Smiling Through the Rain

I've had several blog friends have babies lately and it has brought me back to when I was due with Paisley.  You have so many thoughts, hopes, worries and expectations about the biggest day of your life.  Everyone tells you what to prepare for and what to bring to the hospital (turns out I needed a nanny and lots of vaginal ice packs) and of course shares their own horror stories as if that will help you somehow.  And many girls make out detailed birth plans with every aspect of a birth planned out to a T. But babies don't read birth plans (or sleep books for that matter).  They come when they want as if due dates mean nothing to them.  I mean, are they not following our countdown calendars?  I was just trying to get some extra sleep on a Saturday morning when Paisley woke me up with gut-wrenching contractions.  Not my plan. And I know so many girls who are forever disappointed that they had a c-section and didn't get to experience natura...

The holidays were so enjoyable this year!  I cannot believe how much more fun things are now that Paisley is here to share them with.  The enthusiasm she brings to life is just infectious!  She opened gifts very slowly and meticulously, and then just wanted to play with whatever it was.  I'd have to encourage her to move on to the next one.  She got lots of great new toys to play with!  And I actually love the new stuff too!!! Even better, my "biological father" and "Mother Trucker" didn't show up for Christmas which made things perfect!  The family was able to really enjoy each other without worrying about any drama.  Other than the normal silly stuff my family always manages on creating!  I'll update more later, just wanted you all to know that we're still here!  Just enjoying the holidays and time together.  :)

Paisley absolutely loved TV when she was a newborn.  She'd crane that head all the way around like an owl to sneak a peek of whatever was on.  Even if it was something sucky like golf.  I think she owes all of her neck muscle strength to this!  It was one of the only ways to get a minute or two to rush around getting things done before she required our undivided attention again.  Then she could ignore it no matter what show was on.  It could be at the highest volume showing crazy bright colors and blaring music and she'd go on about her business like it didn't exist.  She's actually really good at being "selective" already.  What she hears, what she's able/wlling to do, what she likes/dislikes... Until about a month ago when she discovered her 1st true love.  The Bubble Guppies.  It's a show on Nickelodeon about fish.  And she loves it.  She will sit and watch an entire 30-minute show.  Which is great for us becau...

My husband and I own a vet clinic for those who don't already know.  And we bring Paisley with us to work everyday.  My office is set up for her as a play room, so it hardly looks professional at all.  I have alphabet floor mats, stuffed animals, a little bed for her, diapers, and toys galore.  And then shoved in "my corner", I have all of our important tax papers, payroll stuff, etc.  Seems fair enough. This has been an amazing situation.  We've gotten to both spend lots of time with our little girl as she's gotten bigger and her love for animals has just blossomed.  Currently we have a stray cat that we found in a dumpster that she adores.  He lets her love on him like crazy, carry him around, and squeeze him.  Perfect friendship.  Hanging out with one of her best friends (also one of our employees)  Playing in her stray kitty's cage Our clients also love seeing her.  They've gotten to watch her grow up and it's so sweet h...

Giving Santa her wish list Watching the fish at Bass Pro Doing art and crafts at Bass Pro after her picture

You all had tons of great suggestions, and even better- sympathy - for our current sleep debacle.   Here's what we may have figured out.  I fed her more during the entire day the past 2 days and she has slept good the past 2 nights.  In fact, Monday morning she woke up at 6 but after a sippy cup of milk, she slept in my bed until 9:00.  I could of swore it was Christmas morning.  :) And as far as questions about naps ruining her sleep at night, I think we can rest assured that naps are not the problem.  She only takes one ever and it typically is about an hour long.  On a good day.  I'm pretty sure that she'll have outgrown naps by the time she's 2. And as for putting her down earlier and us going to bed earlier, problem is that she doesn't fall asleep until about 10 now and wakes up at about 7 normally (prior to our current issue).  So, we already didn't get any adult time at night and I have been getting ready for work...

Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows that sleep has been a battle in this house.  I cringe every single time I have to hear the phrase, "my baby slept through the night from the first night at home."  I try to imagine that these people are pathological liars and that babies like that have as much likelihood of existing as unicorns.  But I think maybe some people really are that lucky.  And I also think that until you have a baby who requires next to no sleep that you'll never know true sleep deprivation. So you might guess that when Paisley finally started sleeping 8 hours straight, I felt like I'd won the lottery.  After all, she was like 8 months old.  And even then, we'd go through periods of waking up again for a while.  But things have been solid for about 3-4 months now so I crossed that obstacle off our list. Until 2-3 weeks ago when she suddenly remembered that she likes to wake up in the middle of the night....