Crash and Burn

Day 99 of 365

With Bart at a hunting course I was at the house alone with the Bub for the morning and possibly early afternoon.

The morning started off good, we shared a bowl of cereal, which was more amazing than the commercials make it look, and we are tackling the juice box. 18 months is a little young to be using a juice box but SOMEONE is on sippy cup strike since the bottle has left the picture completely almost 3 days ago. So juice boxes and a cup of milk with a straw it is. And I guess it really isn't too young, she gets cause and effect so hopefully if I have a moment I am not holding the box she won't always squeeze it and make a mess.

After breakfast I got dressed and asked the Bub if she wanted to go for a walk. Yea yeayeayea and a big smile was my response. Score another point for Mom, this day is going great! Dressed the Bub, let her pick out her sneakers, grabbed a few tissues for her running nose and threw my camera around my neck. We were off.

Three steps out the door she wanted me to pick her up. Uh oh, this should have been my sign she wasn't in the mood to go for a walk but I ignored it. Instead I carried her for a little bit and then she saw a dog and she did a 180....happy, pointing, imitating a dog by barking and panting. It was an adorable and friendly dog so as the owner come toward us I asked if she could say hi. We both got a puppy kiss and got to pet the soft furry love. Then we started walking to the park. We were on track again, a couple minutes later we were at the park. Enter sign two I should have quit while I was slightly ahead. Bub does not want to go on the swing. Not. At. All. I give her a moment and we try again. I let her hold something of mine and then she went into the swing. Seemed ok for a moment and then started crying. Took her out. Wanted to go on the slide so I tried holding her down the slide and started crying. Let her stand and walk around and then the screaming started. FAB U LOUS. I love being outside with a kid having a tantrum and not able to find anything to calm her. I walked away from her a foot or so and ignored the behavior. A few moments later she stopped crying. Still trying to hold onto an image of a fun time together and not taking the hit after strike three I asked her if she wanted to sit on the bench with me and look for birds, an activity she loves normally. And she is unhappy again. After this I took my cue, gave up my hopes and carried her home. Anyone with kids just saw a typical toddler and defeated parent walking home, anyone else may have thought I was kidnapping her the way she was carrying on with the crying, tears and already red eyes and runny nose.

We had some juice, read a story and now she is playing with her talking Elmo. I am thankful for the background noise of Elmo and The Backyardigans minus a screaming 18 month old.

Blog Hop!

Day 98 of 365

my baby

Day 95 of 365

Happy 18 Months Nina!

The Bub is a year and a half today. Some days when I hold her it feels like just yesterday she came into this world. I can't imagine life without her. She is by far the most amazing gift we have been given.

Watching her grow into a little person has been so very fulfilling. She isn't a "baby" anymore. She's a big girl, she has told me so. Hehe, months ago in fact. But honestly the transformation over the last one to two months is incredible. She has learned so much. She can do so much now. Somehow I didn't think kids her age could use straws...I don't know why I thought this but I was proven oh so wrong. Juice box is no problem for her! Using a straw for water, juice or milk...yes please. Oh my, when did my baby turn into a little girl?

My sweet little one who was delayed in walking now sprints down the hall. The 13+ month old who often wouldn't even entertain standing on her own now climbs the couch when she desires.

Feeding yourself is still messy but when you actually will eat you love to try to feed yourself. But you still let us feed you so I am thankful for thank. And while you are getting older you still enjoy a milk bottle and I am okay with that. It will end naturally and I will long for the days of you wanting to lay with me and relax with a ba in hand.

You went to your first, our first too, 4H fair. You loved the animals. We let you walk around and say hi to whichever animal you wanted to greet. You adored the goats, I think we could have stayed in that one section all night.

When we say goodbye to someone you blow kisses. Melt. My. Heart. It is the sweetest thing and you have totally made a few people's days by doing so. Including mine.

Love you Bub. I can't wait to see what you blow me away with in the next 18 months.

Quiet

Day 94 of 365

Right down to business - here is my Ebates referral link:

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You get cash back for shopping. Has some stores that Swagucks does not have: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/KIRWEN1004

Both free to join, all you do is get money back for shopping places you would shop anyway.

I need to get around visiting blogs soon. I've been very quiet lately.

Right now I don't feel good and think I may be coming down with something.

Later Lovebugs. A curious 18 month old is ready to play.

Patience...

Day 91 of 365

I have no patience. I am trying. I am searching. But it is hard.

I still have not heard back from the craft show about my participation. It's driving me nuts because the way the woman sounded when I spoke to her it wouldn't be a problem. Now I'm waiting to see if I'm "accepted". Gah. I want to call/email her and see what's going on but I am trying to be patient. Trying to wait and allow her the time to get back to me on her own.

My beautiful daughter who is full swing into the terrible twos, four days prior to her 18 month birthday. Like laying on the floor tantrums, screaming and nothing I can do to make it go away but ignore it. I want to yell at her, to pick her up and put her in her crib but I know I can not.

I'm getting better, but I have a long way to go. Especially when it comes to patience on the road.

Later Lovebugs.

Slowly moving along

Day 83 of 365

I finally reached my first weight loss goal of 20 pounds. Go me! My second goal is only five pounds but I am half way there. While I want to lose more weight honestly if I maintain a 25lb loss for the rest of the year that would be good enough for me. But I am going to try to drop at least another ten pounds.

Currently I am waiting to hear back to see if I got into a craft show in the fall I applied to. It's not a contest, it's a show where I would sell stuff and I still have to wait to see if I get in. Sigh. The industry is a little more tightly strung than I expected. Sales are slow but I am getting a few. I need exposure. Cheap or free exposure and it's hard to come by when you aren't a go getting networking maven.

We are in the process of trying to eliminate the Bub's morning bottle and it isn't going over well. At. All. Her sippy cup was thrown on the ground numerous times and handed back to me while she said "Bye to it". The thing is she does great with a sippy cup. She just doesn't want to.

There is something that came to light recently that I am not happy about. But life is what it is and I am not going to let the anger paralyze me as I have in years past. Just keep moving along. Concentrate on my family, becoming a healthier person and my business.

Later Lovebugs.