Aug 24, 2010
Gone too long
I know I suck because it has been WAYYYYYYYYYYY too long since I have even thought about posting anything out here. I'll try to do better. I promise! Just not tonight. :-(
Aug 2, 2010
It's been so long
Since I have taken any pictures of Chase :-( I feel like SUCH a bad mommy, but it is so hard to take pictures of him these days. He's all over the place!!
Chase is now 16 months old and growing into such a little man.
This weekend was LOTS of fun for him. I had an open house here yesterday to introduce the new fall 31 line to everyone and one of my friends brought her little boy who is 2. I was a little apprehensive about how Chase would do with all of the people and with the other kids since he's not around kids much, but he did GREAT. He had an awesome time playing with Jayden! And then later in the day Vada came over and he got to play with her for a while, so it was a really exciting day for him!
Chase has also learned to climb onto the couch all by himself now. Hard to believe that this time last year he wasn't even able to crawl! My how things change in a year!
Now if we could only get him talking a bit more. He does say "kit-kit" now (yay! I actually taught him something!), and understands SOOOOO much it's almost unbelievable. He just isn't quite there with the verbalization.
Chase is now 16 months old and growing into such a little man.
This weekend was LOTS of fun for him. I had an open house here yesterday to introduce the new fall 31 line to everyone and one of my friends brought her little boy who is 2. I was a little apprehensive about how Chase would do with all of the people and with the other kids since he's not around kids much, but he did GREAT. He had an awesome time playing with Jayden! And then later in the day Vada came over and he got to play with her for a while, so it was a really exciting day for him!
Chase has also learned to climb onto the couch all by himself now. Hard to believe that this time last year he wasn't even able to crawl! My how things change in a year!
Now if we could only get him talking a bit more. He does say "kit-kit" now (yay! I actually taught him something!), and understands SOOOOO much it's almost unbelievable. He just isn't quite there with the verbalization.
Jul 26, 2010
Discipline - what works??
Although Chase is only 16 months old we seem to have somehow entered the fun, fun world of the terrible two's already. It seems that no day is complete without at least one tantrum, several toys thrown across the room, lots of hitting, and now head-butting. I feel so out of control sometimes.
Nothing I do seems to help curb Chases's acting out. He responds very well to praise - nothing motivates him more that a "yay Chase" - but I can't seem to find the secret to getting him to NOT do something. I have tried time-outs, but he throws such a tantrum that it is pretty pointless. And while I don't have any problem with (s)pankings they don't work either. (And it feels very counter-productive and confusing at this point to punish him for hitting by (s)panking.)
I wish I felt more in control and capable of teaching Chase how to behave the way he should. I worry that if he doesn't learn now it will only get worst as the years progress.
It also doesn't help that Chase all but ignores me when I ask him to do something. I can say "put your toys in the toybox" 10 times in a row and he completely ignores me. But let someone else (mama, daddy, Jim, Jamie, etc.) tell him and he'll usually listen. SOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrating!! I hate that most of the time I have to spend with him during the week is spent repeating myself and facing a battle of wills over simple things like diaper changes and putting toys up.
Don't get me wrong, Chase is overall a good kid. And I'm sure that my perspective is a bit skewed. We really do have some good / easy times. It's just hard to remember them when I am trying to put a diaper on a very uncooperative, loud, unhappy, screaming, thrashing little boy. :-(
Any discipline advice?? I'm all ears!
Nothing I do seems to help curb Chases's acting out. He responds very well to praise - nothing motivates him more that a "yay Chase" - but I can't seem to find the secret to getting him to NOT do something. I have tried time-outs, but he throws such a tantrum that it is pretty pointless. And while I don't have any problem with (s)pankings they don't work either. (And it feels very counter-productive and confusing at this point to punish him for hitting by (s)panking.)
I wish I felt more in control and capable of teaching Chase how to behave the way he should. I worry that if he doesn't learn now it will only get worst as the years progress.
It also doesn't help that Chase all but ignores me when I ask him to do something. I can say "put your toys in the toybox" 10 times in a row and he completely ignores me. But let someone else (mama, daddy, Jim, Jamie, etc.) tell him and he'll usually listen. SOOOOOOOOOOOO frustrating!! I hate that most of the time I have to spend with him during the week is spent repeating myself and facing a battle of wills over simple things like diaper changes and putting toys up.
Don't get me wrong, Chase is overall a good kid. And I'm sure that my perspective is a bit skewed. We really do have some good / easy times. It's just hard to remember them when I am trying to put a diaper on a very uncooperative, loud, unhappy, screaming, thrashing little boy. :-(
Any discipline advice?? I'm all ears!
Jul 21, 2010
Sorry it's been a while
Life has been crazy busy the last few weeks and the last thing I have wanted to do when I finally settle down for the night is be in front of a computer again. I promise to try to do better . . .
Jul 2, 2010
Stressed
So I just finished paying bills for the month. UGH!! How depressing! I had really hoped that the extra $ I am making from 31 would give us a little more breathing room financially and allow me to start paying my mom some for keeping Chase. For reasons that I don't quite understand yet, even with the extra money coming in I/we are ALWAYS broke!! I hate feeling such financial stress. And I know that we are in a much better situation that a lot of people, so I really have no room to complain. But complain I am. It is so hard and so stressful to always be worried about money.
And on top of the financial stress I am also stressing myself out about 31. I am not the type of person who does things half way - it's either all or nothing. Up to this point I have done pretty well with 31 - making my personal goal (or there abouts) 3 out of 5 months. Unless something changes quickly though July is definately going to be a disappointing month. So far I only have 1 party booked. :-( And I've tried almost everything I can think of to find additional hostesses to no avail.
I keep trying to tell myself that everything happens the way its supposed to, and that it's not the end of the world if July is not a good month. I already have 2 parties scheduled for August, and hope to get a couple more between now and then. And not having parties on the weekends will allow me time to spend with Chase, mama, Kelly, Jamie, Kristi, and Holden at the pool. I know it won't be the end of the world if July is slow, but I feel so disappointed in myself becuase I feel like I am failing. And the worry wart in me worries that the rest of the year (Aug, Sep, Oct, etc.) are going to be slow because of 1 slow month.
I really wish that I weren't so hard on myself and didn't have such high expectations for myself, but it's the only way I know. Ever since I can remember I have always set my goals high and worked my butt off to achieve them. I have always strived to be the best at everything I do and don't like coming in second place. While these are in general good qualities to have (I think/hope) they also cause me a LOT of self-imposed stress.
So I am going to try to remind myself that things are what they are and will work out they way they are meant to. And I will try to enjoy my July no matter what it brings my way, starting with this weekend. I am hoping to get in some pool time with Chase and the gang. He (Chase) did much better last weekend in the water, so hopefully we can continue the pattern this weekend. And if he doesn't, maybe Grandpa will want to babysit so mommy can enjoy the pool. :-)
Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone! (And if you are interested in hosting a 31 party in July, please, please let me know!)
And on top of the financial stress I am also stressing myself out about 31. I am not the type of person who does things half way - it's either all or nothing. Up to this point I have done pretty well with 31 - making my personal goal (or there abouts) 3 out of 5 months. Unless something changes quickly though July is definately going to be a disappointing month. So far I only have 1 party booked. :-( And I've tried almost everything I can think of to find additional hostesses to no avail.
I keep trying to tell myself that everything happens the way its supposed to, and that it's not the end of the world if July is not a good month. I already have 2 parties scheduled for August, and hope to get a couple more between now and then. And not having parties on the weekends will allow me time to spend with Chase, mama, Kelly, Jamie, Kristi, and Holden at the pool. I know it won't be the end of the world if July is slow, but I feel so disappointed in myself becuase I feel like I am failing. And the worry wart in me worries that the rest of the year (Aug, Sep, Oct, etc.) are going to be slow because of 1 slow month.
I really wish that I weren't so hard on myself and didn't have such high expectations for myself, but it's the only way I know. Ever since I can remember I have always set my goals high and worked my butt off to achieve them. I have always strived to be the best at everything I do and don't like coming in second place. While these are in general good qualities to have (I think/hope) they also cause me a LOT of self-imposed stress.
So I am going to try to remind myself that things are what they are and will work out they way they are meant to. And I will try to enjoy my July no matter what it brings my way, starting with this weekend. I am hoping to get in some pool time with Chase and the gang. He (Chase) did much better last weekend in the water, so hopefully we can continue the pattern this weekend. And if he doesn't, maybe Grandpa will want to babysit so mommy can enjoy the pool. :-)
Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone! (And if you are interested in hosting a 31 party in July, please, please let me know!)
Jun 25, 2010
How did I get to be SOOOOOO disorganized??
I used to be a very organized person. In fact so much so that when me and 6 family members took a trip to NYC 7 years ago I earned the nickname "Captain Preparedness." So how is it that I have ended up where I am today - completely and totally disorganized??
Since having Chase I have found that in order for me to do the things I need to do and not forget about them until it's too late I have to write it down. At any given moment I have at least three to-do lists going - one for work, one for housework, and one for other personal/non-work reminders. Even the most simple of to-dos that should be easy to remember (like cleaning Chase's ears out or cutting his finger nails) has to be written down or I will completely and totally forget.
Not only am I not able to keep straight from hour to hour / day to day all of the things that I need to, I also cannot keep track of where anything is anymore. Earlier this week I spent half the night looking for the Brad Paisley CD that I bought over a year ago and have only listened to a handful of times because I couldn't remember where I put it. I could see in my mind all of the places that it could have been, but of course it was in none of those places. Finally, it occur ed to me to check my desk at work (where I keep a lot of CDs - have to have music while I work) and finally was able to put my hands on the missing CD.
Last night I spent over an hour looking for a new shade of fingernail polish (a very pretty purple) that I bought a few weeks back but hadn't yet had time to use. I very vividly remember putting it on the counter in my bathroom, but it has disappeared and is no where to be found. It bugs me WAYYY more than it should to know what it is missing. If only I could remember where I put it after taking it into the bathroom. . .
Even my DVR has become a disorganized mess. At any given time I have over 70 hours of unwatched shows - some from as far back as June of last year (season finale of Entourage, I am talking about you).
I just wish that I could feel like I had a little bit of a better handle on my life. I like to be in control, and right now I feel like my life is controlling me instead of me controlling my life. My mom says it will get easier or I will just learn to live with it. Please, oh please, let it get easier, because I just don't know that I can live like this for much longer!!
Since having Chase I have found that in order for me to do the things I need to do and not forget about them until it's too late I have to write it down. At any given moment I have at least three to-do lists going - one for work, one for housework, and one for other personal/non-work reminders. Even the most simple of to-dos that should be easy to remember (like cleaning Chase's ears out or cutting his finger nails) has to be written down or I will completely and totally forget.
Not only am I not able to keep straight from hour to hour / day to day all of the things that I need to, I also cannot keep track of where anything is anymore. Earlier this week I spent half the night looking for the Brad Paisley CD that I bought over a year ago and have only listened to a handful of times because I couldn't remember where I put it. I could see in my mind all of the places that it could have been, but of course it was in none of those places. Finally, it occur ed to me to check my desk at work (where I keep a lot of CDs - have to have music while I work) and finally was able to put my hands on the missing CD.
Last night I spent over an hour looking for a new shade of fingernail polish (a very pretty purple) that I bought a few weeks back but hadn't yet had time to use. I very vividly remember putting it on the counter in my bathroom, but it has disappeared and is no where to be found. It bugs me WAYYY more than it should to know what it is missing. If only I could remember where I put it after taking it into the bathroom. . .
Even my DVR has become a disorganized mess. At any given time I have over 70 hours of unwatched shows - some from as far back as June of last year (season finale of Entourage, I am talking about you).
I just wish that I could feel like I had a little bit of a better handle on my life. I like to be in control, and right now I feel like my life is controlling me instead of me controlling my life. My mom says it will get easier or I will just learn to live with it. Please, oh please, let it get easier, because I just don't know that I can live like this for much longer!!
Jun 21, 2010
Time
There was this awesome quote last night on The Tudors by Henry VIII about time and how it was the one thing man could never win back. I have tried unsuccessfully to find this quote tonight becuase I can so relate to it!!
Here it is 11:55 and yet again my morning/day/night have gotten away from me. How do I always do this?? It's time for bed and yet I still have so many things I need/want to get done. :-(
In addition to feeling WAYYY behind all day today I have also been feeling a little bit like I don't know exactly where I fit anymore in life. Before Chase was born I used to feel like I knew exactly who I was and how I fit into all of the aspects of my life. Lately though, I feel like I don't really fit anywhere really well. Kinda like a puzzle piece that you are trying to force into a spot that just isn't quite right. I wish I knew why I felt this way, or better yet how to feel differently.
Am I the only mother who can't seem to find the right balance between all of the different priorities? Am I the only one who feels like she is failing at everything? Am I being too hard on myself?
Here it is 11:55 and yet again my morning/day/night have gotten away from me. How do I always do this?? It's time for bed and yet I still have so many things I need/want to get done. :-(
In addition to feeling WAYYY behind all day today I have also been feeling a little bit like I don't know exactly where I fit anymore in life. Before Chase was born I used to feel like I knew exactly who I was and how I fit into all of the aspects of my life. Lately though, I feel like I don't really fit anywhere really well. Kinda like a puzzle piece that you are trying to force into a spot that just isn't quite right. I wish I knew why I felt this way, or better yet how to feel differently.
Am I the only mother who can't seem to find the right balance between all of the different priorities? Am I the only one who feels like she is failing at everything? Am I being too hard on myself?
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