Well, I've heard from a couple friends who have said I've spent more than my 2 weeks away from this blog. Time to get back in the saddle, I guess!
I'm sure everyone who reads this blog knows by now, but the reason I took time off was that I found out I was pregnant and starting around 5 1/2 weeks, got very sick and am just now, these past couple weeks, starting to feel somewhat normal again. Being pregnant this time around has just stunk. Although I was sick on and off my first trimester with Max, in general I felt really good and absolutely loved being pregnant. I now have tons more empathy for friends who have had horrible pregnancies because I can now say I've been there!!!
Anyway, enough complaining about that. I'm excited to be pregnant! I find out in 3 weeks if this kiddo is a boy or girl and even though I really could care less what the sex is at this point, I feel like it's a girl, mainly because this pregnancy has been so different from my first. So it's either a girl or a really ornery boy. :) Either way I can't wait to find out!
The last week has been a little stressful at our house. We have made the transition from crib to big boy bed for Max in order to start prepping the nursery for this new baby and it's been kind of rough! The first few nights were great, Max stayed in bed, slept through the night and did great. The past few days, however, have been an entirely different story, getting worse every day! Just a few minutes ago, in fact, I made a frantic call to my friend Micaela who I regard as a parenting expert and left her a voicemail saying I needed some serious help with this issue!
It is 4:11pm and Max has STILL not fallen asleep for his nap today. I'm about to cry "UNCLE" and give in, but really don't want him thinking he can stop napping every day! I have gone in there six times already and each time I find Max getting into something or doing something he shouldn't. I have already removed many things from his room.....let me give you the rundown.
1st time out of bed: Found he had crawled on top of his tall bookshelf, gotten down the hand sanitizer and had smeared it all over himself and my carpet.
2nd time out of bed: Found he had once again crawled on top of his bookshelf, gotten down the tube of Desitin, crawled back into bed and was smearing it all over himself and his sheets. I didn't bother cleaning either up, just took the Desitin and put him back in bed.
3rd time out of bed: Found him on the floor "picking up" all the pillows, animals, etc. he had thrown off his bed.
4th time out of bed: Heard him yelling "YEEHAW" and found he had dragged his rocking horse to the middle of his bedroom and was riding away.
5th time out of bed: (This may have been the funniest if not the most frustrating...) Found he had taken out the new package of diaperwipes, stripped off all his clothes AND diaper and was laying on the floor wiping his own butt saying, "I wipe my butt, I wipe my butt".
6th time out of bed: Found he had somehow managed to pull the doorstopper out of the wall and fold his rug in half.
What is a mommy to do?? Anyone have suggestions?? A few times I told him if he got out of bed again he would get a spanken...which I did follow through with but today it hasn't worked from keeping him in bed. I try to keep a straight face, put him back in bed, remove all tempting things from his room and leave, but as soon as I close the door I can hear him getting into something else. I'm at a loss.
Anyway, that's been my day. Super exciting. And now I'm about to go check on him for the 7th time and if he's awake, I'm calling a huge FAIL for the day and letting him stay up so I can put him to bed early tonight. Seems silly for him to nap now when he goes to bed at 8pm.
be consistent jenny...that's the best advice, we have used the spank consequence for ours in their cribs as they tend to jump up and down and climb...it took a bit (I am talking atleast a week or more) for them to understand that the consequence was constant. Meaning anytime the stood up, a spanking would happen. Now, it's not perfect, but 9 times out of 10 I check on them (and in the mornings when I go to get them up) they are still laying down. It's not going to happen in a day, and while it's frustrating, your consistency WILL pay off, just hang in there, I promise. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tracy!! I did spank him 3 times today but was really feeling horrible about it. Still trying to figure out this spanking thing, when it's appropriate and when it's too much. You have reassured me that it's okay as long as I'm consistent. Thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteJenny-
ReplyDeletethat is a HARD thing I realize. It is something you and kirk have to decide, but I tend to agree with that kind of a thing in a training situation, it is ok. As long as you explain to Max what the consequence will be (and that it is a consequence...I know some kids spanking doesn't always work as a consequence) and follow through...he WILL put 2 and 2 together quickly. :) I would suggest talking to him again during the consequence too, explaining why he's getting the spank etc. And now that my kids are very verbal...I ask them before nap, what's the naptime rule? lay down or....and they answer spankin...I do that for clear communication and so I know they are understanding. Like I said, it's how we get them to lay down and nap and how I got them to STOP taking diapers off at nap and bedtime...so I know it works. :) Sorry for the book. ;) It's a tough topic for parents...I'm always around if you have more questions. :)
Sweet, sweet friend! I'm so sorry that this is so rough on you!!! I did find much amusement in both the "Yeehaw" and the butt wipes scenarios. :-) But I'm sure that's really hard to deal with. Sounds like you've got a smart, adventurous little bugger on your hands. Love you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're back! Good luck with the naps, that first kid is the hardest, and you're doing a great job figuring it all out!
ReplyDeleteMax cracks me up! I am sure that is no fun. I had to lay in Kendall's room so she would stay in bed, I would stay in there til she fell asleep. I did that for about two weeks then gradually shortened my time in there. Not sure if this would work for your situation. Hang in there not much longer til our escape to KC!
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