahead.