Making memories

I've decided it's time to start living. I know that sounds dumb, I'm breathing, my hearts beating...I'm writing a freaking blog, OBVIOUSLY I'm alive. However, I feel like I am in a rut and I'm dragging my daughter down with me. I(like many parents) have become a slave to schedules and routines and the way things are "supposed to be done". Enough I say! It's time to pull the stick out of my a** and live life out loud! I've decided to do one or two things each month to shake things up,. Who knows, maybe I'll even start a tradition or two while I'm at it:) I have to confess I didn't just come up with all of this on my own. I went to a childcare conference last week where the keynote speaker was a man by the name of Jason Kotecki. His speech was was on the spread of what he call "Adultitis" and what we can do to make sure that this affliction affects us as little as possible. I learned that I have stage two adultitis...which means I am really a stick in the mud and if I don't start fighting this condition soon, my kids are going to want to spend as little time as possible with me as soon as they are able to get away...this make me sad:( So I vow here and now that I will change(if only a little at a time).  I invite anyone who reads this to join me( I know I have a huge audience) I'm talking to you
Mandi ;p My first "stunt" is going to be a "pajama run". Let me explain: One night after I put my daughter to bed I am going to go wake her up and randomly take her out to get ice cream in her PJ's. Hell, I might go in my PJ's:) I don't know when exactly, but I am giving myself a deadline: I must do this by the end of April. I have one month to swallow my maturity and say to heck with bedtime for one night and create a memory(maybe even a tradition) with my little girl.I'll let you know how my pajama run goes. If you try this too, please let me know how it went. I will post another challenge or two every month. So be on the lookout:) Peace out Homies:)

The Frustration that comes with being a daycare provider

I love being a daycare provider, but there is no denying that it is a challenge! Especially babies. They are so cute and soft and loveable...and frustrating. I have been watching a baby boy now since mid October of 2010( so almost 4 months) and he WILL NOT sleep! In fact, whenever he's not being held he cries..no cries isn't quite accurate..he screams bloody murder! His parents freely admit that between them and his 3 brothers he is CONSTANTLY held. They frequently let him sleep in his carseat or swing. Whenever he lets out the tiniest whine everyone comes running. Even if they didn't tell me all of these things it would be obvious just by watching his brothers when they are here in the morning. The cannot handle it when he cries at all. They get so anxious and freak out like he's gonna die if they don't run and entertain him right away...It's ridiculous! I have tried talking to mom and dad and letting them know that he cannot be held all the time here. I have 4 children here during the day that are 2 years old and younger. They all want attention, they all want me to play with them and they all want to be held sometimes. I can't just focus on this little guy. I even gave his mom a copy of the schedule here a couple weeks ago. I told her that once he turns one I am no longer obligated or even encouraged to let him eat or sleep on demand(whenever he feels like it). He will need to be following my schedule here at the daycare. He is 7 1/2 months old and I tried to encourage her to gently start easing him closer to the daycare schedule to make the transition as painless as possible.  I certainly do not expect her and her family to turn thier lives upside down to make sure that thier at home schedule is exactly the same as mine here( and I told her that), but the closer she can get to that schedule and the more consistant and routine his days can be ,at home and at daycare ,the better chance we have of success.
I could totally tell that even though she was nodding her head and agreeing with me the whole time that she was just going to blow me off as soon as she got home. She just kept saing that "none of her boys slept very well" Her 8 year old didn't sleep through the night unti he was 4...4 YEARS OLD! Her 7 year old was almost 4 as well. Well excuse me but Fuck That!  I don't know what to do with these people.Right now I am just laying on the tough love here, but if I don't see any progress soon I think I'm gonna have to let them go...Is that wrong? No? Then why do I feel like such a bitch saying that?

Happy New Year

So it's a new year and I've decided to see what this blogging business is all about. Being that it is a new year I have made my usual New Years Resolution: I will lose weight. I am a bit more serious about it this year...I actually got my rear off the couch and got a membership at the gym in late November.I have gone 3-4 times a week every week since( Yay me!). I also convinced my husband to join with me which will definately help. Amoung my many motivations( health, happiness and self esteem) is the fact that I want to have another baby. I am hoping to start trying in the summer:)

Sophia grows up a little more every day:( I swear the stuff that comes out of her mouth sometimes astounds me! She's so smart! She, however, shows absolutely NO INTEREST in potty training much to my dismay. So if anyone has any pointers on how to get her interested that would be greatly appreciated:) She also shows no interest in moving into a toddler bed/big girl bed. She is perfectly happy in her crib thank you...and that really is ok with me. I feel safer with her in the crib so if she is happy there...awesome:)

I've had a nice vacation from my job as a daycare provider for the better part of the last two weeks, but sadly that will be coming to a screeching halt after tomorrow. Business as usual resumes on Monday. There is something to be said for life getting back to normal though...I am a creature of routine and a schedule maniac;)