I feel like I don’t know what to write here anymore, so I’m just going to write.
Anna hasn’t been sleeping well. She’s been battling insomnia, it’s taking her over two hours every night to fall asleep. It’s incredibly annoying because I just want a break, to sit on my couch and eat nachos and watch HGTV and window shop on Etsy but also? I feel bad for her because that is the worst, not being able to sleep.
I do not handle the situation well. I get frustrated with her. Mainly because she’s the type of kid to get out of bed 49 times to pee or to tell me her elbow hurts from when she hit it on a pillow last Thursday, you know, that type of thing.
But still. It’s frustrating. Right now, I’m blaming it on Daylight Savings Time.
Last week Noah had a double ear infection with a ruptured ear drum. I swear he’s been deaf ever since. Poor fellow. In all seriousness, I’m becoming concerned but I’ll give it a few more days before calling the doctor.
Again.
(two of my kids are on antibiotics right now.)
Eli is finally talking. He’s so cute we can hardly stand it. WE as in Brian, Anna, Noah and I. At dinner tonight, Noah said “sometimes I can hardly not stop looking at him because he’s so cute.” Seriously, he’s stop you in your tracks FREAKING CUTE. He loves owls and kites.
KITES. He loves kites. I love that boy.
Clara is completely adorable and loves to smile at anyone she sees. Today, however, she was very, very fussy so I’m starting to wonder if she’s teething. It’s funny. I want to start her on solids but I’d like to skip over the whole cereal/oatmeal process except I don’t know what to give her. She’s my forth kid and I don’t know how to feed her.
Brian has finals this week. For those that don’t know, he’s working towards his MBA at Northwestern. He’s been working on his MBA for about 398 years now and is scheduled to graduate next December. PRAISE THE LORD. Next week he’s on spring break. I think I’m more excited than he is.
And little old me? Well, last weekend I auditioned for Listen to Your Mother. I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be or not but I decided to do it because I felt I had something to share and also, I was scared to death.
I recently saw a quote that says “do something everyday that scares you.”
Well, I don’t think I can do this everyday but I’m doing it more often. It’s making me LIVE and do things I’ve never tried before.
So, I auditioned and it was fun and emotional and I have no idea if I’ll be chosen but I already feel victorious because I tried and that makes me happy.
Totally skip the cereal! I highly recommend reading up on baby led weaning, it makes introducing solids a lot easier.
http://heartshapedleaves.blogspot.com/2012/02/skip-purees-stop-madness.html
Coming out of blurk-dom because I read your blog and love it- beautiful family!- and I wanted to tell you that I had an ear infection when I was dating my husband five years ago and my ear drum ruptured and I literally could not hear out of that ear at all for almost an entire month. But my hearing DID come back eventually. I think it’s pretty normal for an ear drum rupture.
Also, I second what Samantha says–try Baby Led Weaning–it makes so much sense and is much less hassle!
And kites?! Really? That is SO awesome.
Good luck with your audition!
I am
So glad you did.
Steph
Good to read you again…and it’s been over a week since the site was going haywire. That’s also a huge reason to celebrate!
Hope your kiddos are back to their usual selves soon…and that you get some well needed rest! We’ve had some sleeping issues in our house lately too, and it’s just beyond draining!
For sure skip the cereal. Because, really, ew! I totally wouldn’t eat that.
Bananas and avocados are easily digested first foods and the bonus is that you don’t have to do anything to prepare them but mush them up. Score. Sweet potatoes are great too, but they take a little bit more prep.
So cool that you auditioned. I’m thinking that if it ever comes to Dallas I might audition.
I can’t remember how old Clara is, but it seems like we skipped the cereal/oatmeal with Ben, more or less. I started mixing it with baby food almost immediately.
Sorry for the sick. That is no good. And the insomnia would make me so crazy. Both because my quiet time would be interrupted and because I would be so frustrated as a mom not knowing how to help. I hope things improve!
Seeing that you are one of my favorite blogs (and people!!) I should probably comment more!
I’m so sorry to hear about all of the sickness in your family! The sickness is overwhelming. Evan had a double ear infection well over a month ago and I feel like he’s still off. He’s been sick more this winter than he ever has.
I think we are going to skip cereal with Rowen once she’s old enough to eat. From what I’ve read, it seems like its pretty pointless? I’m interested in clicking that link that was mentioned in the comments above me!
I hope bedtime gets better soon for Anna.
P.s. you are super brave to audition!! Kudos to you!
Maybe Anna would benefit from deep breathing to get to sleep? Also, I didn’t know your husband was finishing school at NU. If I see him in the cafeteria during one of my breaks I will try not to be too awkward about it.
I changed everything with my fourth baby too. I skipped cereal and started her off with bananas when she was 6 months. She’s almost 11 months now and feeding her has been smooth sailing.
I am so excited that you were chosen. You know that now, right? I just saw it on Facebook. I am so excited because I can go this year. It broke my heart to miss the show last year. I also love that I know some of the speakers. I can’t wait. Eli must be talking like our Jack. It cracks me up. It’s so cute. Are you doing Team James and Jake this year?
Oh goodness, hope the kiddos start to feel and sleep better!
And YAY you, for auditioning, that his wonderful!!
Wish I could come see you when you get chosen.
All 4 of your kids are adorable. I can’t wait to meet Clara. I AM THRILLED YOU WERE CHOSEN for LTYM!
Hey, I’ve been a lurker for a long time but wanted to tell you to check out melatonin for the insomnia. it’s AWESOME. it’s natural, you can buy it over the counter in any pharmacy, it’s with the vitamins and supplements. It comes in 1, 3 and 5 mg tablets and you can crush it and hide it in food if she isn’t good at swallowing. Melatonin is totally natural, your body produces it at night time and it helps relax you before falling asleep. My oldest son has an insomnia diagnosis and he gets it every night about 30 min before bedtime to help with falling asleep – it’s non habit forming and processes out of your body naturally. Check it out!!
I second the suggestion of melatonin. It also comes in liquid form, sold at GNC. My daughter is 11 and we have been battling insomnia at bedtime for awhile. The very first night it worked
Best suggestion from the pediatrician ever! Good luck 
I noticed someone already mentioned Melatonin. Our middle son needed it to help him sleep. Also, our daughter started taking Zantac in the morning and at night and that helped her sleep better because for whatever reason no matter what she ate it gave her a sour stomach and she could not sleep. Another thing, my daughter also did not sleep well on the top bunk bed when she shared the bedroom with our son. Seems she could hear the hum of the fan too loudly and see the street lights through the top of the curtains. Hope she is able to sleep soon.
My oldest daughter is just like that. She is the worst one to have trouble sleeping, because she suddenly has a million other ailments plaguing her. So I totally get what you mean by feeling badly for them, but also NEEDING SOME TIME WITH THEM ASLEEP.
Also, I am sure you will get picked for LTYM. And I can’t wait to watch it on YouTube this year!
Lastly, since I’m writing a book of a comment anyway, you should definitely look into baby led weaning. I didn’t do it with my first three, either, but wanted to try it with Adele and I am so happy we did. We started her on avocado and then banana. It took her a while to get the hang of eating, but now she’s a champ.
Baby led weaning!!!! Try it!!! We spoon fed my almost 3 year-old son and now we are doing baby led weaning with our 7 month old daughter. It is SO SO SO easy. I had no idea until fairly recently that babies are fully capable of feeding themselves right from the beginning. We just give her some food from our family dinner (cut into appropriately sized pieces for her), and that’s it! She can choose to eat it or not eat it…although usually she eats it. Tonight for dinner she had chicken breast and cucumbers.
http://www.babyledweaning.com
Seriously. It’s so easy. Try it!