Toddler Troubles

It's days and nights like tonight that make me seriously question having another child. I know that sounds horrible, but Madison is driving me completely nutso! I absolutely adore my daughter, but sometimes I wonder if all children her age behave this way. I see other parents out shopping with their two-year-olds and they aren't having to fight with them to stay seated in their strolers or carts. Other two-year-olds sit nicely in their highchairs or booster seats while out to eat. Bedtime is another battle that we fight on a nightly basis. I start to put her down around 8pm now. She absolutely refuses to go down any earlier than that (no matter how exhausting her day has been or if she didn't get a nap in that day). She will get up out of her bed at least 5 times and come waltzing into the living room before she will finally give up the ghost and stay in bed. Of course this is not without a screaming kicking match! Most nights, I can't get her to stay in bed until 9-9:30, some nights it's even as late as 10 or 11pm! I just now had to stop typing and put her back in her bed yet again! This makes the 8th time so far tonight... I have tried everything, music, bedtime stories, a soothing bath before bed, a bedtime snack... You name it. She isn't acting scared or upset, she just doesn't want to go to sleep! I have tried spanking when she gets out of bed, talking to her, just putting her back into bed... Nothing seems to work. And no matter what time she goes down, she always gets up at the same time in the morning! Most days she doesn't nap, so I really don't know how she is running on such little sleep. For that matter, I don't see how I am! By the time I get her down, all I really want to do is go to bed myself. But with her not napping, I am left doing laundry, housework and other things at night after she goes down. Eating is also a battle now days. She hardly eats anything and what I do get down her is a battle. She generaly eats breakfast okay, but lunch is a hit or miss and she rarely eats more than two bites of her dinner. We have cut out snacks and treats, and she is not waking up in the middle of the night hungry! I honestly don't know how she isn't losing weight, but she's not. We have also taken a huge step back in potty training progress. At first, she really wanted to do it and she was really excited about it. But now, she is having more and more "accidents". I know that she knows to ask. And I also know that she knows better than to wet her pants or poop in them because as soon as she does it, she says "Im sorry Mommy". I have tried treats and rewards, they worked for a few days and then the newness of them wore off with her. I have started just putting her on the potty every two hours weather or not she says she needs to go. Im hoping this will work. We shall see. I know that I am a damn good mother, but sometimes, I feel like no matter what I do it's wrong. I really have no friends with children the same age as Madison, so I feel very alone and like I have nobody to talk to about this (hence this blog). Rob doesn't seem to fully understand what I am going through with her since he is at work for most of it, and she is always a complete angel when Daddy is around. And even if she does act up, he only has to correct her once and she gets the point. I think it hurts her feeling more if he spanks her or puts her in timeout. I keep telling myself that all of this is normal and will pass in time. That it is just a stage she is going through... There has got to be a light at the end of this tunnel! Children really should come with an instruction manual.

Tropical Storm Ida

Apparently somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature that hurricane season is over. Here we are in November, and a tropical storm is rolling on shore as I type! It has just started to drizzle here and the wind is pretty gusty at times. Poor Rambo looked as if he was going to just take flight earlier in the backyard! This is Madison's first storm. Nothing major or exciting, but it is still her first. It is also our first storm in the new house. It's a good thing it's just a tropical storm! We don't have boards cut to cover our windows yet or anything! The hubs is working out in Destin today (as per usual) and when I spoke to him a few minutes ago, he said the surf is starting to pick up out there. After living here my whole life and staying through some of the storms that I have (Opal, Ivan, etc..) this is nothing to me. Just some rain and wind. It's actually very relaxing to just hunker down on the couch with my daughter, some books, movies, cuddly pets, pillows and a comfy blanket. Can't wait for the hubby to make it home and join us in our small, family, living room based "Ida" party! Here's to our very first storm, in our very first house and Madison's first storm ever!

Welcome!

Well, first off, let me say welcome! For those of you who already know me, please excuse this brief introduction.

My name is Bess and I am a 26-year-old mother and wife. My husband and I have been married for a crazy (but wonderful) five years now! Our beautiful daughter Madison (who will be a frequent subject of these blogs) is two and a half. We live in FL and for the most part, I absolutely hate it! However, we just bought our first house! So, we will be here for awhile. I love our new house and I'm spending a lot of my time now days making "ours". New England and four seasons are calling my name, and one day my husband and I hope to be able to retire there. I have one very stupid but very cute bichon/yorkie named Rambo and three cats that I am pretty sure aren't from this solar system! I have been riding and showing horses most of my 26 years. It is my passion and I feel complete, whole, sane, peaceful and blessed everytime I am on their backs or have their furry little noses nuzzle my arm for a treat. When my daughter goes to school, I plan on returning to school myself. I would love to get my law degree, but that would require a move for myself and my family and the closest law school in three hours away! So for now, the plan is for me to become a paralegal and then go from there. A lot can happen in that amount of time! Well, thats me! Again, welcome for those of you who are just stepping into my world and to the rest of you, thanks for reading and supporting my thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams!

B~