I think we may have victory. Of course children seem to be finicky things and one day something works perfectly for them and the next, you can do the same exact thing and it's filled with horror. Gwyneth spent the night in her bed, except for the two times she fell out of it and we found her sleeping on the floor beside it shortly after the "thuds." We were able to effortlessly put her back in bed. She did wake up at 3AM crying, but stayed in bed as she was calling out for "mommy." I went to cuddle her back to calm and didn't hear a peep from her until 8:17AM. I did find her out of her bed when I got up, paging through her favorite book, but she still had an imprint of her ear on her arm left from sleeping on it, so I knew that she hadn't been up for long.
Our little girl is growing up!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
"Bed Training" Part Deux
It seems as we may have a success tonight as well! Here's to hoping. Gwyneth was put down at around 7:45PM. It's now 8:38PM. She's actually stayed in bed and under the covers (another 1st) this whole time, except just a couple times, where she actually hobbled over in her sleep sack to pick out her favorite book. I caved it and read it to her (shame on me) which cued another quick set of out of bed, back in beds. Now she's tucked in one more time and totally quiet. Bravo Gwyn!
We've been trying to get her really excited about this whole new sleeping arrangement and I think it's really worked. When Wes got home today, he looked at her new "bed" and told her how big she was getting, etc. She's been getting really good at putting all her stuffed animals to bed, Teddy, Bear-Bear, Red (another bear), Thing (an "ugly doll"), Ellie the Elephant, and Baby.
Maybe this is just the calm before the storm and I should be knocking on wood, but I didn't expect it to be so easy! We'll see what morning brings. She does the occasional stirring at 4 or 5AM and then goes back to sleep, but without boundaries, she may skip the going back to sleep part, which could present a nightmare...but for now, I'll be a proud mama! If we can do this, I think we may avoid problems in the future, as the early toddler will is not so strong as the advanced toddler will. I'd rather teach her "bed boundaries" during the early toddler stage.
We've been trying to get her really excited about this whole new sleeping arrangement and I think it's really worked. When Wes got home today, he looked at her new "bed" and told her how big she was getting, etc. She's been getting really good at putting all her stuffed animals to bed, Teddy, Bear-Bear, Red (another bear), Thing (an "ugly doll"), Ellie the Elephant, and Baby.
Maybe this is just the calm before the storm and I should be knocking on wood, but I didn't expect it to be so easy! We'll see what morning brings. She does the occasional stirring at 4 or 5AM and then goes back to sleep, but without boundaries, she may skip the going back to sleep part, which could present a nightmare...but for now, I'll be a proud mama! If we can do this, I think we may avoid problems in the future, as the early toddler will is not so strong as the advanced toddler will. I'd rather teach her "bed boundaries" during the early toddler stage.
"Bed Training"
Well, the Patterson household is facing many changes, all of them largely revolving around the move to Belfast. With a little one in the picture, keeping the balance is especially tricky. We're trying to figure out what the best way to approach such a move is - would it be better to continue nursing until after our arrival, or stop now, would it be better to potty train her now, or later, would it be better to get her used to sleeping in a bed now since she will soon be crib-less in 3 weeks and without a pack n' play shortly after, or do we wing it? Nothing seems easy about these transitions with a toddler in everyday life, but it all seems much more complicated when making a transatlantic move.
Today we decided to try giving up the crib and getting her used to the mattress on the floor, which means that she has a newfound freedom when she's supposed to be sleeping. Right before her nap, I took down her crib, vacuumed the floor, and set the mattress in the empty space. Gwyneth thought it was all exciting. She had no problem when I put her into her new boundary-less bed for her nap time. However, the problem was in keeping her there. We had a battle of the wills for the first 13 minutes. I'd listen for her movements outside the door, she'd crawl off the mattress and I'd jump the gate and silently, but sternly put her back in bed. At first she thought it was quite a fun game, then she started to comprehend that I meant business. After a few more test escapes, she flew her white flag and succummed. I sat outside her door and waited for a few minutes of no sound or movement, and by 12:20, she was fast asleep! Success! Now I'm not sure how sleeping through the night will go, but I'm sure we'll go through this again tonight...and here's to hoping. In the meantime, we're going to practice tucking in her stuffed animals, saying "nightie-night" and giving them the good-night kiss.
Oh, other news on the front. Gwyneth got her first blood-sucking parasite! Yesterday, I pulled off a fat, disgusting wood tick. I generally have a strong stomach and have no problem with the standard "gross out" situations or conversations, but I felt like I could easily throw up at the sight of the creature. Ick. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this may not be the last experience of that type. Someday, she'll probably come home from school with head lice and infect us all!
Today we decided to try giving up the crib and getting her used to the mattress on the floor, which means that she has a newfound freedom when she's supposed to be sleeping. Right before her nap, I took down her crib, vacuumed the floor, and set the mattress in the empty space. Gwyneth thought it was all exciting. She had no problem when I put her into her new boundary-less bed for her nap time. However, the problem was in keeping her there. We had a battle of the wills for the first 13 minutes. I'd listen for her movements outside the door, she'd crawl off the mattress and I'd jump the gate and silently, but sternly put her back in bed. At first she thought it was quite a fun game, then she started to comprehend that I meant business. After a few more test escapes, she flew her white flag and succummed. I sat outside her door and waited for a few minutes of no sound or movement, and by 12:20, she was fast asleep! Success! Now I'm not sure how sleeping through the night will go, but I'm sure we'll go through this again tonight...and here's to hoping. In the meantime, we're going to practice tucking in her stuffed animals, saying "nightie-night" and giving them the good-night kiss.
Oh, other news on the front. Gwyneth got her first blood-sucking parasite! Yesterday, I pulled off a fat, disgusting wood tick. I generally have a strong stomach and have no problem with the standard "gross out" situations or conversations, but I felt like I could easily throw up at the sight of the creature. Ick. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this may not be the last experience of that type. Someday, she'll probably come home from school with head lice and infect us all!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Skirt #2
This morning Gwyneth and I had some special sewing time together. Gwyneth cheerfully sat on my lap, giving her full attention while I sewed up her skirt. I was excited, because I felt like I was passing on some special knowledge to her. I love it when I get to share the practical parts of life (such as sewing and cooking) with her looking on. We didn't have any plain matching shirts for her outfit, so I took a shirt of hers that had a little bunny on it and covered it up to make a matching set.
Gwyneth strutting her stuff on the runway, er, sidewalk
Look Mom, it's fluff
Gwyneth inspecting a flower, which happens to be her new word
Gwyneth strutting her stuff on the runway, er, sidewalk
Look Mom, it's fluff
Gwyneth inspecting a flower, which happens to be her new word
Friday, May 16, 2008
Inspired
Okay, obviously, you guys can tell that I've been inspired. There's been silence for quite a while in my part of the blogosphere, but all of a sudden I've got lots to post! I've seriously fallen in love with sewing for Gwyneth! It's probably just a stage that I'll grow out of in a week, but for the time being I've been so excited about sewing that I've literally been losing sleep over it!
Anyway, here are the fabric and notions that I found yesterday to get started on some skirts for Gwyneth. Fun!
Here is my first attempt at the skirt with no instructions or pattern. It turned out well, and given that I figured it out on my own, I'm pretty proud of myself. I really like it, but I think the next one I do will make a bit wider so that when the waist is gathered up, it's fuller at the bottom. I loved this little retro print and the baubles remind me of the buses in Mexico. They would often have similar decorations hanging around the windshield, along with some form of the Virgin Mary.
Eventually two more skirts will follow. Those will get posted sometime.
Anyway, here are the fabric and notions that I found yesterday to get started on some skirts for Gwyneth. Fun!
Here is my first attempt at the skirt with no instructions or pattern. It turned out well, and given that I figured it out on my own, I'm pretty proud of myself. I really like it, but I think the next one I do will make a bit wider so that when the waist is gathered up, it's fuller at the bottom. I loved this little retro print and the baubles remind me of the buses in Mexico. They would often have similar decorations hanging around the windshield, along with some form of the Virgin Mary.
Eventually two more skirts will follow. Those will get posted sometime.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
More Smocking Fun!
Here's another smock with a pocket - a smocket if you will.
And our model trying to destroy the photo prop.
I've caught the sewing bug! I went to the fabric store and got enough fabric and notions to make three whimsical skirts for Gwyneth. (I must comment that sewing for little one is not only more affordable, but the projects whip up quite a bit faster than otherwise.) I can't wait to get started! I better get all the sewing in while I can, because this sewing machine will unfortunately not be crossing the ocean with us.
I'm sure on the next post, you'll see three of the cutest skirts ever (well hopefully).
And our model trying to destroy the photo prop.
I've caught the sewing bug! I went to the fabric store and got enough fabric and notions to make three whimsical skirts for Gwyneth. (I must comment that sewing for little one is not only more affordable, but the projects whip up quite a bit faster than otherwise.) I can't wait to get started! I better get all the sewing in while I can, because this sewing machine will unfortunately not be crossing the ocean with us.
I'm sure on the next post, you'll see three of the cutest skirts ever (well hopefully).
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Nifty Sewing
So yesterday was a terribly dreary, cold, rainy day. You know, the Minnesota spring type of day. Gwyneth and I spent the majority of the day as sulking shut-ins. Today on the other hand was a whole different story. It's a beautiful, mildly warm, sunny day, which is a tall order for Northern Minnesota.
Yesterday, in our shut-in state, I decided that Gwyneth was in desperate need of a long sleeved bib, or better yet two. Gwyneth's got her own, not so unique toddler style of eating, which means dredging even the pushed up sleeves through spaghetti sauce and the like. I found the perfect bibs online, however, they ran $17+ a piece, and then there was shipping in addition to that. For two of the such desired, it was about $40. In a desperate attempt to save money, I searched high and low for a sewing pattern that would create something similar. I couldn't find the perfect pattern for a bib, but instead found this hip vintage smock pattern for free, so I got sidetracked by a not so practical, but fashionable sewing project.
Since yesterday was gloomy and today was the opposite, one would think that during Gwyneth's afternoon nap time, I would be outside cleaning up the garden, or maybe reading a book in the sun, but I did what I should have been doing after clouds rolled in, in a day or two. I made Gwyneth a the smock! I was able to start and complete the smock with some fabric remnants I had on hand before Gwyneth woke up from her nap! Hopefully tomorrow's another sunny day, so I can make another smock with a different fabric combo during Gwyneth's rest.
Below Gwyneth's modeling her little number.
Yesterday, in our shut-in state, I decided that Gwyneth was in desperate need of a long sleeved bib, or better yet two. Gwyneth's got her own, not so unique toddler style of eating, which means dredging even the pushed up sleeves through spaghetti sauce and the like. I found the perfect bibs online, however, they ran $17+ a piece, and then there was shipping in addition to that. For two of the such desired, it was about $40. In a desperate attempt to save money, I searched high and low for a sewing pattern that would create something similar. I couldn't find the perfect pattern for a bib, but instead found this hip vintage smock pattern for free, so I got sidetracked by a not so practical, but fashionable sewing project.
Since yesterday was gloomy and today was the opposite, one would think that during Gwyneth's afternoon nap time, I would be outside cleaning up the garden, or maybe reading a book in the sun, but I did what I should have been doing after clouds rolled in, in a day or two. I made Gwyneth a the smock! I was able to start and complete the smock with some fabric remnants I had on hand before Gwyneth woke up from her nap! Hopefully tomorrow's another sunny day, so I can make another smock with a different fabric combo during Gwyneth's rest.
Below Gwyneth's modeling her little number.
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