Let it Go

For those of you that know me, you know I'm anti-Disney Princesses. I just loath how they market the crap out of them and make little girls seem like crazed pink seeking zombies. Well, if you haven't been "off the grid" in the past year, you're probably at least slightly aware of the phenomenon that was/is Frozen. For the past two and a half years of M's life she's had a princess free zone but the songs of Frozen were slowly seeping into our world. We hadn't seen the movie yet but I would play the songs on youtube for her. She loved them! She knew the songs before we had really seen the movie and she would run around our house singing Let it Go at the top of her lungs and waving her hands like she was creating magic. Who can resist that?! I had to yield and we finally saw the whole movie around the time that L came along. It turned out to be a great movie. I liked it even more because ****SPOILER ALERT**** the act of "true love" that saves Anna in the end is her own choice of sacrificing herself to save her sister. Good theme of sisterly love and strength in family.

Well, as one might assume, M caught on to the idea of princess and has since wanted to wear a blanket as a mantel "like Elsa" around our house. She also wants to wear long dresses, also like Elsa, but we didn't have any for her. Needless to say, her birthday party theme was Frozen and for Christmas, Santa brought her an Elsa dress and daddy added a crown to match.

I have come to realize that I need to... "Let it Go" (Yes, I went there) and let her be a princess sometimes. It's all about letting her play and pretend and learn for herself. It's about me not being controlling but helping to guide and model for her that will help her interpret and learn things from the world around her including sometimes from movies.

As a side note, it's also about not over indulging in the princess merchandise because that stuff is, to quote Dr. Evil in a more G rated tone, Ri-gosh-darn-diculous! 

The Terrible Three's??

Ok, so I was reviewing my post for M's birthday last year. She was a spunky little two year old who was constantly learning new words, who was curious and friendly to everyone. She was anything but 'terrible'. 

Fast forward another year (which is definitely how it feels) and we now have a three year old and a 5 month old! I look back on this time last year and I remember my little two year old, who was still nursing at the time, and how sweet she would say 'mama, I'm gonna share with the baby'. I'm proud to say she does share with the baby.  She loves her little sister so much, sometimes a little rough but with all the warmth in the world! But right before she turned three she wanted to share something else... Screaming. She started throwing tantrums! Like the real thing... I mean, kicking, screaming,  flailing on the floor, Niagra Falls tear streaming tantrums!! And for the littlest things. They come on like a tornado with all the chaos and destruction and yelling that comes with it... Well at least that's how it seems.  

Now seeing my sweet daughter morph into something akin to Slimer on Ghost Busters combined with the wailing of banshee is enough to make me want to find my own proton pack, and so far I haven't had any luck on curbing these little storms. I'm trying to stay calm and ignore her when they come on but any parent who has seen similar outbursts knows the difficulty. 

And today, it happened. I was that parent. She'd had a great swim class and I gave her 5 minutes in the hot pool. When it was time to get out she tried to swim out of my reach so I pulled her out... And meltdown ensued. Screaming...becoming a limp noodle so I couldn't pick her little wet body up. Refusing the towel while shivering and cold. All while other mothers witnessed this display with looks of silent solidarity. I wasn't embarrassed just distressed because I know she isn't that child, but  a three year old going through a phase. I gained a little encouragement from the fact that she saw better of sitting on the wet floor and that I wasn't having it by walking under her own volition into the dressing room, albeit while still screaming. 

Sigh...I ironically thought of Dori on Finding Nemo singing 🎶'Just keep swimming'🎶 

And that's what I have to do! 

Trial and Error

Well, I know it's been a big break since I last published. The past few weeks have been quite trying with our newest edition! She's quite a bit more temperamental than M ever was as a baby.

 For the past few weeks we've been struggling with naps and a sleep pattern. L didn't really have one. She still doesn't really, I'm pretty lucky if I can get her to take one good nap in a day let alone two or maybe 3 short ones. She still isn't really sleeping through the night without a fussy wake in the middle of the night... there was a few weeks there when I was just in tears on a daily basis about what to do! I tried the chiropractor, a counselor and finally the doctor just said, she'll figure it out! So I kind of just sighed and said... ok, just let her figure it out. 

There are still days I feel like crying because when she doesn't want to nap, she'll scream at the top of her little lungs but I just have to try and keep her on a little bit of a schedule. She seems to be adapting some days and others she rebels, but I guess that's to be expected. 

What made it doubly difficult was the days I had M I felt like I was neglecting her and focusing solely on L. She's gotten pretty good at helping and knowing when I need extra help if L is being difficult. I have to look at the silver lining each chance I get. She's sleeping in her own crib, she naps sometimes and most of all, she's a pretty happy baby. It's those little things I have to keep reminding myself of and take each day, each moment really, as it comes. 

Hopefully the next 2 months won't be nearly as stressful however she'll likely start getting teeth and throw a wrench in it to keep me on my toes! :)

Coming up on Saturday is M's 3rd birthday party! I can't believe she's going to be 3! It should be fun!