Big Girl Week

We had been using our big trip to Nebraska as an excuse to put off a few milestones we needed to address.  Primarily the switch to the big girl bed and potty training.  So in typical fashion, we jumped in with both feet as soon as we got home and got started.

We picked out Samantha's new bedroom furniture about a month ago and had it scheduled to be delivered the day after we got home from our trip.  Once it was all set up we played on it and made a big fuss.  Samantha exclaimed that her new big girl bed was "so awesome" and "really cute".

I am admittedly not very good with change.  I tend to over think things and I did my best to play it cool as we set everything up. We had our normal bedtime routine reading books, saying prayers and talking about our day.  Then, I tried to leave the room as usual but when I closed the door, I heard Samantha begin to cry.  Then I heard her say as she fought back tears and sounded more frantic, "Mommy, Mommy - I think I still need my baby bed".   I'll remind you that I am 7 months pregnant and may be a bit more emotional than usual. I burst into tears and began sobbing.  Every time I think about it, I start to cry again! Certainly there is a huge part of me that is not ready for my baby girl to be such a big girl either.  Once I got myself under control, I went in and sat with her until she fell asleep and she slept soundly until morning.

These changes have been harder on me than expected although I'm adjusting and we will all be fine.  I've found that you can read all the instructional parenting books you want but you can never quite prepare yourself for how you will feel when milestones happen.  On the bright side, the first few days of potty training have been hugely successful!  In high school, one of our teachers always told us - Change is inevitable, growth is optional.  I think that was even Dave's senior quote in the yearbook.  I think about it often and as in all things am looking for all my lessons so that we can grow as a family through all of our changes.

Gratitude

We just got back to Boulder after a great trip to Omaha, Nebraska visiting Dave's extended family for Thanksgiving.  We stayed at Aunt Patty and Uncle Steve's house which is always a treat and Samantha was in heaven with all the toys, dishes, activities and cousins! She was in awe of her older cousins and played dress up with them and put on shows, it was a very exciting week. 

This Thanksgiving we sure have a lot to be thankful for with a sweet two year old and a baby on the way. Over the past few months, I have incorporated prayers into Samantha's bedtime routine.  This is much less about any religious practice and more about being thankful for all that we have.  I truly believe that feeling grateful for what we have in our lives attracts more of what we appreciate and value. 

It is pretty incredible to hear in Sammy's words, what she appreciates. She is always saying thank you for all of her family, for Javier the dog, for all her babies and for her toys. She says things like "Thank you so much for Gramps, he is really funny."  She is very good about remembering people that I may forget like people she just met, teachers at her classes or her friends. I'm hoping that starting early will help to instill a thoughtful and thankful attitude in Samantha, so far so good! 

No More Secrets

Now that Miss Samantha Lee is talking, she is also letting us know about everything that happens when we are not around.  For better or for worse, there are no more secrets where she is concerned.  It started out with her telling us how Grammy yells at the deer in the yard.  Apparently Grammy gets very angry and yells "Get out of here you deer!" I wish I had Samantha on video reenacting this - it was priceless.

The other day, I stopped at the gas station where Samantha told me she should be getting a "special treat".  I guess Daddy gets them both a special chocolate covered cherry treat when he goes to the gas station - who knew!

And, I know I'm not exempt either.  Recently my mom told me that during my pregnancy I am giving Samantha a complex by telling her how heavy she is.  I guess that as Samantha was picking up one of her babies she said in a very exhausted voice,"Oh Sue, you are very heavy, you are too heavy for me to hold now".

Attached

One of the many surprises that I've had since becoming a mom is how attached I am to Samantha.  I just never thought I would be one of "those moms" who has a hard time being away from her.  We have been incredibly lucky to have both of our parents close by.  Not only does my mom watch Samantha while we work but both of our parents watch Samantha on a regular basis.  In fact, Samantha is nearing 2.5 years old and we have paid a babysitter twice.  That's right...two times.  Samantha never even saw the babysitter those two times because the babysitter came after we had put her to bed.  This is not just a huge benefit in cost savings but it means that Samantha is always with someone who really, really loves her.  This means the world to me.

A few months ago, my mom joined a program at church that meets every Wednesday for a few hours and has a preschool program.  I keep meaning to write about this but I'm a little embarrassed at my own progress.  The first time I dropped her off, they sort of whisked her away so that I couldn't draw out the goodbye process.  I went to my car and cried.  Samantha has loved the program, she announced early on that she was a big girl and would not cry when she went to class.  She plays with the other kids, reads stories, does art and tells us all about it.  But, no matter how many times I drop her off there I still feel a little sick when I have to leave.  I'm the weird mom who lingers in the hall and peeks in to make sure she is doing alright. Guess what? She is always fine.  I guess the good news is I do it.  I don't like it but I do let her go.

I went and toured a preschool last week where Samantha will likely go for a few mornings starting this summer.  It was very nice and had amazing play rooms and theaters and gym equipment.  Samantha didn't even come with me but I'll admit I felt overwhelmed thinking about having to leave her there.  I'm having visions of being this crazy mom crying every day as she goes to high school!  I'm curious if I'll do better with baby number two or if I'll always struggle with this.

Clockwork

Just as I entered the third trimester, I began to feel much more uncomfortable.  At the gym I somehow did something to myself that made me feel like I had cracked the center of my pelvic bone, making most movements and even sitting, painful.  I have terrible heartburn, I can't sleep, I'm grouchy and the list goes on.  Overall, I believe it is a warning to me to take it easy and listen to my body, and this sweet baby.  She by the way, is a wild kicker like her sister was, although I don't remember Samantha moving and kicking so much while I attempt to sleep. 

We spent last weekend clearing out space and bringing out baby gear to prepare for the new baby.  I've heard people joke that the best decorated room in every young couple's house is the bedroom for their first child.  So much planning and anticipation goes into the bedroom layout, paint and furniture.  I'm not the most crafty person but I'm trying to be very sensitive to giving the second baby as much creativity as I can muster so Dave and I spent time with an art project for the baby's room.  Photos to come soon.

We also went shopping for a big girl bed for Samantha which we will move her into after Thanksgiving.   Busy times around here!  Samantha is very grown up these days and continues to crack us up with the things she says.  As we were eating dinner at Josh's house this week, she exclaimed "this is delicious!" And, yes you are all right, the child who I was worried would never talk, chatters about non-stop these days.  She sings, she tells stories and I have to remind her not to stay up too late reading out loud to herself in her crib. 

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween complete with pumpkin carving, decorations and trick or treating which Samantha loved.  I am excited about the upcoming holiday season because more than anything, Samantha admired all the Halloween decorations she saw.  As we were driving in my parent's neighborhood or even just looking around our house she would point out scarecrows, bats, ghosts or pumpkins and would gleefully exclaim "Look at those cute decorations!"

She was definitely the cutest fairy I saw.  You can see all of our Halloween additions here.  As for me, I was a baker for Halloween with my "bun in the oven".