Sleeping in a big girl bed

I have been holding off on posting anything about this new adventure until I was sure I wouldn't cave. Well, I'd say after a week and a half, it's safe to say that I don't plan on caving.

A little over a week ago, Lainey said "Lainey sleepy." So we walked up the stairs for bed and instead of hanging a left into mom and dad's room, she went to the right and walked into her room. I asked her if she wanted to sleep in her big girl bed and she replied with "Yes, Momma!"  

So she did.

I laid down with her, we read a book, watched a cartoon, fought about laying down in her big girl bed, and then she fell asleep.

Sounds like sweet dreams, right?

Well, truth be told, transitioning a toddler out of your bed and into their own is kind of like having an infant again. I don't know how often Lainey used to wake up in the middle of night when she was in our bed because if she woke up, she would roll over and I would be there. But now... if she wakes up, I am not there. So, she screams for me and in order for her to go back to sleep, she has to know that I am there.  Kind of sweet.... until it happens 2 or 3 times in one night.  Almost every night.

The "problem" is that Lainey doesn't have a special lovey or blankey that she can't live without. There isn't one stuffed friend or one soft blanket that can make life perfect for her.  Instead, she has an odd attachment to having her hands in my hair.  And a doll's won't do - trust me - I have tried.

But I have not caved.  Even at 2:30 am when the easiest thing to do is say, "Ok fine - come sleep with us" I haven't done it.  Even last night when teething pain coupled with a couple of boo boos caused her to wake up almost every 90 minutes, I didn't cave! I don't think I can I just let her back into my bed. I feel like I have come too far and lost too many hours of sleep to give us now! Admittedly, this weekend, I have let her into our bed BUT only after the 5am mark! I figure if you make it to 5am then you have had a night in the big girl bed.

So, what do I do instead?  I drink lots of coffee (or diet coke). And I make a HUGE deal about sleeping in our big girl bed every morning and even when I am dead tired, I make it a point to tell her how proud I am of her as she falls back to sleep.

I have also taken to prizes if she goes more than a couple of days.  So far, she has earned some Cars figures (Mater and some purple girl) and a new monster truck!

Sweet Baby J must have been reading the draft of this post (as I started it last week) and answered my prayers!  *knock on wood* Lainey told me she was sleepy last night, that she wanted her big girl bed, and fell asleep WITHOUT my hair!  I put it in a ponytail so she couldn't get it and convinced her that her baby doll needed her hair rubbed instead.  Then I noticed she was twirling her own hair!  

*cue the happy dance*

That's right! She is figuring out she has enough hair on that little head to twirl her own!

But that's not even the BIG NEWS!  The big big news is that she did it! She slept in that big girl all night long without waking up... or if she did wake up, she put herself back to sleep without screaming for me. 

Now, let's just hope we can do it another night in a row... 
and another... and another.

xoxo,
Linda

A room for playing

It's time to move the toys out of the living and give them their own space.  They can make some visits down the hall, but I am really hoping we can get a handle on some of this "toddler decor."

I would really like the playroom to not look a daycare classroom.  My goal is to make it look like a fun room that blends into the rest of our home.

The new playroom has been a lot of different rooms in our home since we moved in a few years ago.  It has been an empty room. It has been a formal living room (you know, the room no one lives in).  And it has been an office/studio, most recently.  But since doing a slight furniture shuffle and moving the twin bed from the guest room to the big girl room, it is time to move the studio {back} upstairs and give Lainey a place to hang.

The Playroom Checklist:

A chair for reading - check!
I am going to use the PBK glider from Lainey's nursery.  It's super comfy and has an ottoman so it's perfect for snuggling up in with a good book.

Some kind of shelf for baskets of toys and books - check!
Got a great deal on a PBK shelf second hand.  It even matches Lainey's bedroom furniture so she can use it if she ever gets a bigger bedroom some day too.

Everyone needs a table for craft and lunch dates - check!
Another great second-hand deal.

An art center - {almost} check!
I have an easel that I got on clearance at Michael's that needs to be put together and I will need to find some kind of cute boxes to put supplies in to set on the easel shelf.

Toys - {double} check!
Toys R Us called and they want some of their inventory back! It seems like every time we hand something down to Landon, another 3 toys show up!!  Part of setting up this playroom is going to be a purge of some toys that we don't use anymore.

Curtains - {maybe} check!
You would think after living in this house for as long as we have, there would be curtains hanging in every room.  Well, nay.... this is the only room without curtains.  Luckily, I think I have the perfect pair in my studio cabinet.

Play Kitchen - check! 
Thanks to Santa, we have this covered.  It's just gotta make its way out of my kitchen and into its new home! 

Books - {triple} check!
My girl loves to read so there is no shortage of books in our house... or in our car.... or even in my purse some times.  So, this is not a problem to fill a shelf!

{Not So Perfect} Disclaimer: This checklist makes it sound like a smooth plan, doesn't it? Like a playroom is just going to magically make its way into our home?  Well, I can assure you that is a fairytale.  Because in the midst of this project, the studio has to go somewhere.  Yes, it is making its way upstairs.  But with no desk or bookshelf upstairs yet, it's hard to get things moving! So, where did my studio contents go, you ask? {ok, maybe you didn't ask.} But they are filling my dining room right now! It's cool, we aren't dining in there any way, right?  Good thing there's a long weekend coming up and that Mother Nature may not bless us with the lounge-by-the-pool forecast I am wishing for... at least if it's cloudy and I am stuck rearranging rooms, I won't wish for the pool! 

What are the must-haves in your playrooms?  Or better yet, how do you tame the toys?!

Enjoying her new table!

xoxo,

Linda

A Week of Appreciation

This week, as many may know, is appreciation week for some of the most important people in our lives...

It is Teacher Appreciation Week.

It is Nurse Appreciation Week.

And it all ends with Mother's {Appreciation} Day on Sunday.

To Lainey's teachers,
You have no idea how much you all mean to our family. We entered the doors of Primrose with heavy hearts filled with doubt and worry.  Transitioning to preschool at that time was not in our "plan" but in true Preemie Princess fashion, we did it early.  Your kind hearts and caring souls have made this one of the best blessings in disguise that we could have ever asked for. 

Every day Lainey comes home telling me about her friends and singing songs to me about how "I'm so happy to see my friends" and she is growing up to be quite a smarty pants and a wonderful little girl. You, my friends, are a huge part of this.

I just want you to know how much this mom appreciates you and all you do for my little girl.

***

To the nurses who got us this far,
Our NICU angels you will always be. Those bedtime phone calls just so we could say goodnight to that tiny baby have now turned into facebook messages and texts to some of the most amazing women that I know.

In the past {almost} 2 years, we have become friends and are lucky enough to watch our children grow.  Chunky Peanut Butter and Jelly forever! 

Thank you for taking care of my sweet baby when she needed it the most.

***

To the nurses who are now taking care of Nana,
After spending much of Tuesday with my mother in law, I know from experience how important you ladies are in this journey. It warms my heart to know how much you care about your patient - I can see it when you get excited that something goes well for us and you race back to say "you passed!!"

Your smiles and laughs will always be welcomed and appreciated.

***

To my momma,
It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome being just like you.  You are smart and beautiful and full of life. I have said it a hundred times and I can say it a hundred more -- the greatest compliment is when someone tells me I am my mother's daughter.

You have no idea how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate you. You really are my best friend.  You have supported everything I have done in my life and have always helped me achieve my dreams.

You are the perfect NeeNee to Lainey and she is lucky to have you in her life.

I love you, Momma! {you better be saying "ditto" in your heard right now as you read this}

***

And a quick note to all of my other Moms,
There are several women that I call "mom."  They all have different last names and are the mom to someone else. But, nevertheless, they are very important to me too.

***

Make sure you take a minute to share your appreciation for the teachers, nurses, and moms in your lives!

Happy Mother's Day to me!

xoxo,
Linda

{not so} perfect photo accessories

I have been spending more time behind my camera and am finding a lot of comfort in it and am even getting some emails about wanting sessions! *sneak peaks to come soon*

So, let's switch it up a little bit... and maaaaaybe drop a {not so} subtle hint.

Currently my camera bag looks like this:

It is a wonderful and perfect bag. 

Not gonna lie - I love Timbuk2 bags.  They are durable and wonderful for long photo adventures. I have Timbuk2 bags that are at least 3-5 years old and they still look brand new.  But sometimes, Momma doesn't want to lug around a giant camera bag.

Sometimes, I just want a cute bag to carry on a shoot or at least a little bit smaller bag that I can take on an adventure with Boots in tow.

So, I have looked around online for a new bag.  Any of these would be wonderful Mother's Day gifts! Not like the husband reads this, though. So the hint won't get seen.

But some of you other photo-moms may enjoy!

I am really digging these Jo Totes

Gracie

 

 

 

Allison

Georgia

Betsy

Another similar brand is Kelli Moore and those are some gorgeous bags too!  A little pricy, but oh so pretty!!

I also have a love of pretty camera straps... my nephew got me one for my birthday that is all linen and lace with a rosette.  It's beyond gorgeous!  Maybe that will be another {not so perfect} photo accessory post in the future!

xoxo,
Linda 

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G

Spelling seems to be the norm at our house these days. Everything gets spelled.  Even things that probably don't need to be spelled out get spelled out too.

Things like...
G-U-M-M-I-E-S
C-O-O-K-I-E-S
R-E-L-L-A
C-U-P
B-A-T-H
C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E
Y-O-G-U-R-T
O-U-T-S-I-D-E

You know.... the normal things that could create a problem if they are identified!  Especially if they are identified and then missing! {Lord, help us if Rella can't be found!} Or activities that just are not in the plans for the moment.

It's amazing to me how your spelling skills are automatically intensified when you become a parent. It's like a parental super hero power! Things you never thought to think about the spelling of? Oh, those are words you should brush up on because we spell those most often! 

You see, there are times when spelling is a necessity.  

Oh! And curse words.  Learn how to spell those too.  Sometimes a curse word is all you need and {apparently} it's not appropriate for toddlers to scream curse words in public {no matter how funny}. And no, Lainey has not done this yet...

This is a whole new world in parenting at {the nuthouse} because until now, we could say whatever we pleased and didn't have to worry about what was heard. My how thing have changed.

Welcome to the spelling bee, my friends!

xoxo,
Linda

The Dinner Debate: Ruby and Max

Auntie M, Gilby and Nandon are finally here.  They completed their trek halfway across the country and made it all in one piece. 

Since their arrival, it has been a little hard to get together - understandably so.  Lainey and I went on Spring Break. They are unpacking, job hunting, and searching for a routine to get into! 

But our two families are making a point to get together once a week -- at least!  Right now, we do dinner every week with Biggie and her fam, and I love being able to hang out with our friends on a week night! And I love the idea of adding another "family dinner night" to the mix! {Welcome to the club, Paiz clan!}

Last night at family dinner, this conversation happened:

M: So, do you guys watch some show about bunnies? Where the older sister is really bossy?
P: Oh, you mean the one with the dumb bunny?!
L: Guys, it's called Ruby and Max
M: YES!! That's it!
P: Whatever - that bunny is still not smart.
G: <laughs from across the table>
M: UGH! That show urks me! Why is she so bossy and trying to hold back her brother?!
P: Really, though.  Why is her bunny scout troop thing ALWAYS doing something? She is forever trying to get some kind of badge!
L: My question is... WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS?!
M: Well Grandma Bunny comes over alot and brings her creep bunny friends...
L: That still does not answer the question at hand...
G: <still laughing from across the table>
L: Is this really what we are discussing at family dinner?

No, I couldn't make this up if I tried... this is pretty accurate transcript of our conversation. 

Happy Wednesday, Folks!

xoxo,

Linda

Spring Break 2013

And we are back! Back from a cold, yet relaxing, week in the Outer Banks.  Having a little sister in high school pays off at times like this... without her, there would be no official spring break!

Here is a photo montage {cue fabulous 80's montage music} of our last week.

EB left our goodies waiting for us!

Got one day in on the beach before it got super chilly!

Spent some quality time with friends!

Easter photo session sneak peak!

Did lots of shopping!

Took lots of naps!

Flew a kite!

Discovered the fun of sidewalk chalk!

Made a new BFF!

And got in as many snuggles as possible with her KK.

 

I am pretty sure over the course of one week, Lainey has gone from toddler to big kid. As I sat watching her play in the playroom last night, all I could think about was how much she has grown lately. It is absolutely amazing to me see her independence and imagination growing. Sure, she is entering "Terrible 2s" territory, and it shows, but at the same time, she is developing into her own little person. She knows what she wants, when she wants it and she is trying her hardest to use her words instead of shrieks to get her point across to us.

Oh, and did you see those tiny pony tails and pig tails?! So excited to finally have some hair!!

What did ya'll do for Spring Break?  Any fun and exciting adventures?

xoxo,

Linda