Payton's 1st Birthday

          As I sit here and think about this past year, I wonder where it has gone! Last Sunday my little girl turned one. I can hardly believe it! This Sunday I celebrated my 2nd Mother's Day, AND next month I will be the mother of not one, BUT two little girls!


          It seems like just yesterday that I brought my brand new baby home from the hospital. After a very difficult delivery, and being in so much pain I greatly relied on my husband to help me with many tasks. I battled sleepless nights, breastfeeding, hours of rocking her in the chair, washing everything 10 times a day after she spit up on them, and many many more adventures. We watched as she smiled at us for the first time, giggled, rolled over, sat up and began to crawl. We got excited when she first said "Dada" and later,"Mama". We watched as she pulled herself up on things. We got excited to feed her new foods. We had to show everyone when she learned to wave "bye bye".

          It just so happens that our little princess also decided to take her first TWO steps on her birthday too! Unfortunately...her Daddy and I BOTH missed it. :(

          Today we go in for her one year well-child exam. This day seemed like so far away at one point and now it is here. I will be sending her off to school, watching her graduate high school, get married and have her own children before I even know it....

          Scary thought....

          If anything, I have learned that time does pass whether we want it to or not. That we need to live for today and appreciate the things that we do have and celebrate each day. Life does slip by so fast, before we even realize it!

          Happy Birthday my sweet baby, Payton! Your Mom and Dad love you so VERY VERY much!

-Lindsey

A Hard Battle to Fight

          What do you do when your child refuses to sleep in his or her own room? That is the dilemma I have been having for awhile now.
          My child is very easy going. I get constant compliments about how good she is and how lucky I am to have such a good little girl! I have actually had it pretty easy, compared to some of my friends who have more difficult children.
          Payton co-slept with us until January 1st, 2011. This is when she turned 8-months-old. I then moved her from our bed to the pack n play at the end of our bed. This was a huge adjustment for her, but within a week we were golden! A few months later I then decided it was time to make the big leap to her sleeping in her own room. I used the excuse that I didn't think she was ready for it...but in reality, I think it was me who wasn't. After a week of crying and little sleep, we finally made progress and she was a happy camper again! Until now...she has hit a new stage. She now REFUSES to sleep in her own room. She is okay with it as long as I am in there, but as soon as I leave she is screaming. I have let her "cry it out", but I think I have a very stubborn child. She will cry for hours. Literally, HOURS!!!
         I am in my 31st week of pregnancy and I physically and emotionally cannot fight this much longer. I have tried so many things. I have even tried to keep her up as long as I could. Until she was falling asleep playing! (see picture below) FAIL. As soon as she touched her crib she was screaming.

          I have now reverted back to having her sleep in the pack n play in our room. She does wonderfully in it. I know I have taken a step back, but she is no longer in our bed, and I'm getting my sanity back.
        I don't see anything wrong with co-sleeping with your baby/child. I do have a few reasons why I have decided to no longer do this. (1) Payton will have a sister in June. I am worried both children will wake each other up if in the same room. (2) I DO NOT want two babies co-sleeping with us! (there's hardly any room as it is in our bed!) (3) I worry Payton will roll out of bed, and onto our hardwood floors! OUCH! (4) My husband and I would LOVE to have our relationship back :)

        I know this is a common battle for other parents, and maybe I am putting too much thought into it. Maybe I should just keep using the pack n play until this stage is done.

          Any other Moms feel this way? I'd love to hear from you!

          I will update later on our progress!


-Lindsey with J.Lily

A Poem to Mothers

          I was on the Internet today and I stumbled across this poem. The author is unknown. I think that no matter your religious beliefs (if any) that it definitely describes how motherhood can be at times. It brought a smile to my face, here's to hoping it will bring one to yours too. Motherhood is definitely the best thing that has happened to me in my life thus far!

Dear Lord

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day

With little time to stop and pray

For life's been anything but calm

Since You called on me to be a mom

Running errands, matching socks

Building dreams with building blocks

Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes

And other stuff that children lose

Fitting lids on bottled bugs

Wiping tears and giving hugs

A stack of last weeks mail to read

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet when I steal a minute, Lord

Just at the sink or ironing board

To ask the blessings of Your grace

I see then, in my small one's face

That you have blessed me

All the while

And I stop to kiss

That precious smile

-Lindsey