Updates + More

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the lovely comments on my last blog post.  All of your words really helped validate my feelings and reminded me that I'm not an ogre after all!  I appreciate that more than you know…  

Funny, I'm always reluctant to open up on this blog and get deeply personal, but when I do throw caution to the wind and blog with my heart on my sleeve I'm always glad that I did.  Blogging can be so cathartic… when you allow it to be.  I feel like just being able to express the feelings in that post freed me of much of the angst I was experiencing.  And having spoken aloud about the pink elephant in our house, I feel like I've been a calmer and more patient person.  (Plus, we had an extra set of hands helping out this past week, which was incredible).

You know, I've never been one who was much good at suppressing emotions… I find that when you do that they always spill out somehow, and usually not in the right way.  So again, many thanks for that outpouring of support!   

In Other News: 

♥ If you follow me on Facebook (my personal profile) don't be alarmed that my wall is missing.  I had a few folks email me about it.  I didn't de-friend anybody or make any special "lists" to isolate you.  I disabled it.  *shrug*  The truth is I haven't been enthusiastic about it in a while and at this time time really need to focus my energies into the blog and accompanying Fan Page.  I have a few personal goals to reach, with regards to this blog, and not a lot of time to work on them…. so I wanted to pour my little bit of spare time into those goals versus maintaining a personal FB presence.  Meanwhile, The Prissy Mommy Life Page is still active, so I'd love it if you'd join us over there!

♥ Health Stuff: I realized I never updated you with regards to Chase's vision.  Well we did inquire about it at his 18-month checkup.  His doctor was great and gave me the referral to a child's eye doctor.  I made an appointment for the next week and he checked Chase out thoroughly…. dilated the poor babe's eyes and then ran all sorts of tests.  Turns out his vision is fine, and he suggested I come back when he is 3 years old for another appointment, since poor eyesight does run in both our families.  Hmmmm, okay.  *scratching head*  I am glad to know Chase doesn't need eye glasses for now.  But I'm still not convinced that the eye rolling/crossing is "nothing" and, once "life" settles down for me I plan to do some follow-up (either another eye doctor or neurologist).  Sorry doc, it's not personal, just the type of mom I am!

♥ And lastly, because I didn't intend for this to be that long (funny how that always happens!) I decided to put Chase's transition to his toddler bed on hold – again.  If you recall, I first began the transition back in April, when Chase was 15 1/2 months.  That was way too early.  He wasn't emotionally mature enough for the switch, and kept getting out of bed, playing in his room, coming into the hallway, etc.  So I gave it some time and we started back again at 18 months.  I found that he was able to nap in his bed, but his naps would be shorter.  He'd wake up after half an hour and come out in the hall, and then that was it.  After speaking to a couple of girlfriends, I decided to try the transition at night instead of during the day.  So I started putting him in the toddler bed at bedtime and just turned a night light on in the room (so he didn't wake up frightened in the middle of the night).

This proved way more effective than the day time naps.  He has clearly matured and understands that it isn't okay to get out of bed anymore (or at least knows better than to leave his room and flaunt his presence to mommy and daddy, lol).  He now accepts that this is his "big boy bed" and, like the crib, he is to remain in bed til morning.  So the first couple of times it went so well – we were excited!!!!  Then one day, after I'd laid him down, I heard him start screaming/crying after an hour.  I ran to his bedroom and didn't see Chase anywhere.  Turns out he had fallen in this small nook between the floor and the window!  Omg, it was scary.  He was okay though… crying and still asleep at the same time.  I put him in the crib, and we then put some stuff in that nook to prevent him from falling again. But last night he fell out of bed again, at 3 am.  I heard a thump and then he started wailing.  I raced into the room and picked him up.  He was a little dazed but otherwise okay.  I had lined the floor with stuffed animals in the event that this happened, so he was startled more than anything.  Anyway, this made me realiz
e that, until I can get some real guard rails, he isn't quite ready for this toddler bed.  He doesn't yet sleep with that "unconscious but conscious" awareness that there aren't the constraints of crib bars, and I think that's something that will have to come with time.  

I'm okay with that now.  Like, seriously.  When the new baby is ready to transition from co-sleeping in his bassinet to the nursery with Chase…. if Chase isn't yet transitioned over, we'll just get a second crib.  It's really all good.  The toddler bed can be stored until somebody is ready to sleep in it.  I realize now that transitioning from crib to "big boy bed" is a huge step, and it's really unfair to rush Chase simply for the convenience of using the crib for his little brother.  I want him to transition into it naturally, as he would have were there no baby on the way.  So I'm going to let some more time pass and then allow things to organically unfold as they should.  I'm quite sure he'll let us know when he's truly ready to make that move!

Hope ya'all have a great week!!!!

38 Weeks Today!