Anna's going through a change of life...and boy, what a change! It seems like this whole summer she's just been so much FUN, so silly and loving and adventurous and playful. My mom warned me to remember those moments and embrace them while they lasted, and she was right. Anna's temper and mood has just plummeted in the past three weeks, in direct association to when she started walking.
My days have been stressful, dealing with her impending terrible two-ness, and I have to say a lot of it is because she just seems so much more "terrible" than the other kids her age that we know. The constant crying fits over everything are making me crazy. She'll be so sweet and we'll be having fun and I'll be thinking, "Here's the girl I know and love", and then she'll settle into her bi-polar up-and-down every 3 minutes routine and I just want to send her back for a full refund.
Her behavior, while on a normal scale for her age group, just stands out as so much more dramatic and overwhelming than the other nearly-two and two-year-olds that we know. It's much worse when we're around just about anybody else, but especially other kids. The playdates aren't fun anymore because her drama keeps her from being able to interact with any of the other kids, and the constant crying while everyone else is letting loose and having fun really saps my temper.
We're working on it slowly,and I'm striving to be patient and not lock her in a closet, but I have a feeling this is something only time will improve upon. I also know for a fact, have always known, that she's just super dooper sensitive to anything and everything that stimulates her, even if it's something good, like the park, which she loves. It's actually very common in children with dissociation of maturation, which she was diagnosed with earlier this year. Many of these kids have frustration issues and are more prone to fits of temper and drama. I keep reminding myself that she's not being "bad", she's just dealing with all the new things (walking, independance, a growing realization of wants and dislikes) all at once. All these new and exciting developments are good, but often overwhelming, especially with Anna's super-sensitive personality.
SO. I'm working to avoid situations where I just know she's going to have trouble, like being out when she's tired and/or hungry. She's not allowed to hit or kick and fortunately that's something that she really seems to understand. Mostly, though, Kurt and I both and just trying to dredge up as much patience as we can, enjoying Anna's good moods while they last and getting through the bad ones as quickly, cleanly and sanely as possible.
Spare patience lying around the house and gathering dust? Send some our way, we'll see it's put to good use!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
It's all downhill from here?
Hi! i just wanted to say thanks to all the friends and folks who called in the past few days to check up on me and Schwartz baby #2. I tell you, I am feeling the love! I know everyone was secretly hoping to get the boy or girl scoop, but still, it was really nice to be remembered and get to catch up with so many of you, near and far.
For the (very, very few) of you that I haven't talked to recently, everything is hunky dory over here. I had my 20 week ultrasound yesterday, which is a momentous occasion for several reasons. First and foremost, the closer look let us know that the baby is totally healthy, 61st percentile for size, and with all the required arms and legs. Everything looks PERFECT. Usually this ultrasound is where you find out the sex of the baby, too, (thus all my phone calls recently...).
BUT.
We have decided, though it's just killing me now, NOT to find out the sex of the baby this time. Kurt and I are opting for the more dramatic surprise at the end. I have to say that watching the baby on the ultrasound screen, I was really trying to make sense of the images and see if I could find out for myself, but no dice. Then the technician said that she knew what we were having, though she wouldn't tell us, of course. Kurt restrained me from wringing it out of her and we managed to leave the appointment with our dignity intact. This 20 week point is nice for me, personally, because it means that I'm halfway there. Woohoo! So I guess it's all downhill from here, right?
So, no pink or blue this time around, but I'm happy to keep a running poll. So far, more than half of those that have an opinion think it's a boy. Monica and Chad in D.C. think it's a girl. And Opa, down in Brazil, is just relieved that we're doing it "right" this time! *grin* This one's for you, Opa!
Anna was fascinated with the ultrasound, she was fixated on the screen and kept talking about the baby and pointing, both at my tummy and at the screen. So far, she seems to like the idea of a baby, but that's probably because there's not one messing up her schedule and stealing her mommy yet. She pats my tummy and says there's a baby inside, then pulls down my shirt and says, "bye bye baby, bye bye tummy".
In other news, walking has taken over as Anna's preferred mode of getting around, and she's pretty darn cute at it, especially when she tries to "run"- she speeds up her steps and puts her arms in the air as if she's holding two invisible hands, and giggles madly the whole time.
The downside of finally conquering the walking demon is that she launched herself into the terrible two's at the exact same time. Somehow the new freedom and independance of walking has clicked in her head with the tantrums. If she can't go RIGHT NOW where she wants to go, if she can't turn left instead of right, the world falls apart and the screaming begins. Last week was bad and by Friday I was a complete wreck with one nerve precariously dangling. Kurt was able to bear the brunt of a lot of the screaming for me this weekend, and yesterday she was actually very good. She only threw one minor tantrum and we just ignored her, so she gave up and went to play with her dolly.
Hopefully the rest of this week the novelty will wear off a bit and she'll be able to control her mad walking impulses, at least a little. At least until I've had my coffee and can put my shoes on. Because I have learned, yes I've learned...
Always have your shoes on. You never know what expeditions may require your IMMEDIATE attention.
For the (very, very few) of you that I haven't talked to recently, everything is hunky dory over here. I had my 20 week ultrasound yesterday, which is a momentous occasion for several reasons. First and foremost, the closer look let us know that the baby is totally healthy, 61st percentile for size, and with all the required arms and legs. Everything looks PERFECT. Usually this ultrasound is where you find out the sex of the baby, too, (thus all my phone calls recently...).
BUT.
We have decided, though it's just killing me now, NOT to find out the sex of the baby this time. Kurt and I are opting for the more dramatic surprise at the end. I have to say that watching the baby on the ultrasound screen, I was really trying to make sense of the images and see if I could find out for myself, but no dice. Then the technician said that she knew what we were having, though she wouldn't tell us, of course. Kurt restrained me from wringing it out of her and we managed to leave the appointment with our dignity intact. This 20 week point is nice for me, personally, because it means that I'm halfway there. Woohoo! So I guess it's all downhill from here, right?
So, no pink or blue this time around, but I'm happy to keep a running poll. So far, more than half of those that have an opinion think it's a boy. Monica and Chad in D.C. think it's a girl. And Opa, down in Brazil, is just relieved that we're doing it "right" this time! *grin* This one's for you, Opa!
Anna was fascinated with the ultrasound, she was fixated on the screen and kept talking about the baby and pointing, both at my tummy and at the screen. So far, she seems to like the idea of a baby, but that's probably because there's not one messing up her schedule and stealing her mommy yet. She pats my tummy and says there's a baby inside, then pulls down my shirt and says, "bye bye baby, bye bye tummy".
In other news, walking has taken over as Anna's preferred mode of getting around, and she's pretty darn cute at it, especially when she tries to "run"- she speeds up her steps and puts her arms in the air as if she's holding two invisible hands, and giggles madly the whole time.
The downside of finally conquering the walking demon is that she launched herself into the terrible two's at the exact same time. Somehow the new freedom and independance of walking has clicked in her head with the tantrums. If she can't go RIGHT NOW where she wants to go, if she can't turn left instead of right, the world falls apart and the screaming begins. Last week was bad and by Friday I was a complete wreck with one nerve precariously dangling. Kurt was able to bear the brunt of a lot of the screaming for me this weekend, and yesterday she was actually very good. She only threw one minor tantrum and we just ignored her, so she gave up and went to play with her dolly.
Hopefully the rest of this week the novelty will wear off a bit and she'll be able to control her mad walking impulses, at least a little. At least until I've had my coffee and can put my shoes on. Because I have learned, yes I've learned...
Always have your shoes on. You never know what expeditions may require your IMMEDIATE attention.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Walking on top of the world
This weekend, Anna had a real walking breakthrough. Up until now, she's been walking a few steps here and there, and she would walk a little bit holding onto our hands around the house. Mostly, though, she still prefered her scooting method to get around.
Sunday, Kurt drove us up into the mountains to escape the city and see the leaves start changing. We stopped at Wilkerson Pass to look around at the view and enjoy the fresh, (though thin, at 9800 feet), air. I took Anna out of the car, and she struggled to get put down, so I set her on her feet and took her hand.
And she walked. And walked. And walked some more. Every time we thought she'd stop, she was just changing directions or looking at flowers. She walked all around the visitor's center, over all the paths, and around all the lookouts. Finally, after about a half and hour, we had to stop because I was getting a headache from the altitude.
She resisted. With vigor. "More walking! Wait! Wait! WAIT!"
The experience was a big moment, because it was the first time it seemed to click for her that walking was FUN and interesting and GOOD. It was also emotional for Kurt and I because we've been watching our friends with babies walk around holding their children's hand for a year, while we still carry Anna. We finally had a moment, as a family, of walking together, holdin hands, through the mountains. It was a perfect day.
And of course, we were too busy enjoying the moment to get any good pictures, though I think Kurt did manage to take one or two. I'll try to post those later.
Today, Anna and I went for a walk down to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. The biggest problem I have with her now is that she doesn't want to stop walking, even though she's stumbling and her legs and starting to give and she's exhausted. I've gotten around the fear of falling for her by saying, "Bonk-a-doop!" every time she goes down. For some unknown reason, she finds this completely hysterical. Who knows?
Anna is officially a toddler! Bonk-a-doop!
Sunday, Kurt drove us up into the mountains to escape the city and see the leaves start changing. We stopped at Wilkerson Pass to look around at the view and enjoy the fresh, (though thin, at 9800 feet), air. I took Anna out of the car, and she struggled to get put down, so I set her on her feet and took her hand.
And she walked. And walked. And walked some more. Every time we thought she'd stop, she was just changing directions or looking at flowers. She walked all around the visitor's center, over all the paths, and around all the lookouts. Finally, after about a half and hour, we had to stop because I was getting a headache from the altitude.
She resisted. With vigor. "More walking! Wait! Wait! WAIT!"
The experience was a big moment, because it was the first time it seemed to click for her that walking was FUN and interesting and GOOD. It was also emotional for Kurt and I because we've been watching our friends with babies walk around holding their children's hand for a year, while we still carry Anna. We finally had a moment, as a family, of walking together, holdin hands, through the mountains. It was a perfect day.
And of course, we were too busy enjoying the moment to get any good pictures, though I think Kurt did manage to take one or two. I'll try to post those later.
Today, Anna and I went for a walk down to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. The biggest problem I have with her now is that she doesn't want to stop walking, even though she's stumbling and her legs and starting to give and she's exhausted. I've gotten around the fear of falling for her by saying, "Bonk-a-doop!" every time she goes down. For some unknown reason, she finds this completely hysterical. Who knows?
Anna is officially a toddler! Bonk-a-doop!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)