Something has been in the air, because she’s been whiney and so defiant. Definitely a new phase we’re entering for sure. And being the girl that she is, wow, does she milk it for all its worth.

But, we’re rolling with it, and I’m saying a few extra prayers a day to help me get through it. There is never a day where I don’t thank God for this little girl of mine. There are some crazy days, but the love she has to give is so precious. And there isn’t a day where she doesn’t make me laugh. She’s my little ham.

We’ve noticed as of late that she really is a girl who know what she wants. I think this will suit her as she gets older, but we will have to mold her a little bit so we can teach her how to use it appropriately. Otherwise, she might be the one who is in jail by the age of 16 (we joke about this all the the time because she is strong-willed).

I love going into her room at night while she is sleeping. I love watching her sleep. I love stroking her face. I love making sure that she’s comfy before I retire to my own bed. The most beautiful site int he world, is seeing your children sleep. You see their innocence. You see their beauty.

To be that young again…

At 4;30 this morning, I had enough. She was up and 4:30 was not an appropriate time. So, her crib railing was put back on and she’s in her crib for a few more months, then we’ll try again.

She does not have problems anywhere else. At her grandmama’s house, she’s in one of these. At first she got up, but now she takes a nap or spends the night with no issues and DOESN’T GET UP!!!

At grammy and grandpa’s house, she’s in a twin size bed, no rails, and DOESN’T GET UP!!!!

So, why is it that she thinks she can get away with it at our house? Why does she act up at OUR HOUSE???

Frustrates me to no end.

She’s one that tests me to my breaking point, and I seriously have no idea how to stop it. I can do exactly what my mother-in-law or my mom does, and she just ignores me or is down right defiant. And I have no smile on my face, so why she thinks I’m joking is beyond me.

Parenting my daughter, is so hard. God is playing one cruel, cruel trick on me. For now, I take it one day at a time, say a few extra prayers, and try to remember that this too shall pass. She won’t be this young forever and one day, I’ll miss these crazy antics she’s pulling. :D

She’s just preparing me for the tweens, teens and everything else. LOL

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Napping

Then, we asked what happened, and she said it again, then proceeded to show us how it happened and repeated bonking heads. LOL. It wasn’t as hard as the first, but it was hilarious to watch. Caleb started to laugh, and she just kept doing it, but in a playing manner. I honestly think that the first time she did it to show us was for real, but realized it was funny to us, so she just kept repeating it.

Silly girl.

It’s the days like these that really make it all worth it. When she’s not being dramatic, baby girl really is a ham. And hopefully, she’ll keep that aspect of her. The dramatic part I could do without. :)

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Still sleeping

I’m not sure why it affected me so. I would love more children, but with me getting older, and Jordan and me haven’t really discussed if anymore is even in the cards, it makes it kind of sad knowing that Zoe may be in fact our last child. Jordan probably is satisfied with the two that we have. I am too, but, it’s one of those things where I still have a desire and as a woman, it’s harder to just let go of that desire especially since we are the ones who carry the baby in utero.

<sigh>

One of those things I’m probably going to have to get over. Believe me, I am SO incredibly blessed to have the children that I have. I have one of each and it’s a blessing to have that. God truely has blessed us with two beautiful, crazy, loving kids. :)

Anyway, I’m off topic. Needed to have a little pity party there for a minute :)

Soooo….Zoe is in her big girl bed. She did great all last night. I didn’t sleep a wink thinking that she might fall out of the bed. I went in there several times and she was perfectly still. She woke up this morning around 8, and got out of bed herself around 8:30. She seemed to really enjoy the fact that she could get out of bed herself – WITHOUT taking a nosedive to do it. LOL.

Nap time should be interesting. She got in her bed herself, with a little fuss, but I haven’t heard anything out of her sense. She’s usually quite jibber jabbery right about now, but it’s quiet. I’ll be checking on her in a bit.

Hard to believe, that our house is for the most part cribless. And the baby stage is gone. This mommy is feeling like a sad panda. :(

Here are some pictures from last night:

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Hopefully napping

Tonight I didn’t want to have to read separately to the kids since Jordan is teaching at church. Most nights, I really do enjoy my one on one with them in the evenings when I read to them, but tonight, I had a selfish streak and wanted to get bedtime overwith early so that I can just relax. It’s been a really hard week. I’ve had a several deliveries already for Birthday Blessings, and with doctor’s appointments for my headaches that seem to not want to go away, and church studies of my own, it just makes for a busy week.

Anyway, I brought Zoe into Caleb’s room so that I could read to them both at the same time. Each picked out 2-3 books plus their daily devotions, and we propped up the pillows and settled in for a nice 30 minute read. I think the kids really did enjoy that time with each other. Zoe was really entuned with the books and if Caleb wanted to distract her with toys, she batted him away. That was quite comical to watch. She means business when it comes to reading time. LOL

Once we were done, they each said goodnight and said I love You, then off to bed they went. Nice and easy. Wish all the nights were that easy. :)

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: In her room about to go to sleep

She was fine this morning, but this afternoon, she just whined and cried. Put her to bed, and when I went to get her, she had thrown up in her bed. Then, when she had a BM, it was just as psychedelic green as it could be.

So, a virus for sure, just not sure how bad it is just yet. Maybe she’s had it and she’s trying to get rid of it, or, it’s just the beginning.

Praying that she feels better and that all is well over the next couple of days.

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Taking a bath

I am so proud of her. I can actually start to understand her words now. I’m not just guessing. :)

Her latest sentence was this morning was, “baby fall”.

Clear as day, and it was a surprise to hear it!!

Hurry up and start talking more, sweetheart. Mommy wants to girl-talk with you!!!

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: About to get up from a nap that didn’t happen :)

Now, she has a wet cough and she’s doing do much better. Thank the lord above.

Today, Zoe started preschool. She isn’t starting where Caleb is, but we are doing the same homeschool program that Caleb did before he started going to preschool. Today, we learned the letters A-C and we familiarized ourselves with the numbers 0-3.

One thing I learned while doing this with Caleb is to be more patient and to go at the ace of the child. Zoe enjoyed it, I think. She knows B, and can mimic me when I say a and C. Well, really all the letters. Numbers, she wasn’t interested in, and frankly neither was Caleb. But, we’ll take it slow. Can’t wait to see if her speech improves while doing this.

Speaking of speech, she is doing much better. She’s beginning to use 2-3 word sentences now and we can actually understand her. still not exactly where Caleb was at this time, but she’s getting there. Very happy with her progress. I’m starting to use Caleb because she would always mimic him, but now, she’s starting to “trust” me and mimic me when I talk.

She’s doing well otherwise and boy is her dramatic, sassy personality coming out. Can’t wait to see how this goes as she grows up. Just have to make sure we tell her when and how to work that personality. And has she started ever becoming the little ham. Oh. My. She has me in stitches some days. :) And she can’t really talk all that well, but it’s her mannerisms or the way she uses her facial features.

She loves her books and her devotions. We started doing a devotion book with her and she really listens. We call it the Jesus book and she clear as day almost says it that way too. “Jesus boop”. Yeah. I know. We’re still working on the K sound, but we’ll get there. :)

Seriously, I am so blessed. Two wonderful kids with personalities that shine. Life can’t get much better right now, that’s for sure.

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Sleeping

I’m very very impressed with her. Zoe has been very easy to train so far. Caleb I thought was very easy, but Zoe is really making this a cinch. Go Zoe!

Her attitude and sass and decreased a little bit. Oh, she still has her moments, but she’s been very good as of late. Tonight was a little stressful. She wanted no part of dinner tonight. I told her she couldn’t eat her advent chocolates if she didn’t eat her chocolates. So decided at that moment to pitch a royal fit. So, put her in her room, let her do her thing and three minutes later, quiet as a baby bird. Put her back at the table and she ate. Amazing how that works. And, she got her chocolates! :)

Tonight was a late night for both kiddos. Jordan is out having fun with his Disciples Made guys, so I’m home with the kids alone. Both got to stay up as a special treat. Zoe went upstairs for a snuggle and to bed at around 8, but we didn’t finish snuggling until 8:30. Caleb went upstairs for his snuggle and bed at 9. Zoe was out in minutes and Caleb, I’m sure is asleep by now.

Here’s hoping that I get to sleep in for a little bit in the morning.

Our Little Darth Vader

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Sleeping

It could be that I’ve kind of changed my thinking as well the last couple of weeks. At church, we had a sermon series called Constant Contact and one sermon was about allieviating the worry and start praying. The fill in the blanks was Ditch the Worry and Switch to Prayer. I’ve named it since then, the Ditch and Switch, and I’ve noticed a difference. I feel better about things, and I don’t unnecessarily worry about stuff that I really don’t need to worry about. My worries are given to God and I let him take control.

I’ve noticed it over the last week when we had our scare with Caleb. I felt calm and so collected. It could have been because we’ve been down that road before, but at the time, I was not really in the following stages of Christ. Being that my spiritual maturity has grown, I think God had a lot to do with that.

ANYWAY…I’ve just been dealing with her tantrums by putting her in her room to just cry. She’s not happy with any situation, so if she’s going to act that way, she takes it to her room. She has her moment, when she’s ready to stop she stops, and we bring her down. It’s working, I’m not stressed to the point of committing myself, and she’s getting the point. Her tantrums are short-lived and life has been pretty good as of late.

Thank God for the Ditch and Switch and me figuring out a way to deal with it.

Zoe’s Toddler Forecast: Watching a little TV while eating popcorn