8-17-10: part 2

While we were away celebrating our anniversary, Laney decided to start sleeping in a "big girl bed" at Shesh and Pop   Pop's house.  When we got home, we purchased a full size mattress and put it on the floor of her room.  It was  a big hit outfitted in big girl sheets to match the room.  The first night she slept in her BGB was funny.  P and I were sound asleep when WHAM! the door to our room slams shut and it is pitch black in our room.  We both sit bolt upright and P turns on his light.  Laney is standing in the middle of our room with Special Pillow and Lovey Doggy and just says "hi mommy, hi daddy."  Now she comes in our room without shutting the door (thank you night lights) every night around 4 or 5 am.  She sleeps with us until about 6 or so, and then wakes us both up by smashing her face into ours, kissing us, and declaring that it is time to get clothes on and get some milk downstairs.  So much for sleeping in!

We have also started going to toddler classes at the local community center Tue and Thu mornings.  I call it school, and we do 45 minutes of Alphabet Adventures one day and 45 of Toddler Tumbling the other.  It was not a hit the first few times, but today she managed to participate without doggie or tears, even riding on the parachute with the other kids for the first time.  Progress.  The first class was a 45 minute sob fest with her crying and whining to go home the whole time.  Today she followed along and couldn't wait to get the letters C and D stamped on her hand at the end.  I have been telling her that I would stay the whole time and wouldn't leave her.  She repeats in the car "mommy whole time no leave!"  I'm glad she is getting used to it because we start preschool on Tuesdays at the church in September, just mommy and me classes actually.  Shesh is going to enroll her at Hammond Dance on Wednesdays and I will probably continue with tumbling on Thursdays.

Laney began using "I" instead of "Laney" this week.  She can really tell you a story, and you can almost conversate with her.  She remembers rhymes now and her favorite is "5 little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" as well as the Hokey Pokey.  I am working on Old Macdonald with her right now.

As for me, I am diabetic and exhausted at 32 week.s  I am having Arianna come most afternoons to play with Laney so I can rest.  My feet started swelling this week...just in time to get the baby's room done.  I had my "sprinkle" this past Sunday and got so many beautiful gifts.  I can't wait to get Liam's room ready.  I talk to Laney about Liam and babies every day.  I praise her for being my big helper and am encouraging her to play independently now so she will be used to it when he is born.  It is hard to tell if she is going to like having a baby in the house.  I am guessing that it might be fine until he can crawl and get into her things.  Then we will have to have a gated "Liam-free" zone for her.