Sunday, January 29, 2012

Red Eye

D and I flew to NYC on the redeye last week and she was a CHAMP! Yes, that's champ spelled in caps because my girl who always screams when people turn out the lights or whenever anyone tries to sleep was a perfect passenger. Our flight was at 9:25pm. I definitely had her take a nap in the afternoon and made sure it was an early one so she went down for nap directly after school. By 1:30pm she was sleeping. She woke up around 3:30pm and was happy as a clam, obviously super excited for NYC.
Also, I had told her days before that we would be taking the red-eye and people expect to sleep on that flight and that they would turn the lights out and we should all sleep. I think she listened intently.
At the airport, I pulled out a delicious snackie for her - a blueberry muffin made by her grandma 2, Mrs. D. Finally we boarded the flight. I'm pretty sure the television screens at each seat helped a bit but she was really tired by the time we boarded so I was able to convince her to close her eyes and sleep. Sure, it sucks to sleep on a plane but she probably got about 2 hours in.
After we arrived, she was still very sleepy but not one bit cranky. Just went along with getting our luggage, waiting very patiently in the taxi line, riding the taxi (she actually fell asleep for maybe 10 minutes in the taxi) and then when we got to S's apt (7am) and got settled I was able to convince her to close her eyes and go to sleep for the next two hours! Amazing.
This is the girl who never goes down for a nap willingly. She's been really good this trip! Thankfully!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Post - Do not read if you are sensitive

The other morning...after I went into D's room and she yelled at me for closing my eyes...(because I was tired cuz it was before 6am) I went into our room and commented to Greg - "Don't you just H-A-T-E her sometimes??"
And of course, G responded, "What? HATE? That's a strong word isn't it? No, I don't ever hate our daughter."
Whatever.
But as luck was on my side, that particular day D was feeling very needy and very upset and very wanting to cry and scream every five minutes. And in the afternoon, that was aimed totally at G. She did not want to have anything to do with him and would cry and scream and just be annoying. And I was able to look at him that after that and kind of say, "Uh-huh. Yeah. Remember what I said this morning? Yeah."
Yeaaaahhh, I just feel like that sometimes. I just do.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The hiding gnome

There seems to be a gnome flitting about our house hiding things. Oooh, but it's actually D at that age where she can move things around but sometimes just can't grasp the fact that she took something...
Case in point, the other day I was looking for our mini flashlight to take the dog for a walk. It usually sits on the front table but was not there. Immediately, I just think it's G and his penchant for always straightening.
Me: G, did you take the flashlight?
G: No, did you check the drawer in the kitchen?
Me: Yes, and it's not there. I remember seeing it on the front table but it's not there anymore..
Then to D: D, did you take it?
D: No.
Me looking around some more...then G says, D! You were playing with it today, weren't you? I think I saw her playing with it.
Me: D, did you take the flashlight??
D, thinking....then thinking and then a light bulb going off: Oh! Oh! It's here! I put it in my purse!
And she goes to pull it out of her purse.
(rolling my eyes now) This is one of the times where she actually remembers taking and misplacing something after some prodding from dad. How many other times have things gone missing? I seem to always be missing things nowadays.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Ahhh...Waldorf

We finally decided to put D into the Waldorf in our area. We had put her in Riviera, hoping the free-spirited environment would pull her out of her shell and make her just as rambunctious as the other kids are. They are all excited to get to school, they throw their lunch packs on the lunch table and then run and play.
After four months at RP, D really never did stray far from "home base" the porch at the school. She tended to stay near her food, only venturing out minimally.
G and I thought she would probably thrive more at Waldorf.
Well I don't know if she is thriving (just yet - she only just started on Tuesday) but the inclusionary aspect of Waldorf really keeps her in the throes of the action. The older kids seem very nurturing and interested in D as well which is also helpful. This Waldorf actually is an all ages school since it is so small.
I have to say, on the first day (I stayed for the transition period) watching D jump right into Circle Time and participate in all the movements even if she didn't know the words really brought tears to my eyes. It's nice to know we made the right choice.