Baby Girl is 18 months - a year and a half - and I can't believe how fast it's all going already! She is or rather, we are, completely pacifier free! She still groans and complains, which turns into a conversation with something in her crib, and then finally sleeps. I guess instantaneous sleep isn't going to happen, but if it doesn't happen with me why should it happen with her.
It's just amazing to be able to watch her new tricks from day-to-day and it's so hard to believe that another one is on its way. I'm already at 21 weeks!
Our Baby Girl is is fabulous both with her laughter and her tantrums - timeouts for everyone! - , willful, and her own living creature. We ask ourselves many times, "do all babies do this?". She has finally made her way past the 20 pound mark and was called "short" by her doctor (thanks). We've added the sounds of a cow and a duck to her animal repertoire. I sing and we do the hand motions together for "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" at least one-million times a day. There are now five teeth in her grin. Not enough for a steak, but good enough to eat most of my breakfast burrito. Speaking of that, eating is still her favorite hobby.
She is a good baby and we love her so very much...Happy Birthday!!
Breakfast Burrito Steal-er
This morning when I asked her to show me her teeth.
So far, the days have been going well...unless, the tantrum monster gets a hold of Baby Girl and then all is lost. Yesterday, was a good day minus the nap. It took her about 40-minutes to fall asleep. I'm not sure what she was doing in there, but it sounded like she was standing and then throwing herself down - she likes to do that - and then laughing, laughing, laughing. She fell asleep and then woke up a half hour later, crying. I think she slept about another hour before waking up crying again. Usually she wakes up talking to herself.
Baby Girl was good for the last half of the day, but I could tell she was tired after a restless nap. Right now, I put her down for a nap about 15-minutes ago and there has been some talking and some complaining. It's all quiet at the moment so hopefully this means sleep! Good, quiet, restful sleep!
Today is the third day going without a pacifier. We started on Monday when we only used it at naptime and bedtime. It was a good day. Baby Girl was in a really fun and playful mood. Tuesday, Pastor Husband and I caved. We gave in about a half hour before lunch. She was fine after that and, again, only used it to sleep. Today we entered into day three...
Today was a success! Minus the complete meltdown this morning. Baby Girl actually did the same thing yesterday morning and Pastor Husband and I are completely baffled as to why this is happening. She's not crying for the pacifier, she's just crying. It's not teething and she isn't sick. The second her favorite cartoon came on she was fine and just sat with me. The poor thing didn't even make it through breakfast this morning.
However, today I will count as a success because we went the whole day without me giving in and plugging her up with a pacifier. Baby Girl even went through her entire afternoon nap without one! Tomorrow will be the same routine and then Friday - the big night! - we'll try to do bedtime pacifier free.
I'm not sure why I picked this week to start this, but I did and now I have to stay dedicated. I realized that the pacifier is really my bad habit, not Baby Girl's habit. She doesn't look for it, ask for it, and will only take it if she happens to see it. It's more our crutch than any thing else. It takes such discipline from yourself to raise a child! I knew this, but I'm really beginning to realize it as she gets older and learns new "tricks"!
...as in, I'm going to be using a lot of words in this post tonight!
Last night I finally got to use my Christmas present from Pastor Husband. Tickets to Jekyll and Hyde!!! It sort of felt like Valentine's as well because we got dress up, go out, and stay up late. Staying up late doesn't happen often, at least not on purpose, due to the fact that we like to sleep.
It was fun because we haven't been to The Pantages theatre in a while and all of a sudden there is a hotel across the street. It was odd because the lobby/front desk/bar area was decorated in a very Las Vegas-80's-extravagance. We felt a bit sleazy in this swanky place, but decided to stay for appetizers, which were so yummy! Expensive, but very tasty. Then we walked and had dinner at this little Italian place, "Fabiolus Cucina". Just go, you need to go there. Pastor Husband had the gnocchi and I had the Tagliatelle. Mine had a meat sauce, but it didn't taste heavy or oily. It was cooked perfectly.
On to the musical...I've seen Jekyll and Hyde three times. Last night was the fourth. It's been years since the last time and I know it was recently revamped by Frank Wildhorn and it seems like whenever he does this he scrapes a bit more off. The music thins a bit and he'll add a song here, take out a song there. Now, it's good, I would never say it wasn't because I'm not a composer so who am I to say that he doesn't know what he's doing.
Right now, Constantine Maroulis is playing the part of Jekyll and Hyde. This is the second time I've seen him on stage, the first being, "Rock of Ages". That musical suited him perfectly because he's a rocker. J&H, just not so much. They definitely added a more rock vibe to the songs he sang, which made those songs seem out of place to the rest of the music. He performed them well, but it made the songs stand out on their own rather than complementing the others. He also tried to sing with an accent and if The Beatles can sing without an accent so can the rest of the world.
The ladies of J&H - spectacular! If it wasn't for them, the show may have been lost. Deborah Cox (Lucy) and Teal Wicks (Emma) have those classic, big, solid, gut-wrenching voices that I love. Out of all the Lucy's I've seen, Deobrah Cox is the closest to Linda Eder (my favorite singer ever!).
Regardless of the weird rock edge to the musical, it was a great show and one of the best nights we've had together. Pastor Husband never makes me feel like I'm only the mother to his children. He is always so good at loving me as his wife first, which gives me a nice reminder that I am his wife first and mother to Baby Girl and Baby Dos (soon enough!) second.
PS - it occurred to me last night that this song should be played when someone is baptized :)
(I'm totally scooping this from someone else. She's an amazing writer and storyteller and I was lucky enough to have lunch with her a couple of years ago. I love Margaret Feinberg...read everything she writes, you won't be sorry!)
The Latin word for "lent" is "Quadragesima", which basically translates to forty. Hence, the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
This is what Margaret has to say about it:
"Originally, Lent was designed as a time of preparation and worship for the believer. The forty days before Easter were set aside for penitence, prayer, and self-denial.
The number forty has repetitive significance in the Bible.
It rained for 40 days when Noah was on the ark (Genesis 7:17). Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai(Exodus 24:18). The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33). Elijah spent 40 days walking to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). Jesus fasted for 40 days and was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-2). Ever notice thatGod has a track-record of displaying His mighty wonders in increments of forty?
Beginning on Ash Wednesday (which falls on February 13nd, this year), many people choose to give something up for 40 days in this season of preparation.
But as I suggest in Wonderstruck,maybe the question we need to ask as we enter Lent isn’t, “What are you giving up for Lent?” as much as “What do you want to lay hold of during Lent?” [Tweet this]
The wonders of God are waiting for you during Lent. This season is laced with opportunity that will stir your hunger to know God more.[Tweet this]
How will you lay hold of the wonders of Lent?
Beginning on February 13, we have the opportunity to spend 40 days passionately pursuing God. You. Me. Everyone we can bring along for the joyous journey.
How will you choose to seek God during this time?
What expressions will your desire for God take?
What do you want to lay hold of in greater measure through Lent?
Tomorrow I’ll share what I’ve been prayerfully considering for this season.
But today, I’m challenging you, sweet you, to take some time today to ask God what He’s calling you toward. In past years, I’ve given up contempt, committed to pray three-word-prayers, and more.
