Always first...

Ok, attempt #3 this morning to nap the baby in her crib instead of the swing.  I know shes a cat napper but this is crazy!  Each time she has slept less than 10 min. in her room.  She has got to be tired!  UGH.  She probably isnt used to the quiet in there lol. I put her down before starting today's entry and she is already awake again.  *big sigh*  I did happen to get her first real laugh this morning!!  It was the cutest thing!  She laughed a few times and it just makes me light up. :)  She has laughed a few times before, but only in her sleep.  Whatever could a newborn be dreaming about, let alone laughing at, in their sleep.  I have no idea, but either way, to have it when she was awake and reacting to me trying to get her to laugh, was exciting!! :)

Meanwhile, Julia and Madisen have been playing in her room with her doll house.  Surprisingly, with out any arguing, yet.  They were so awful yesterday with the fighting that they pretty much had everything taken away.  So im thinking this being nice to each other thing is to earn back some their stuff  from yesterday.  Im still struggling with Julia constantly having to RUN everywhere.  "STOP RUNNING!" is all i say to her i swear.  And now Madie, as slow as she is eating, is trying to run to everything too.  "You are not in a race", is another thing im always saying.  Julia has always had this thing about being first.  I know im competitive, but seriously, i wasnt at 6!  And she really hasnt seen me be competitive with others about anything so i dont know why it drives her every move.  Im over exaggerating you say?  Nope, im not lol.  She NEEDS, wants, and forces herself to be first with brushing teeth, going potty, to the top of the stairs, bottom of the stairs, , getting her silverware, finishing a drink, finishing her food.  First to get dressed, first undressed, first to have pj's on, first to the table, first in the car, first out of the car, first to whatever room shes headed to, first for lotion, first to get in the pool, etc.etc..get the point?  Am i still over exaggerating? lol i didnt think so :)  There are a few advantages to her being fast, like if i need her to get more diapers, or a burp rag very quickly, she will do it in a flash!  And im sure when she starts playing competitive sports, it will be great.  Otherwise, it is so much work to keep under control.  It wouldnt matter so much if when she wasnt first she didnt mind, but she does!  I guess she has gotten better from when she used to drop to the floor and cry if she wasnt first.  It still bugs her, but she is more sly about it.  She will speed up and slip between you and the door to enter before you or she will hold Madisen back just far enough she can get in front of her.  But she no longer throws the fits if she isnt first.  Which is good!  It is so mentally time consuming to be watching for that all the time and to make her NOT first more than letting her, to make sure she learns she cant always be in front, and how to handle it when she isnt.  

I cant believe it!  Attempt #4 at getting Aubrey to sleep in her crib is finally working! :)  She has been in there for about 25 min. now :)  The kids all just finished lunch too and Ella is fast asleep in her toddler bed already.  She has only been in there for about 10 min. Which means i have both of my nappers, napping at the same time!! Woohoo!! :) Nap is the easiest and quickest time Ella falls asleep, and doesnt try to get out of her bed.   She loves to nap.  All of mine have at that age, until they are old enough to not really be napping.  Its never been a fight.  I made sure of that.  All the ones i nannied have loved to take naps too.  I believe it has something to do with my strategy, that i will now share with you :)  First, i never make nap time a punishment, and also never make it a time out spot.  I have also always made sure to crib "train" them from an early age, even though i really did want them in the co-sleeper or my bed for much longer, i knew getting them used to the crib early on, is easier than later.  Plus i always wanted the evenings for ME time, and not spending forever getting my kid to finally go to sleep.  How exhausting!  From the time the child is old enough they are on more of a routine for naps, they were in their bed, and they were put to bed sleepy and tired, NOT asleep.  At least after the first few months of life.  That way they learned their surroundings and got used to them.  And most importantly, in my opinion, when the kid wakes up, you go to them when they are happy and talking to be up.  I know the whole saying of "well, they arent crying, so just leave them" is out there, BUT i believe that waiting until the child is crying is only teaching them that they have to cry in order to get out of bed.  So then they learn to just cry when they wake up so that someone will come get them.  I always go in their room with a smile on my face and happy to see that they are awake (even if i wished they had slept longer lol).  So anyways, those are my steps i have used for many many years, and not just with my own kids.  It has produced all of them running to their rooms to head up for nap at nap time! :) I sure wish i could still get to nap!

Napper 1

Napper 2

Well i should be taking this time to clean or something, but i really think i will just rest for a little while.  My other girls are home and awake, so i cant take a nap, but oh how i want to! :)  But just not having to nurse, or change a diaper for a little while is relaxing :)  

It sure is a windy and sunny day today.  I LOVE it!  Its still weird to walk around and see all the Halloween decorations up and it be sunny and warm out, not overcast and rainy.  A little bittersweet i guess :)  

Oh yeah, Julia's little pie baking went great.   I was the first mom to show up.  She said be there at 2, so i was 5 min. early.  Then another mom showed up a few after 2, but the other 2 that came showed up at like 2:30.  Really?  Whatever.  And also, barely anyone had given supplies for it.  We brought pie crust and capri suns (both on the list to bring) and nobody else brought pie crust.  There were a few things for the filling and then just more capri suns.  It all worked out but what a close call on the crust, and i almost didnt get it lol.  The teacher could have also given more time.  We got the flyer for the pie on wed. and they made them friday.  Oh well, like i said, it all worked out.  

Got my potty training supplies i need to start working on Ella more.  Pull-ups and M&M's lol  I can just tell she is going to need those candies to get the process going and probably finished haha.  She is so much like Julia, so it will be interesting to see how much she changes over the years.  I have about a weeks worth of diapers left for her, then its GO TIME!  I hope i can keep my track record of having them all done before 2 years old.  We'll see though....this one is STUBBORN!  She is an awesome big sister already though!! 

Until next time...

Where does the time go?

My baby was 11 weeks old on Wed.  Geez, where the time go??  I cant believe she will be 3 months old soon!  Ella, my almost 20 month old will be running out of diapers soon, and will then be into pull ups.  Thats when the potty training fully starts.  I've already taken her many times, and we talk about it during the day.  But the effort on my part isnt starting more until pull ups.  Some may say, she still young, etc etc.   But potty training is my area, whether i like it or not.  And i dont lol.  When i worked at Kindercare thats what i did.  The last 2 years i worked there, i had the PRE preschool age.  I had the 2-3 years old.  Ten of them in fact.  As they were potty trained or turning 3 they were moved out into preschool.  They couldnt leave my room until they were fully potty trained though.  I always had them all potty trained by 3.  They would then take all my kiddos and put them in preschool and give me a whole new set of almost 2's or 2 year olds that had to be potty trained.  This was a grueling task but after awhile it becomes a routine.  I sat on my little stool, had a child in front of me, sent them to the mini sized toilet to TRY and potty, and then brought them back, gave them a pull up and sent them on their way.  On to the next kid.  After 10 kids, which was about 30-45 min. later.  I would pretty much have to start all over again, since i took them hourly.   So NOT looking forward to starting that all over again with Ella.  BUT i do believe that potty training a child is more about the parents consistent effort and guidance,  than waiting until the child is ready.  All mine and the ones i nannied were fully done and in underwear by 2.  Julia being the latest, right before her 2nd birthday.  Jack and Lucy and Madie were done at 20 months!  Ella is prob. going to be more like Julia and be closer to her 2nd birthday, she is a stubborn one!!  Might have to do the old M&M reward thing with her, when stickers worked with the rest haha.

Today i get to go to Julia's school at 2 pm to help with pie baking.  Im hoping enough of the parents come to help their own kid that i dont have to have a lot of other kids in my group.   I havent really bonded with any of her classmates this year.  Not like last year when her BFF i just love, and her whole class would give me a high five on the way to their class after the teacher came and got them.  It was soooo cute!  But its still pretty early this year.  Im kinda excited to go to Julia's class and help though, i didnt really do that last year.  I had a baby (Ella) at home and was pregnant and was just NOT feeling it!  I did take home tasks from the teacher though, so i did help in a way :)  She always gave me the BIG ones too, she knew i would return them faster than the other mom helpers lol. And i was happy to help in some way.  They only took one field trip last year, im glad i went on that.  Im so glad those things fall on the days that my husband is home from work and can watch the other kids while i get to go.  He would go, but he doesnt want to have other people's kids in his group that hes responsible for.  You'd think he wouldnt mind since we have enough of our own kids, but thats just it, they are OURS.  I always dreamed of getting to go with my kids on their school adventures and stuff so im hoping Julia will get a field trip or two this year.  No word on any yet though.  

I asked one of the moms about the kindergarten here.  I guess its full day and its free!  Im pretty happy about that, i just hope its not too long of a day for Madisen.  She is going to end up passing out way before bed probably lol.  I'll have to start training the slowest eater EVER on how to hurry up as well because you dont get 45 min. or more to eat lunch at school.  She will probably end up starving the first week until she finally understands you have to speed up and eat to get it down in the time frame they give you.  Here, at home, she takes FOREVER!  Unless its something she really really likes, havent had in awhile, or is extremely hungry.  Otherwise, its a constant thing to tell her to take a bite, chew, swallow...and REPEAT!  With pretty much every bite....it sure gets old!  Its gotten a lot better over time.  This time last year, every meal, except breakfast, was a struggle with Madie. She also has a large imagination, so instead of eating, she's playing around.  Her fingers are "spiders" and are always doing something instead of eating!  I swear that child would be on a feeding tube if it werent for me lol.

Got a flyer yesterday about Fall costume ball next friday, still waiting on more info about that.  Wondering if its for all siblings too, or just her.  Probably just her.   Im also waiting to get her school pictures back.  She took them the last week of September, so i thought i'd get them back by now.  They were re-takes because we didnt get to this school or state until after the first set of pictures had already been taken.   Im always nervous about how the pictures will turn out.  Especially this year because she wanted to wear a headband.  Im working on not controlling so much about what she wears and how she wants her hair, so i let her wear the headband.  So many things can go wrong wearing a headband in school pictures lol.  The pictures arent even taken the min. you get to school so who knows how it will look and if her hair was laying ok.  *sigh* We will see!  We wont get another shot at pictures this year, so either way, its gonna be the framed one lol.  

Well the baby is waking up from her cat nap in the swing.  It might have something to do with Ella being near here with some Tinkerbell dominos that she is clanging together quite loudly.  She always likes to say, more like yell "HI BABY, HI AUBEY" as soon as the baby falls asleep.  She isnt using her R's quite yet, but she can say a lot of things already!  And she sure loves her baby sister, which is so awesome! :)  I think i'll start to nap Aubrey in her crib a little more and maybe that will help with her waking so often. She is approaching the age of taking like 3 naps a day, instead of just randomly passing out through out the day haha.  Ahhh, they grow so fast!

Happy Friday!!

Until next time...

Kinda random lol

My view every morning...

Of course its my view every morning!  Because at least one of my kids has woken me BEFORE the sun comes up lol. But i think i've complained about that enough lately.  We all know im up earlier than i want to be! I just try to tell myself that someday when they are all older..i may in fact miss it.  Maybe....

My youngest, now 10 weeks old, is sleeping 8 hours a night!  Her night starts earlier than mine, so its not a full 8 hours for me, but still, i'll take it!  She is such a good baby and i couldnt say that enough, she really is!  Which i am sooooo grateful for!  Those that dont know, she was conceived with an IUD in place, so shes my little miracle baby :)  I did not want another one yet, or so close to my 19 month old.   I knew i did not want them that close because from experience of being a nanny and having their kids and mine all with 10-13 months from the next one.  4 kids under 4 ... CRAZY!!  So when i learned i was pregnant again so soon, it was hard to come to terms with it.  I also felt awful because here i was trying to PREVENT it, and i had 2 friends who were trying to get pregnant.  I went back and forth on when the right time was to tell them.  I wasnt sure how they would take it but when i did tell them, they seemed fine :)  My last 2 are close in age, but i think they will be best friends too!  All my girls are wonderful sisters.  They fight sometimes, but they genuinely care for each other.  Even Ella, my 19th month old, is a great big sister!  Always wants to give the baby a kiss and her face just lights up when we let her "hold" her little sister Aubrey.  Makes it all worth it! :)  Hey, how did i get so distracted on my kids again?? LOL 

Madisen, Aubrey and Ella

Madisen

Aubrey- 10 weeks old

Julia

 Still hoping to make it to the pumpkin patch this weekend.  We were supposed to go last thursday BUUUUUT the kids lost the chance to go that day because they continued to be naughty.  We did end up getting a few pumpkins from the store so i could decorate the front porch with them.  I still want to go to the pumpkin patch though for the experience.  Although there are very few patches here that still keep the pumpkins on the vines.  And those patches are further than i want to drive.  So we will be going to one that already has them picked from the field.  Oh well.  Another thing that kinda sucks about the pumpkin patches here, is that you have to pay to get in, then everything is included, except pumpkins.  With 4 kids all different aged, i dont want to pay for all the activities, i may not WANT to do all of them.  Let me pick which ones we want to pay for by how much time we have to do them.  So its like $8-10 a person!  Some have parents only paying $3, but then kids over 12 months pay.  Some have it $8 a person and 2 and under are free.  Either way..its going to cost us $32-36 for the pumpkin patch.  I miss being able to just go and wonder around and pick a few pumpkins, go on a hay ride, play on the hay stacks that are FREE, and go home.  Well, at least i know, no matter what, we wont have to bring our rain gear to go pick pumpkins! lol  It was actually pretty nice this morning when i went out back to take that picture of the sun coming up.  A coolness to the air instead of being punched in the face with heat no matter what time of night it was.  According to AccuWeather.com the nights are supposed to drop in the 50's and even 40's pretty soon.  So we may in fact need a little zip up jacket when walking Julia to school.  A nice change especially since by the afternoon it will be into the 80's :) 

A car, a car, a car!  I wish i had a car!! lol  I dont think my days would be so long if i could load the kids up and go somewhere in the car sometimes.  We try to make it to the park, that is easily with in walking distance, but sometimes with all that is going on here, we dont even end up doing that.  When Ella takes a nap today, i think we will go front and the big girls can draw with chalk, ride bikes or scooters and enjoy the weather.  WITH OUT me having to chase busy bee around.  We are going to have to get my husband some type of motorcycle or something to get him to work by next summer, probably by spring here.  There is NO way im walking Julia and Madie back and forth to school when it gets to be 120* outside.  And by that time, Madisen will be starting kindergarten, which i think is half day here.  So while the exercise of walking to and from the school multiple times a day would be nice..the weather will kill us.  Problem is, coming up with the $$ to get one.  Gonna have to find a way to budget that in, and save whatever bonus's he gets between then and now.  

Ok, well half my kids are dressed and its almost time to start making lunch.  It would be so nice to have someone deliver fresh made healthy food for me and the kids, but who also stuck around to do the dishes afterwards hahaha...

Thanks for stopping by....until next time... :)