.Glucose & a slight change in plans.

Today marks my 27th week of pregnancy {last week in the second trimester} and was also the day of my routine glucose screening to check for gestational diabetes {I get the results tomorrow} though there isn't any cause for concern or to think that I'll have g.d..
Of course, at the blood drawn I totally fainted {typical}. Cheyenne had meetings that he couldn't get out of so my bestie, Meegan, came along with Amelia & I and I am so so glad that she did; between my blood pressure & sugar getting all out of whack from the fainting and Amelia being a bit of a handful {the appointment was at the height of what should be nap time and the doctor was running behind so we were there twice as long as I had planned} Meegan was invaluable. I hope all of my readers are lucky enough to have great supportive friends, it makes a world of difference.
Anywho, after the blood draw my doctor double checked the calendar and informed me that it turns out Miss Alice can't be scheduled to arrive on the 21st as I had wanted because that would put the surgery 8 days out instead of the preferred 6 or 7 days out. Damn it! You know how fussy I get when my plans are disturbed. I pitched a bit of a fit and tried a bit of begging but didn't get my way. It now looks like I'll be disemboweled {my "cute" description of a c-section} on the 23rd of August.
On the plus side this means that she will now share her birthday with the likes of Barbara Eden, River Phoenix, Louis XVI, Keith Moon AND one of my favorite people in the whole entire world, my great friend Kevin Miller {my fancy pants opera singer bestie} which is some pretty solid company for sure.

 

.Honest Diapers.

If you have been reading this blog from the beginning {and might I say both wowza and thank you if you have} then you remember that Cheyenne & I were adamant that we use cloth diapers with Amelia. We used the bamboo 100% organic cloth diapers from BumGenius and loved them {sadly they are no longer sold}. We used them solely for the first 6 months or so then she grew out of the ones I had and I couldn't get my hands on any more in larger sizes {I'm not sure why they were phased out}. Instead of investing in another type or brand we switched over to Earth's Best disposables and we liked them as well. We now use a mix of a few different environmentally friendly disposable diapers and are phasing them out altogether while trying to get Amelia potty trained.
Just as one child is leaving diapers we are preparing to have a new little one start from the beginning of the diapering phase {sigh}. However, with a toddler and a newborn it is very important this time around to streamline as much as possible and not make any more work for Cheyenne & I then is already naturally required. So, with that in mind I am a bit sad to say that cloth diapering didn't make the cut this time around - all of the soaking and washing and drying and such just isn't going to cut it when I have a crying baby and a energetic two year old both demanding 110% of my time/energy/attention.
I'm sure that no one is surprised when I say that I have spent a ton of time reviewing and comparing various disposables to see what will work best for us {hours and hours of research because I'm like that}. When it comes to my children I try to stay away from as many gross/harsh/unnatural chemicals as possible so of course I knew that the field could be quickly narrowed down to environmentally friendly choices {it's also important that we not make more of an environment impact than is necessarily since we're already throwing something in the trash}. As any new mom can tell you, convenience is a huge factor as well. The idea of going to the grocery store by myself with Amelia {who no longer wants to sit in the cart} and a crying baby strikes fear in every cell of my body - I know there will be times when it has to happen and is unavoidable but I don't want that to be a daily nightmare. So I want something that is easy to find and get, I prefer services that deliver {amazon.com & diapers.com are both excellent sources FYI}.
After all of my research I came across Jessica Alba's new company: The Honest Co. and it was love at first sight friends. A quick read  through the story behind the company and I knew that these were kindred parenting spirits with the same concerns as myself. This is the perfect answer to my needs: environmentally friendly diapers & wipes that are free of chemicals, comparable pricing to what I would normally spend {especially for the quality}, convenience {it's a monthly service that is automatically billed to your card then delivered to your doorstep}, and the patterns are super cute {which isn't important at all but it's still fun}. Here is more info on the diaper bundles including pricing, quantity, & patterns for anyone interested.
They also have environmentally friendly cleaning products which I might give a try, though I'm pretty happy with my current brands {Mrs. Meyers, Planet, & Seventh Generation}. If you're expecting a baby or know someone that is, I highly recommend checking out The Honest Co.!


 

.Sisters in cahoots.

Last night was a bit rough, after Amelia was put down for the night & I came back upstairs to the family room we could hear her down there wide awake moving furniture around like she does and talking to her stuffed pig & cat and generally being a two year old.
After a while Cheyenne could take no more of it and went down there to check on her. As we had suspected from the noises, she had moved her bed 3 feet from the wall and was chattering away with her toys. He tucked her back in and told her to go to sleep and it would seem that she minded and the room went quiet.
Then she woke up crying at 11:00pm. When I checked on her she just said that she wanted a nap so I tucked her back in and gave her a kiss. She was asleep before I even got to her bedroom door. But then, she woke up  similarly at 1:30am, 3:45am, 5:05am & for good at 7:15am. Each time with the same sleepy not sure why she was awake issue.
At each of these same times I was woken up by Alice/pregnancy. Between an overly large meal & ongoing GERD and an impending 3rd trimester {which, as of today is just 2 weeks away} I was physically miserable and my throat burned with the fire of a thousand suns thanks to stomach acids that wont stay where they go and I kept choking and was generally a mess. In fact at the 1:30am wake up call I had to have Cheyenne take care of Amelia while I ran to the bathroom to throw up. Awesome.
When 7:15am rolled around {our daily wake up time} Cheyenne went to get Amelia as he does every day and bring her into our bed for a little snuggle before the day officially starts at 7:30am. As soon as she got into the room she wanted on me. "Mommy, up & down Mommy" {instead of asking to be picked up she just says "up & down" - we don't have the heart to correct her} and she curled up on me and patted my belly. Just quietly patting and rubbing right exactly where Alice happened to be and she refused to move for 20 minutes.
I'm not sure what those two are up to but it would seem that they're already connected.

.

.Slimmer look.

I've finished our baby registry {the bulk of which I did about a year ago but I've tweaked it here and there since then} and not surprisingly it's much smaller the second time around. I think I had 2 pages worth of stuff on it when I was pregnant with Amelia but this time around there's just 27 total things.
We've once again gone with Amazon.com because in my opinion it is the very best registry out there. Amazon themselves have just about everything under the sun and if for some reason you know of something that you want that they don't have you can still add it to your registry via their "universal button" {which has allowed me to add items from Etsy.com & our photographer}, I am in no way paid by Amazon for this endorsement but I do think it's worth the mention if you have the need for a registry of any kind {baby, wedding, birthday, etc}. I can't say enough good things about it.

For those few {close relatives & friends I would assume}who might be interested here is the link to our new baby registry.



 

.Hospitals.

Now that we're passed the 100 days left mark {we're at 92 to be exact} I have hospitals on my mind. Perhaps you recall that when I was pregnant with Amelia my insurance provider changed during my first trimester and I ended up not being able to to go my first choice hospital {Legacy Good Samaritan}.
Luckily under my new insurance {since I no longer work outside of the home I'm covered by Cheyenne's benefits now} I have the choice to go to whichever of the local hospitals I want. The thing is, we have a HUGE selection of hospitals in the Portland/metro area and it can be a bit daunting. Helping narrow down the field is the fact that I refuse to go to any other OB/GYN than the fantastic {and highly recommended if you're on the search for a new one} Dr. Robin Barrett, who only delivers at either Good Sam or St. Vincent's.
Amelia was delivered at St. Vincent's and although I know several people that also delivered babies there or went there for other reasons all with great stories, Cheyenne & I both hated our experience there and swore we would never ever have another birth there.
So obviously I've chosen Good Sam as my hospital of choice this go round and I'm quite pleased. That being said, it's always nice to have "proof" of some kind that you're in good hands. While on the Good Sam website I found a link to the US NEWS Reports hospital rankings and it would seem that I did in fact make the wise choice as Good Sam ranked very high in 5 major areas including gynecology. Since I'll be having major abdominal surgery {c-section} this helps give me some peace of mind.
If you're interested in how your own hospital ranks or if you're trying to choose between multiple hospitals check out the link here and do a search for your area.

.Tiny conversations.

While reading a book, Amelia points at a bat {the animal} and the following takes place...

Amelia: "It's a piggy! Oink!"
Me: "Haha, no sweetie. He has a nose kind of like a piggy but it's a bat. B-A-T, bat. It's like a mouse but it can fly."
Amelia: "Silly Mama, it's a piggy. Oink. No squeek."

Conversations like this happen all of the time. She's 100% convinced that she is always right and if our opinion is different then we are completely ridiculous. Needless to say, Cheyenne & I already fear the teen years...
 

.A bittersweet mothers day post.

Hey guys, sorry about being MIA lately, as of today my mom is on her way to a new life in Milwaukee Wisconsin & I've been kind of processing that and avoiding this blog while I get a handle on how I feel.
I've written and rewritten several posts but none seemed "right". I feel like I keep coming across as whiney when it's not like I will never see her again {in fact she'll be here in August and then 3 other times in the next 12 months alone} and the fact is I have extraordinary people in my life whom I love and respect beyond measure {including my own husband} who have had a parent die {in fact, one of my best friends had her father die just a week and a half ago} which to me, is one of the three most horrible things I can imagine. So, being self indulgently sad that my mom is moving to another part of the country just feels....I dunno, childish and a bit selfish to vent about on this very public blog.
And because of that I've just avoided the whole thing. But then, that's not right either. Because, while I love the fact that there are people that read this {God love ya} it's always been for me. A way to journal/keep track of the things that I go through as a first time {almost second time} parent, at this point in my life. And it would be remiss of me to NOT say at least something of what I'm feeling/thinking at this time.
So here goes I suppose. Let me first start by saying that while I love my mom and the time that we spend together each week, I am not sad on a personal level that she's leaving. I'm 30, I'm married, I have a toddler - in short, life goes on and I don't need my mommy around every day {even when she lived close by I didn't see her daily}. That's not the issue. Basically I'm just sad for Amelia and soon for Alice as well. Amelia LOVES her Grammy. Like, goes apesh*t when my mom is over and talks about her all of the time and just lights up when they are together. And I love that. I'm so grateful for that relationship that so many do not get to have. And Amelia is two, she's not exactly able to grasp the idea that Grammy isn't coming over for weekly visits now but rather seasonal visits {birthdays and the like}. Rarely do people have deep clear memories of what they experienced when they were two. And that makes my heartache.
I have a very close relationship with both of my grandmothers. I love them each so much and I can't go more than 3 weeks without talking to each of them on the phone. But, since I was 6 that's been a big part of my relationship with them - the phone. And, it's just not the same. Because of the distance {Oregon vs Missouri} after the age of 6 I never had my grandparents at my birthdays, I got to see them every other Christmas until I was about 14 but the other things in a kids life {school plays, dances, mother's day, etc} were just rehashed over the phone. And that's not exactly what I wanted for my children. And that makes me sad on their behalf.
I'm trying to focus on the fact that the situation is not EXACTLY the same, my mom will be able to visit more than my grandparents did, we already have weekly "Skype dates" set up, and since they will be so young this situation is all that they will ever really know so I suppose there's the "you can't miss what you never had" sort of aspect to things. Sigh.
So, there's a bit of what's been going on in my head. Now on to how we spent Mother's Day {because I'm usually much better about posting a recap of all holidays right away}. The weather has been so fantastic here in the last couple of weeks that it almost has the feeling like we've skipped spring and just moved on ahead to summer which is great. Cheyenne & I traded "sleep in days" {usually I sleep in on Saturday while he gets up with Amelia then we reverse and he sleeps in on Sunday while I get up with her - it's a wonderful arrangement} so that I could sleep in to my hearts content on Mother's Day. When I got up I had a very happy little girl and husband waiting for me with breakfast and a beautiful bouquet of flowers {I'm told Amelia picked them out and it would seem that she has a fantastic eye for botany}.
We spent the afternoon lounging out in our backyard playing in the kiddie pool and going for a nice walk in the sunshine with "the girls" {Amelia & our dog Josie}. In the late afternoon my mom and her boyfriend came over for a Mother's Day dinner out on the patio.
the menu:
Arugula salad with marionberry bacon dressing and fried chevre
Grilled thick-cut pork chops
roasted yukon gold potatoes with bacon
roasted asparagus dressed with olive oil & balsamic vinegar
Harper Voit 2010 Surlie Pinot Blanc from the Willamette Valley

I had planned on having marionberry cobbler with Tillamook vanilla ice cream for dessert but it got to be too hot to keep the oven on and we were having too good of a time just hanging out and talking that we decided to skip dessert. I ended up making it instead last night and it was amazing - I'll share the recipe if you want {just let me know}.
It was intended that Mother's Day would be the big send-off going away day before my mom's departure later in the week {today to be exact} so of course as she left we were all {even Cheyenne} choking back tears. Quite bittersweet indeed.
We did get a bit of luck however, and things got moved around a bit so that on Monday night my mom was able to come back over for a last little quiet visit. Now, it's Wednesday, my mom & James departed about 5-6 hours ago which means that they are much closer to Boise than Portland at this point...although it feels farther.

 

.Where the wild things eventually go.

Today the world lost Maurice Sendak & I {and everyone that I know} am heartbroken. I can't imagine someone born after 1963 not being effected by Mr. Sendak's beautiful stories. I've loved him for as long as I can remember and now that I have a child we read his books constantly {Where the Wild Things Are & In the Night Kitchen are Amelia's favorites while I've always been partial to Higgilty Piggilty Pop & Outside Over There}. I have nothing that I can say so I'll let the Wild Things speak for me:

"So he said: 'I'll give up being king of where the wild things are.' But the wild things cried 'oh please don't go. We'll eat you up. We Love you so!' and Max said 'NO!' And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws. But Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye."


 Goodbye Maurice, and thank you.


 

.Summer essentials - {pregnant} Mom edition.

Yesterday I did a little post on what we consider essentials to get through summer days with Amelia. Today is a list of the things I have purchased/used for myself. Keep in mind that baby Alice arrives August 21st so my entire 3rd {and physically largest} trimester spans the entire length of summer.

.Swimsuit from Old Navy, Sperry flip flops from Nordstrom, Sunglasses from Chico's, Personalized beach towel from Pottery Barn, Beach tote from Pottery Barn.

If you're going to be a giant preggosaurus rex I suggest a black swimsuit that provides good tummy & butt coverage, since I have giant bazooms I like something with a bit of a low neckline so as to take the focus off my "trouble spots". Also, since this will be my last summer of pregnancy I didn't want to spend an arm & a leg on a swimsuit that would only get use this year - this one from Old Navy covers all of my bases {inexpensive, black, right coverage, boob action}.
In the summer time I simply cannot bear to have my feet encased in shoes, it's much too hot for such nonsense. However, cheap crappy flip flops always end up leaving my feet covered in blisters and callouses and need to be constantly replaced since I walk just about everywhere. Instead I like to "splurge" on Sperrys {they're a splurge in flip flop terms in my oppinion}. A single pair gets me through the summer with much less pain and hassle.
As mentioned before I have a fear of premature wrinkles that are easily avoided so I like to make sure that my sunglasses have UV protection to keep those crows feet at bay. These ones from Chico's are currently on sale and look great while providing UV-400 protection.
Just like Amelia, I have my own personalized beach towel from Pottery Barn. It just makes sense to me when at a public pool.
And I like to carry everything in a {personalized} beach tote from Pottery Barn. I'm positive that you can get personalized/monogrammed towels & totes elsewhere if you're not a Pottery Barn fan, but for what it's worth I like these a lot both in quality and price.

.Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer {body}, Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer {face}, Neutrogena Sport Face sunblock, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunblock spray, Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother, Biolage After Sun shampoo, Biolage Protective Daily Mist, Sigg water bottle.

I am pale. Very very pale. I have porcelain skin with cool undertones and I don't believe in sunning myself - so yeah, I look like a glass of milk with arms and legs. Normally I find my pale skin really pretty and embrace it. However, in a black swimsuit in a pool, in public that can be a bit harsh looking. So a little color is in order but what to do if, like me, you don't want cancer/sunspots/wrinkles/burns? There are a bazillion self tanners out there and each works differently on everyone and you only know what works for you through trial and error. For me the Jergens Natural Glow line is amazing. It's cheap & easy to get at any drugstore, it gives some color without making me look orange or fake tanny, and it's easy to apply. I use both the body lotion and the face lotion to give myself a safe sunkissed glow.
Once I'm out & about though it's time for the mega-block. Just like with Amelia, I really like the Neutrogena sunblocks. They are broad spectrum {meaning they block both UVA & UVB}, cheap, and just like the Jergens you can buy them at any drugstore. I use the SPF 70 sport on my face because it's good for my sweaty self and really protects from sun damage. For my body I like the ultra sheer spray in SPF 30, since the bottle is metal I keep it in the fridge so that I get a super cold mist that feels great on a hot day. Both sunblocks {face & body} are sweat and waterproof so they go to the pool & beach as well as just puttering around town.
To protect my lips I use the Neutrogena {I swear I haven't been paid by them to endorse this stuff, I just honestly like them} Moisture Shine lip soother with SPF 20 in the color "glaze". It gives me a pretty tint of color {my lips aren't overly pigmented} while making sure that I have a decent SPF protection. I have one in my purse and one in my tote. They come in a bunch of colors and you should check them out if you're looking for something with a bit more color than regular SPF chapstick.
For my hair I love Biolage products. I think I have used every single shampoo line both high end and low end in the last 16 years or so and I always come back to Biolage {though I do mix it up in the winter}. Their "sunsorials" line is great in the summer to protect from sun/chlorine/saltwater damage. I like their protective spray, shampoo, and deep conditioner. I order right from their website but I know many salons carry it in the summer months.
And last I dont go anywhere without a water bottle. Ask my mom and you'll know that Cheyenne & I don't drink any other {non-alcoholic} drink besides water {the idea of soda makes us both cringe} and with the combo of summer and pregnancy you can bet that my water intake will increase tenfold. I REFUSE to buy plastic bottles of water {seriously guys, those are evil and if you use them please stop it}. We have several Sigg & Kleen Kanteen bottles around the house {Chey has one at work, in the car, in the fridge, and on the shelf and I have the same}. My favorite is the "Wuthering Polka" design from Sigg because it's so pretty. They have a ton of designs and I think you can even design your own {though I never have}. I like to keep one in the fridge at all times in the summer so that I can rotate when I finish one.
And there you have it. Add lightweight cotton sundresses, leggings, and tops, a hat, and you have everything ya need for the summer!

 

.A day by the {kiddie} pool.

.That damn pig goes everywhere with her.

.Replace that fruit cup with a margarita glass & I fear we have a glimpse of Cinco de Mayo 2031.

.If you guessed that she was saying "NO MORE PICTURES!" then you would be correct.

.When you have places to be and things to do but ya have a thirst just grip the straw with your teeth and run.

.Summer Essentials {kids version}

First off, can we just talk about how AMAZING the weather is in Portland today? It's beautiful, perfect 80 degrees with an endless blue sky and just a slight breeze when the sun gets to be a bit much. Love!
Anywho, I thought today would be a great time to go into the kids version of summer essentials here at Clark Manor. These are the things that are an everyday occurrence when the sun is out:

.Swimsuit from Janie & Jack, sunglasses from Janie & Jack, fedora from Nordstrom, sunscreen from Ulta but you can get it anywhere.

The first group is the "bare minimum" for us. These are the things that we have/need/use for days spent in the backyard playing in the kiddie pool or sprinkler. I'll post some photos of her modeling the new retro-cute swimsuit tonight or tomorrow for ya. As you know I'm a big BIG believer in sunscreen and if "Mr Burny" {my nickname for that firey orb in the sky} is out then I go on anti-wrinkle/burn/cancer patrol with KGB-like gusto. The Neutrogena spray sunscreens are my favorite, this one is what we use all summer because it's super easy to use when you have a squirmy toddler that's in & out of the water a lot. I also think a hat & sunglasses are essential for similar anti-wrinkle/burn/caner reasons, someday when Amelia has beautiful skin and looks 10 years younger than all of the other biddies at the senior center she'll thank me!

.Sterns Kids Puddle Jumper life vest from Amazon, personalized beach towel from Pottery Barn Kids,  Kylie's pre-swim conditioner from Ulta, L'Oreal 2-in-1 swim shampoo & conditioner from Ulta, Thermos Foogo insulated cup with straw from Amazon.

The second group here is what we have on hand for days at the local pool. We spent a ton of time there last summer {Amelia's like a fish} and we plan on getting a family pass this year as well.
The life vest is a pretty obvious safety choice I think, there are tons out there and of course you should shop around and find what works best for you and your child. That being said, I really really recommend the Puddle Jumper, unlike water wings it'll actually keep your little ones head above water while still allowing them to feel like they have some control of things.
Since we aren't one of the fortunate folks with a pool of our own we go to the community pool just around the corner from our house. We love it and have nothing but praise. However, I'm on the paranoid side when it comes to my stuff and I also like monograms so of course I had to get the personalized beach towel with Amelia's name on it from PBK. I'm sure that you can/could find personalized towels elsewhere if PBK isn't your bag - but it is nice to have that extra touch when you're at a busy public pool and don't want to keep one eye on your stuff the whole time.
After splashing around and jumping in the water for hours in the sun it's almost guaranteed that there will be a snack/drink break. For me, that consists of ice water. However, for Little Miss Skinny the pediatrician demands whole milk. That's all well and good except that milk in the sun has a VERY limited shelf life and it's not something to be messed around with. I get a bit more leeway/time with an insulated thermos-style bottle/cup that keeps her milk nice and chilly, it's easy for her hands to grip and has a straw so there's no risk of a "I can do it myself" style tantrum.
And last, the hair stuff. Amelia has a TON of hair. Just...so much. And it's long. And curly-ish. And light in color. And she's two so sitting still while I work out tangles ends up being a nightmare for both of us. Any help I can get is a godsend. Before jumping in the water I spray this "pre-swim" conditioner on her hair. It helps reduce the tangles and discoloration from the chlorine. Once home We take a shower together {yep, I'm that mom. I don't have time or patience to do it any other way} and I wash out her hair to remove all of the chlorine and sunscreen {I spray her head with the Neutrogena to make sure her scalp doesn't burn}. But of course Homegirl H-A-T-E-S having her hair washed {if you have any advise on that one I would sure love it} so the 2-in-1 L'oreal after swim shampoo & conditioner helps me skip the extra step.
All of these things are taken with us when we go to the coast as well though the Pacific ocean is so cold when you get as North as we are that we rarely have to worry about the life vest or after swim shampoo since no one in their right mind is going head deep into the water without a wetsuit!
That's pretty much it, add some lightweight playclothes, sundresses, and sandals and you have everything ya need to get through the summer with a 2 year old little girl!
I'll post a {pregnant} mom version in the next day or so.
Get out and enjoy the sun!
 



  

.4th ultrasound.

We had our fourth ultrasound on Friday morning and everything looked great! We confirmed that our little girl is in fact a little girl and she looks perfectly healthy and is developing just the way she should be.
On a side funny note: Amelia always goes along for the appointments {she is my shadow afterall} and loves everyone in the doctors office. Since the appointment she's taken to calling herself "Doctor Mimi", it's so cute that we totally play along with it.

 

.It's just a phase...right?.

The "terrible twos" are real. And they suck. This is something that Cheyenne & I have been coming to terms with as of late. It would seem that my friend Wendy & her husband Edgar are going through the same stuff with their daughter Lily {we know Wendy & Edgar from our prenatal classes and our daughters were born on the exact same day}.
Wendy also writes a blog {love it} and her most recent post has to do with this exact subject. Luckily Wendy has found a few really great articles on dealing with a-hole toddlers {how's that for a very blunt description of this age}. I found myself reading her post and saying out loud "oh my God, I am so there Wendy!" I think everyone with a two year has those days, even more so when you're a stay at home parent, where you just think "I give up, lets take her out to the woods and return her to the evil gnomes that stole my sweet loving baby and replaced it with this monster".
This is not to say that Amelia is a round the clock monster or that every day is a struggle. Quite the contrary, she's a great kid and I know that I am really lucky to have such a lovey little girl. But, I've always tried to be as honest as possible on here and the truth is there are moments & sometimes whole days {or a week if she's sick} where she's just..."difficult" to say the least.
Cheyenne & I talked at length before we had children about our views on discipline for children and we both agreed then and now that spanking, yelling, or any other form of demoralizing is not for our family. We choose instead to use a "time out" method until the tantrum/behavior passes, when it does we go in and have a talk with her about why she was there. Since she's only two these time outs rarely last long, as soon as she's calm we're in there - no set time. Also, since she's two a lengthy talk wouldn't hold her attention or get our point across so it's usually something as simple as "Amelia, we don't hit. It hurts and it makes us sad." then we give a hug and move on. As she gets older there will be more structure to the method but we've found this works well for our needs and her stage of development right now.
But there are times, oh there are times, dear readers - when I have to go to a special place and use every single ounce of self control that I can muster. A horrific natural reaction of mine when someone is literally screaming at the very top of their lungs 2 inches from my face is to slap - I've never ever acted on it of course - but it's there, and I would imagine that it's not that uncommon. I find myself repeating this mantra {out loud with eyes closed} ""I will be kind. I will be in control of my emotions. This will pass" I'm sure that I look totally insane to an outsider but it really does help me. Last night I had to employ "the mantra" when an epic tantrum hit {brought on by a certain someone refusing to actually go to sleep at naptime and becoming overtired by dinner}. Cheyenne was making dinner at the time and must have heard the commotion, he walked by the nursery {the scene of the crime} and seeing/hearing me he just said "you're a good mom, you're a really good mom". That helps. A partner who gets it and who knows that I don't need saving but I do need encouragement and reassurance, that's priceless and I hope all of you have someone like that.
And that's it, that's what my survival arsenal consists of for this phase: time outs, a repeated mantra, and a supportive partner. It may not sound like much, and there are times when it doesn't feel like enough - but it's what there is and it gets me through.