Swimming Lessons

After using swimming lessons as a potty training bribe for months, it was finally time to go.  The days leading up to swimming lessons, Miles had several accidents at daycare and he almost didn't get to go.  I was so upset for him.  It seemed like such a hard lesson for a toddler, and we had built it up so much.  I never dreamed that he actually wouldn't get to go....after all, we'd been potty training for 6.5 months.  

Thankfully his teacher, Ms. Ann, decided that he could go.  She really thought he would be fine, and that it might be a great motivation over two full weeks.  She was right.  He didn't have a single accident at school or home the entire two weeks.  The last day of the lessons, parents come to see what the kids have learned. 

The pool is very close to the daycare, so they walk over together...

Learning to hold his breath and go under water...

 

They also learned to float.  He didn't like that feeling at all...

I couldn't believe how comfortable he was with going under water.  He played on the steps and went under over and over...

He loved going under the water and finding these...

Then, they swam from teacher to teacher...

...and back to the steps.  He learned to kick his feet really well.  

The lesson was 30 minutes long.  He was completely over it midway through.  He wouldn't do anything.  My mom and I tried to bribe him with gum and popsicles, but he wasn't having it.  At this moment, he would not jump off the side like his friends, which was kind of the grand finale.  He finally did with the help of his teacher, but he really wasn't into it.

Just as the lesson was ending, he decided he wanted to jump off one more time.  Mr. Josh was nice enough to oblige. 

Then, he was mad b/c we couldn't give him the gum we bribed him with until we got to the car...

But the teachers gave them each a piece of candy for doing such a good job and he was instantly happy again...

Miles and his buddies....

My niece, Anna, was still here so she got to go to swimming lessons.  Miles was happy about that...

He was also happy about Daddy being there...

Every day when I picked Miles up from school, I would ask about swimming lessons.  He didn't have much to say, so I had low expectations for how much he really learned.  I was amazed at the swim show.  He was so much more comfortable than he was before the lessons.  He now has a great foundation to build on.

Our Morning Routine Sans Daddy

Darrin has been out of town since Sunday.  Mornings used to be very hectic when he would go out of town, b/c he handles most of the morning duties with Miles.  Now that Miles has gotten older, and more independent, we've found a morning routine when Daddy is out of town that leaves both of us happy.

When I get up, I make his pancakes, pour some milk, and set out his vitamins on the table...he doesn't care that his pancakes are cold....trust me...

....I put his clothes in the living room floor...

....I turn the tv on one of his favorite shows and pause the tv...and then I hide the remote...

 

When Miles wakes up, he potties by himself...

...eats breakfast...

 ....and then after he gets dressed, I tell him where to find the remote...we call it a treasure hunt. Then, he can push play & chill until it's time for school...

Of the four mornings this week, 3 were great and 1 was a disaster.  I had to rush him one morning b/c I had to leave for work 45 minutes earlier than usual.  He didn't care for me rushing him which lead to a loss of patience on both ends.  So it goes with a toddler.

Our week by ourselves came to an end today.  My mom and my niece, Anna, came for a visit.  Anna lives in Texas and we are thrilled to have her here.  Miles told everyone at daycare that Anna was coming.  I think he's just a little excited...

Darrin will be home in a couple of hours.  I have very much enjoyed some quality time with Miles, but it's so nice to have my mom, Anna, and soon Darrin, home. 

Wordless Wednesday

Look At My Face

I posted this on FB a couple days ago but I have to repeat and post it here so I'll always have this story.

Miles gave me this look...

...and said, "I am not very happy right now. Look at my face. Does this face look happy? No. I am very mad."  I don't even remember why he was "not very happy".  Oh how your words come back to haunt you.  And in this case, it would be his daddy's words.

Day 16

Well, I'm on day 16 of the detox.  It has gone really well, but I feel myself losing my will power.  In 15 days, the most I cheated was one Dove chocolate, 2 cups of Crystal Light energy, and a couple mints.  It has been so much easier this time.  When I start to think about how bad it is, or how hungry I am, or how much I love brownie batter....I just push it out of my mind.  Tonight, I kind of lost it a little.  I ate one of Miles' chicken nuggets, 4 french fries, and 2 Dove chocolates.  Tomorrow is a new day and I need to get back to it.  I've done too well to give up now, especially with only 12 days to go.  Plus, I want to be able to tell my doctor that I did the detox faithfully.

Part of the reason that I feel myself giving up a little is b/c it has not helped at all.  In fact, I may have felt worse over the last couple weeks than I did before I started.  I've had a headache EVERY day, and muscle pain, neck stiffness, and joint pain on a lot of days.  I've come to the part in the detox that I am supposed to be adding different foods back in systematically and keeping a journal about how they make me feel.  In my mind, it doesn't really matter b/c I haven't felt any better.  This lets me know that my symptoms are not from a food allergy.....to which I say thank you Lord.  Really, I am very thankful.  I didn't want to eat like this for the rest of my life. 

I'm guessing we will treat the specific Lyme bacteria that is known for causing neck stiffness and headaches. I've been tested for it twice and both were negative, but that's how Lyme is.  I'm confident that my doctor will move forward with that treatment based on symptoms alone.  Bring it on....I am ready to try it.  In the meantime, I'll go back to my fruits and veggies for 12 more days.  I do get to eat chicken and turkey starting on Thursday....so that will be helpful.  

Darrin's parents came to see us yesterday.  We had fun visiting with them.  They got a new car, so we looked at their car and then Miles had to show them his car.  He also showed them how fast his new shoes are....and they read a few books....

Thanks for visiting Granny & Pa!

On Second Thought

A friend (you know who you are) joked last night, but not really, that I was drugging my child at bedtime.  No way...I would never.  It's not like I'm giving him Benadryl.  Melatonin is all natural and my Lyme doctor who is an "eat only organic food, no vaccinations" kind of guy would never endorse something that wasn't 110% safe.  Still, I couldn't shake the comment and did a little research this morning.  I think God has a way of speaking through people so I thought I would listen. 

I am a firm believer that you can confirm or disprove anything you want to on the internet.  There is plenty of research online that says Melatonin is perfectly safe.  However, there is just as much that says it's not.  Some say it's a hormone, others disagree.  It talks about reasons to give it to a child, when it would be in their best interest.  Kids with ADHD or Autism can benefit from taking it.  One comment stood out more than any...."Melatonin should not be given to a perfectly healthy child that just doesn't want to go to sleep".  Hmmm....is that what we are doing?  I do think he has some legit anxiety about bedtime, the dark, etc, as do all kids at one time or another.  And, knowing how much Miles needs sleep and has a difficult time functioning effectively without it, I do think Melatonin would be good for him for that reason.

The verdict?  We will continue to use it, but not every night.  He has his 3 year check up in a few weeks.  I plan to talk to his pediatrician about it then.  I have an appointment in September with my doctor, and I will also talk to him.  I'm hoping after both of these conversations, I will feel free to go back to using it every night.  Until then, we'll just use it as needed.....like when he really needs a good night sleep...or if he's really wound up...or if Darrin's out of town, which can make bedtime a complete struggle.  I'm sad b/c bedtime had become so easy and I felt like Darrin and I actually regained some of our time at night.  Oh well, it's just a phase....this too shall pass.

On a lighter note...I bought Miles 3 new pairs of shoes this weekend.  We woke up one day and several of his shoes were too small.  These are his favorite.  He's been running around the house since he got them.  I guess he's testing them out to see how fast they go. 

Bedtime Woes

I don't think this is the first time I've used this blog title...unfortunately.  Oh the dreaded bedtime.  It has become such a struggle, which is so disappointing after working so hard to ensure that Miles is a good sleeper.  I've been assured by many friends that this is just a phase and that it will pass.  Nonetheless, it is. not. fun.

Bedtime consists of two major problems.  First is the process of actually getting him to sleep.  He pretty much loses his mind at the mention of bedtime.  For a while he was saying that he was scared.  The most common complaint was purple monsters.  We've left lights on, doors open, gotten special stuffed animals, blankets, etc.  We were sympathetic about him being scared at first and then it got to where I think he was just playing us.  Sometimes Mack sleeps with him and that seems to make him happy.  Other nights he is adamant that he does not want Mack to sleep with him.  He screams, cries, and gets up over and over no matter how many times you take him back.  You get the picture....going to sleep = disaster.

The second problem is staying in his bed all night long.  We have never let him sleep with us consistently.  We have randomly for one reason or another, but never consistently.  Now, every night some time between 1-5am, he comes to our room and wants to get in bed with us, which we have totally given into.

So, those are the two problems.  Luckily we have found a temporary solution to the first problem.  I say temporary b/c I've learned that every "fix" with kids is temporary and you just have to ride it until it doesn't work anymore.  The answer?  Melatonin.  Ahhhh.  It is basically a vitamin that calms and promotes sleep.  A friend that takes her children to my Lyme doctor said that he approved 1-3mg in children ages 3+.  We were all over that suggestion.  The first night we gave him 3mg b/c I take it too and that's the dosage I had.  He fell asleep face first on the couch within 20 minutes, and then slept all night in his bed.  Since then we adjusted the dosage a little but ended back at 3mg.  Anything less than that did not work.  He's been able to take 3mg, walk to bed calmly, and fall asleep quickly.  There is no crying, no struggling, and no getting up 100 times.

Unfortunately, staying in his bed only worked the first night.  He's gotten up the past 4 nights and gotten in bed with us...

 

I can be pretty hard core with him at bedtime about staying in his bed, but it's totally different at 2am.  It just doesn't seem like making him go to bed and getting him all upset is a winning situation for anyone at that hour.  Another friend recommended a reward chart.  Good idea.  I had it whipped up in 5 minutes...

He wants a Buzz costume so badly.  So, the idea was that if he stayed in his bed until his clock turned green, he would get a sticker for his chart.  Once all the boxes were filled up, he would get a Buzz costume.  He was VERY excited.  Alas, I think the idea of delayed gratification is lost on him.  We started it two nights ago and he's gotten up both nights.  We're trying it again tonight.  He seems so excited when we talk about it at bedtime, but not so much when we remind him at 2am.

Wow...really long explanation of bedtime.  With that, I'm going to bed b/c he is asleep and I have Big Brother to watch.  Good night all!

Wordless Wednesday

Conversations with Miles

This kid is hilarious...

I have no idea where he comes up with half of the things he says.  The other day I was going to Walmart to get a few things.  I asked Darrin if he needed anything, and then asked Miles just to see what he would say.  He said he wanted a motorcycle.  He was disappointed with the Matchbox car that I returned with.  He wanted this...

The other day, I was showing him a picture of me when I was pregnant.  He looked at me very seriously and asked, "Did you eat me?"  In fairness to him, I can see why he asked...I mean seriously....

I had to work in the nursery during church yesterday.  I was assigned to a toddler room.  Miles wanted to come in the room I was working in.  I told him he had to play with Gray he if came in there b/c Gray was unhappy and wanted to play ball.  He said, "Ok, I'm good with kids."

When he's not making us laugh, he can also be really sweet.  The other day when we were hanging out at home, he grabbed my hand, kissed it, and said, "It's nice to be home."  I totally agree.

Laid Back Weekend

After a very busy week of Vacation Bible School last week, we had the most uneventful weekend we've had in months.....many, many months.  VBS was from 6-8:30pm, Monday - Friday.  I work until 5pm, so trying to get home, eat my crazy, restrictive diet food, feed Miles & Darrin, give Miles a bath, get myself ready, and try to be back at the church between 5:30-5:45 was stressful.  Darrin and I worked together each night to make it happen.  By the time Friday rolled around, we were begging for mercy.

I had a great group.  They showed up every night, participated, never complained or acted up....they were great...

 

Miles & Ansley getting a little practice in before the night began...

Miles' babysitter, Riley, is in the turquoise pants...

Miles is watching her to see what to do next, and copying her every move.  He told me over and over that Riley was on the stage...

Saturday we did a few things, but mostly just hung out at home.  Miles loves watching his DVD player in his bedroom or his playroom.  He watched his cousin's DVD player in her room, so now he thinks it's really cool.  Every time I mention watching it, he says, "like Ava".

Today we went to church, took naps, and then I decided we needed to get outside and play a little.  It's hot but there is a chance of rain every day this week so I thought we better get out while we could.  I text Ansley's mom, Carrie, and they were down with our plan to meet at the primary school to play.

They look so serious about playing...

It's all fun and games until someone gets stuck in the playground.  Clearly Miles has already forgotten that he is supposed to take care of Ansley...

They were picking up pebbles and pretending it was food.  Ansley said she was eating tacos, and Miles said he was eating a cheese roll up.  Fast food much?

I posted before vacation that I was going to try to slow things down a little and this weekend was my first attempt.  I found myself trying to make plans, but I fought the urge and we enjoyed a much needed, restful weekend.  Hopefully there are more it came from.