So for a while now I've been in denial about Savannah growing older. Recently she has begun to look older - especially when she lets me put headbands on. The past few months she has been the one to push the independence streak further.
First, in September she moved to her big girl room. Obviously she didn't come right out and say she wanted a big girl bed, but she was able to open the nursery door, climbed things...it was just safest to move her over. We went into that weekend thinking that if it didn't work we'd just try again in a few weeks. The first night she cried a bit, but not long after I'd walked away (less time than it took me to put on PJs!) she was quiet. Every night since it's been pretty much easy as pie...of course she has off nights, but those happened when she was in the nursery too.
Not much after that Savannah began refusing her high chair...so we switched to a booster. That lasted maybe two weeks...now she sits at her own little table next to ours at meal time. Most meals she sits in her seat and is eager to eat. She sees me getting her plate and cup ready and she runs to her table. She knows that is where we eat. It is hard at times to keep her in her seat...often when family is eating with us she wants to roam around a lot. There are also days that she really pushes buttons and wants to throw things on the floor, or whine next to the pantry door because what is on her plate isn't what she wants....but those are teachable moments. She has improved in the past few weeks...I tell her that we do not whine or throw things on the floor...one morning two weeks ago she went to the Naughty Spot four times during breakfast. It was SO hard for her, and for me. But at lunch she didn't whine or put a single piece of food in the floor. The whining is improving, but I have a feeling it will be years (if ever) until she learns to not whine. The subject of the whine might change, but it will most likely be around forever. Even though the idea of her not strapped in a seat at meal time is scary, it's a step toward her growing to be responsible and independent. It is messy at times...and sometimes meals takes a little longer than they would if she was still in a high chair (if we get up from the table she does too - so we sit the entire time)...but it's worth it. She's become so happy to feed herself and explore new foods...she is truly becoming a mini-adult.
So she does a lot like a little person now...she often wants to dress herself (especially the shoes and hair bows), she eats at a table like us, and eats all the foods we eat (minus peanuts) - she even eats pizza by the slice! She eats cereal with milk, and I noticed the other day that at the end of the cereal she tips the bowl up and drinks the milk out of it too! She sleeps in a real bedroom...and the only time I've found her not in the bed is if she falls asleep playing...but I don't think she's ever fallen off the mattress...she's doing a lot of things that will be lessons for the rest of her life. It is truly amazing to think that in less than 2 years I've taught a tiny baby how to be an independent little person.
And now for the next big milestone...potty training. It seems for a while now Savannah has been showing a lot of the signs of potty training...she sits on the potty every night before her bath and it's becoming almost nightly that she uses it when the bath water is running. The other night she used the potty without any water running at all. She hates wet diapers, and absolutely hates a dirty diaper. She often tells us immediately after she goes...she's learning how to pull her pants up and down...so many things point to the potty training phase of toddler-hood. But it is so scary for me. Not only does this mean that my little baby is almost completely done with baby things (bottles, baby food, cribs) but it also means that I am venturing into uncharted territory!
Before Savannah was born I was obviously nervous about being a mom (the week before she was born I freaked out because I thought I wouldn't know how to bathe her!) but I knew that I had done most of the mothering things before, with my nephews. I knew how to change diapers, burp a baby, feed a baby, discipline, love a tiny little person. I'd done all of that. But the one thing I had no experience with? The potty.
So now I'm at the stage of potty training and have absolutely no idea what to do. Of course I know I have family that can always advise...but I'd like to get some ideas on my own too...it's just such a tedious task to teach a child. It's a lot of work for parents too. We have to remember to ask her all the time if she needs to potty, and reward her every time with tons of praise...we have to be willing to get up first thing in the morning to take her to potty before she goes in her diaper...it is scary.
But again, I am thankful for God's plan. The miscarriage was so hard to deal with last summer...but I've said this before...God's plan is the best plan. Last fall was SO incredibly busy and would not have been a good time to be pregnant. I wasn't taking care of myself at all. I was due in February...and that would have been so difficult with Savannah also ready for potty training. Yesterday I truly felt like I appreciated the fortunes (not necessarily money) I have in my life. I have a wonderful husband that has become increasingly helpful around the house in the past month (he vacuumed - unasked!), I have an incredibly smart and playful toddler, I finally am finished with any kind of remodel or redecoration of my house, the holidays passed by and I survived the onslaught of cooking and presents and decorations and stress, I love my job (and have one of the best bosses I could ask for!), another baby is hopefully in our plans for this year, my house was clean and organized, and I am finally free of two jobs...I am just truly fortunate and blessed. God has been so good to my family.
Last night I kept trying to think if I was forgetting about some sort of chore or task I was supposed to do. I don't think I can remember a time that I was so free of things to do...and it felt so odd. I truly felt like I was forgetting something...I recounted what was happening in my life this week and made sure I was prepared...lunch made for work, O'Malley to the vet Monday...Savannah was in bed...clothes clean...there was nothing to do. I had already put away Christmas stuff, mopped, cleaned the bathrooms...I actually just laid in bed and read a good book! It was amazing. While I know this won't last long after we (hopefully) have the second child...it won't be much different. Instead of reading a good book at night I'll just be staring into the face of a beautiful baby. I'm sure there will be stressful weeks (holidays especially - decorating and undecorating this year with a toddler was hard...it will only get worse!), but most days will just be us loving each other.
So my plan for 2011? Hopefully (fingers crossed) get pregnant. I'd like to scrapbook the Disney trip. I'd also like to sort through 5 tubs of baby clothes of Savannah's. Maybe if I do get pregnant I'll make and freeze several meals ahead of time. That's it. Nothing else is on the list. Of course I will make sure Savannah has a great 2nd birthday, but nothing over the top. So for an entire year my to-do list has 4 or 5 things on it...and they all sound pretty fun to me!
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