The new August issue of Little Rock Family is on stands now. Pick one up next time you're in Cabot, Conway, Saline County or Little Rock. Flip to the last page and you'll see my second attempt at the "Family Chatter." (or just read it here.)
This time, it's about having a nine-month-old (now almost ten) who still won't sleep through the night. That's right, folks. For those of you who've been wondering, this kid still doesn't sleep. It's...frustrating, to say the least. You can read the details in my article.
((you can also read my last blog post about this, at 3 1/2 months, here))
But a little update... since writing the story, which I actually did over a month ago, I DID attempt some "sleep training." It didn't go so well. After a good reprimanding from the doctor at our nine-month check-up, I decided to buckle down and let the girl cry. It would take 3-4 nights, he said, and she would learn to put herself to sleep. Well I tried it, and it didn't work. I endured four heart-wrenching nights of crying practically all night long, plus an incredibly tired and cranky baby during the day. And on the fifth night, I said "Forget it!" I went back to my old routine. (Getting up 15 times a night, fixing bottles and rocking her back to sleep)
FYI::: For all you who are screaming "Babywise!" in your head right now, don't worry, next go 'round, I'm giving it a try! Things WILL be different with the next baby, I assure you. But for Miss Eden, I'm convinced it's too late.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Missin' That Girl
Yesterday Tyler and I returned from our little summer escape to Branson. Thursday was our four-year anniversary, and we spent two nights away to celebrate. I find it interesting, though, that an anniversary trip that is supposed to revolve around husband and wife can instead center on a little girl who's not even there! :) It was our first trip away since Eden was born, and her absence only made her presence with us stronger, as we missed her and talked about her the entire time! Don't get me wrong; Tyler and I had a great time together and enjoyed each other a lot! But the phrase, "I can't wait until we can bring Eden to do this!" reoccurred quite often.
First, we spent an hour going down the water chute on the strip in Branson. Of course, the families around us with their little girls only reminded us of ours, and we kept telling each other how much fun Eden would have on this water slide in a couple of years.
That night we went to Dixie Stampede. We couldn't help but notice the LARGE number of families who brought along children Eden's age or younger! Had we made a mistake by not bringing her? No, it would have been really difficult. But we pointed out each baby to one another and said how this one had big eyes like Eden or how this one had a lot more teeth than her. Man, we were missin' that girl.
The next day was Silver Dollar City. Enough said. This place is a haven for kids and families. I have SO many fond memories of going there as a kid with my parents and sister, and all I could think of was how I can't wait to create those memories with my own kids. I want Eden to look back when she's older and remember how much fun she had with mommy and daddy doing things like that. However, I also noticed the 48" height requirement for most of the rides and realized it would be quite a while before Eden could really enjoy that place!
The next day we headed home ((after a quick trip to the Tanger Outlet Mall where I got Eden two adorable outfits at The Children's Place)). Needless to say, we were excited to see her when we pulled up in our driveway and saw her sitting in the car with Nana Jo. We enjoyed our time together, and we enjoyed our time away, but we assured ourselves we were taking that girl along next time, difficult or not!
First, we spent an hour going down the water chute on the strip in Branson. Of course, the families around us with their little girls only reminded us of ours, and we kept telling each other how much fun Eden would have on this water slide in a couple of years.
That night we went to Dixie Stampede. We couldn't help but notice the LARGE number of families who brought along children Eden's age or younger! Had we made a mistake by not bringing her? No, it would have been really difficult. But we pointed out each baby to one another and said how this one had big eyes like Eden or how this one had a lot more teeth than her. Man, we were missin' that girl.
The next day was Silver Dollar City. Enough said. This place is a haven for kids and families. I have SO many fond memories of going there as a kid with my parents and sister, and all I could think of was how I can't wait to create those memories with my own kids. I want Eden to look back when she's older and remember how much fun she had with mommy and daddy doing things like that. However, I also noticed the 48" height requirement for most of the rides and realized it would be quite a while before Eden could really enjoy that place!
The next day we headed home ((after a quick trip to the Tanger Outlet Mall where I got Eden two adorable outfits at The Children's Place)). Needless to say, we were excited to see her when we pulled up in our driveway and saw her sitting in the car with Nana Jo. We enjoyed our time together, and we enjoyed our time away, but we assured ourselves we were taking that girl along next time, difficult or not!
Eden in her T-shirt I got her from Silver Dollar City
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Shattering of The Awkward Meter
I have been debating all day about whether to post this. TMI: maybe. TENP (too entertaining not to post): decidedly so.
Yesterday, as you well know, was the Fourth. Ours, all in all, was fantastic, complete with fun, family, food and fireworks. The day began with a morning at church and Eden in the prettiest little white dress ever. And ended with the four of us (Tyler, Eden, Barnaby and I) lying on a quilt in the backyard enjoying the perfect weather for that type of thing.
It was the middle of the day, though, that was interesting... for lack of a better word.
We spent the afternoon at the home of Tyler's Captain from the Fire Station. I've met him lots of times on my evening visits to the station, and he and Tyler are pretty close. I've also met his wife on several occasions. So we're close acquaintances, yes. Close friends (the kind of close that would make what happened next NOT awkward), no.
First of all, I was under the impression that what Tyler, Eden and I were about to embark on when we rushed over there after church was a multiple-family get-together. The kind with lots of people. I was wrong.
I soon realized as our two families sat in the living room and time kept on passing, that no one else was coming. The Huffsticklers were the guests of honor. (The Awkward Meter just inched up a little)
As time continued passing and no mention of food was made, I also realized that my husband (the attentive listener that he is) misunderstood another minuscule detail about this get-together. Apparently dinner was on the menu. Lunch was not. No big deal for some folks, but my hubby and I are not accustomed to missing a meal (evidenced by the unruly growling of our stomachs). So, The Awkward Meter inched up a little more, and the sustenance from the100 calorie granola bar I had in the AM fizzled out completely.
Finally, after lots of small talk, swimming, and playing with the kids, it was dinnertime. And it was well worth the wait. Captain prepared a mouth-watering smoked-all-day pork butt and grilled sausage, along with berry pie prepared by Mrs. Captain for dessert. It was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. (Ok, at least in a loong time.)
After that, we sat in the living room watching the kids play in the floor, and I felt happy and full. Suddenly though, I felt something else. A rumbling within. Out of nowhere, my stomach was churning. I sat still, held my breath and waited for it to pass. But it didn't. Where did this come from?? All of the sudden I thought I might puke in our host's floor, right there in front of everyone. I got up to find Tyler, who had gone with Captain to a back bedroom to look at guitars. But before I could make it to him, I had to U-turn into the bathroom. With only THAT much warning, it came, and I PUKED in my HUSBAND'S BOSS'S BATHTUB. (yes, I am really posting this.)
Needless to say, I freaked. Everyone had surely just heard me barf. And to top it off, a second helping of puke followed just a few seconds later. Doing all I knew to do, I turned on the bathwater and used my hands as small shovels to push the chunky mess down the drain. Then, I washed my hands, squirted some febreeze and walked out.
Honestly, I was feeling much better after throwing up. I would have thanked our hosts, shook their hands and left without mentioning it, but I knew they had probably heard me running water in their bathtub. And so to avoid being seen as a TOTAL weirdo, I explained myself.
"I just threw up."
(Awkward Meter is now through the roof.)
Here we are with our "close acquaintances," who have graciously invited us over and served us this delectable meal, which they prepared all day long. They serve it to us, then I go to the bathroom and throw it up in their bathtub. The Awkward Meter has just shattered, really.
Of course, they felt horrible and apologized profusely for what must have been something bad in the food. I assured them it wasn't (it was delicious and everyone else felt fine), but my pukey breath and pale face weren't very convincing.
Obviously, we left soon thereafter.
I still feel mortified and bewildered by what happened. I'm not the kind of person that just casually throws up. (Ok, I guess no one is that kind of person.) And strangely, I have felt fine ever since. The worst part, though, is that our kind hosts now think they somehow poisoned me with what was really a delicious meal. And I'm positive they'll never have us over again.
I went to Wal-Mart today and bought a thank you card that I hope will assure them we had a good time. But no matter how sincere or genuine I may sound about how we enjoyed ourselves, they have chunks in their drain to make them think otherwise. And that just makes me feel terrible.
And weird.
Yesterday, as you well know, was the Fourth. Ours, all in all, was fantastic, complete with fun, family, food and fireworks. The day began with a morning at church and Eden in the prettiest little white dress ever. And ended with the four of us (Tyler, Eden, Barnaby and I) lying on a quilt in the backyard enjoying the perfect weather for that type of thing.
It was the middle of the day, though, that was interesting... for lack of a better word.
We spent the afternoon at the home of Tyler's Captain from the Fire Station. I've met him lots of times on my evening visits to the station, and he and Tyler are pretty close. I've also met his wife on several occasions. So we're close acquaintances, yes. Close friends (the kind of close that would make what happened next NOT awkward), no.
First of all, I was under the impression that what Tyler, Eden and I were about to embark on when we rushed over there after church was a multiple-family get-together. The kind with lots of people. I was wrong.
I soon realized as our two families sat in the living room and time kept on passing, that no one else was coming. The Huffsticklers were the guests of honor. (The Awkward Meter just inched up a little)
As time continued passing and no mention of food was made, I also realized that my husband (the attentive listener that he is) misunderstood another minuscule detail about this get-together. Apparently dinner was on the menu. Lunch was not. No big deal for some folks, but my hubby and I are not accustomed to missing a meal (evidenced by the unruly growling of our stomachs). So, The Awkward Meter inched up a little more, and the sustenance from the100 calorie granola bar I had in the AM fizzled out completely.
Finally, after lots of small talk, swimming, and playing with the kids, it was dinnertime. And it was well worth the wait. Captain prepared a mouth-watering smoked-all-day pork butt and grilled sausage, along with berry pie prepared by Mrs. Captain for dessert. It was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. (Ok, at least in a loong time.)
After that, we sat in the living room watching the kids play in the floor, and I felt happy and full. Suddenly though, I felt something else. A rumbling within. Out of nowhere, my stomach was churning. I sat still, held my breath and waited for it to pass. But it didn't. Where did this come from?? All of the sudden I thought I might puke in our host's floor, right there in front of everyone. I got up to find Tyler, who had gone with Captain to a back bedroom to look at guitars. But before I could make it to him, I had to U-turn into the bathroom. With only THAT much warning, it came, and I PUKED in my HUSBAND'S BOSS'S BATHTUB. (yes, I am really posting this.)
Needless to say, I freaked. Everyone had surely just heard me barf. And to top it off, a second helping of puke followed just a few seconds later. Doing all I knew to do, I turned on the bathwater and used my hands as small shovels to push the chunky mess down the drain. Then, I washed my hands, squirted some febreeze and walked out.
Honestly, I was feeling much better after throwing up. I would have thanked our hosts, shook their hands and left without mentioning it, but I knew they had probably heard me running water in their bathtub. And so to avoid being seen as a TOTAL weirdo, I explained myself.
"I just threw up."
(Awkward Meter is now through the roof.)
Here we are with our "close acquaintances," who have graciously invited us over and served us this delectable meal, which they prepared all day long. They serve it to us, then I go to the bathroom and throw it up in their bathtub. The Awkward Meter has just shattered, really.
Of course, they felt horrible and apologized profusely for what must have been something bad in the food. I assured them it wasn't (it was delicious and everyone else felt fine), but my pukey breath and pale face weren't very convincing.
Obviously, we left soon thereafter.
I still feel mortified and bewildered by what happened. I'm not the kind of person that just casually throws up. (Ok, I guess no one is that kind of person.) And strangely, I have felt fine ever since. The worst part, though, is that our kind hosts now think they somehow poisoned me with what was really a delicious meal. And I'm positive they'll never have us over again.
I went to Wal-Mart today and bought a thank you card that I hope will assure them we had a good time. But no matter how sincere or genuine I may sound about how we enjoyed ourselves, they have chunks in their drain to make them think otherwise. And that just makes me feel terrible.
And weird.
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