Well, we're about 4 days into the "big boy" bed and things are going alright. Cale is going to sleep in the bed perfectly, but he's waking up at least once a night. I'm not sure if it's the bed or something else...because Cale has always gone through phases of waking up in the night, sleeping through the night. Last night, he woke up 3 times which is definitely out of the ordinary. The first 2 times he woke up for unknown reasons. But the third time, he had a very good excuse. He woke up screaming frantically, which is different than his normal crying/whining at night. So, I quickly went in to see what was wrong. He had fallen off the bed, but not on the side that opens to the floor. He had fallen between the wall and the bed and was stuck in a weird, almost upside down position. Somehow his bed had scooted away from the wall enough to allow his little body to fall through. I grabbed him up and spent the next few minutes trying to calm him down. I scooted his bed back, but he kept telling me to have daddy come fix it. Guess he doesn't trust my "technical" skills. Typical man already. Probably doesn't like my driving either. As I went back to bed I have to say I laughed. I felt sorry that our little guy got scared but it was quite funny the way he was hanging there.
At about 6:30 (Cale's typical wake-up time...even on the weekends, *sigh*), we awoke to Cale's happy sounds...which are a signal that there's no going back to sleep in the Kirtley household. After a few minutes of the happy sounds, Cale began to "page" me by yelling his usual "Mama...Mama...Mama..." (and it always just keeps going like a broken record until I go into his room to get him.) At least he hasn't figured out that he can simply climb out of his bed when he wakes up. I guess when you've been in "crib prison" your whole life, it's hard to adjust to the new freedom. Too bad that won't last. After a couple minutes of cartoons we decided on McDonald's for breakfast. Partly because I didn't want to cook. Partly because I didn't want to clean up the mess of cooking and eating. Oh the mess of a toddler eating. And partly because Cale LOVES to go to "McDonuls". When he sees the yellow arch he always begins shouting, "I see it! I see it! McDonuls!" We're probably creating a monster, I know. Creating, ha who am I kidding? We've already created a monster.
When we got in McDonald's Cale asks for the usual, "pantakes" and boy did he eat some pancakes...and eggs...and sausage...and hashbrowns. He's suddenly in an eating phase again. Some days he will barely eat much of anything and some days he eats like he's been starving. The past few days he's been starving. For some reason it does a mama's heart good to see her little one scarfing down food. Even when their little on is already pretty stocky.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Toddler Bed
Well, tonight was a big night in the Kirtley household. Carl put Cale's toddler bed together and for the first time he's sleeping in a real bed. I've been nervous about this for a long time and for awhile I thought it would be nearly impossible. But, lately I've had a feeling that it might possibly work. Cale is pretty tired at night lately, and by the time he's taken his bath (and has thrown a fit about initially having to take a bath) he's usually ready for bed (unlike in the past). We decided with the new baby coming in February, it might be smart to try to start easing Cale into a regular bed now. So, after pondering and looking online, we finally ordered one. Cale was truly pumped as he watched Carl put the bed together. He giggled and giggled when he climbed in. Of course he had to take several tractors in the bed and even dumped his tub of legos in. I was afraid that he viewed this bed as more of a play area than a sleeping area, but at least he was open to the idea. After a few minutes of playing I persuaded Cale to take a bath. Persuaded means I let him take just about every toy imaginable into the tub just so that he would go happily without an ugly battle. And believe me, bath battles can get ugly, very ugly.
After his bath, Cale was focused on getting into that bed. The whole time I dressed him and read to him he kept telling me that he wanted to lay down. Finally, after we finished our book and said our prayers, it was time for the big moment. I put Cale under his blankets, with Spiderman on one side of his pillow, and his blue puppy on the other side. Surpisingly, he laid there. He didn't get up jumping or playing or following me as I left. He just laid there and drank his milk.
I know that initial success doesn't mean that the rest of the night will be great. But, it's a start. And to tell the truth, it's more than what I had imagined in my mind all those times I thought about taking Cale out of his crib. Now, ask me tomorrow morning and I may not feel quite so positive about it!
After his bath, Cale was focused on getting into that bed. The whole time I dressed him and read to him he kept telling me that he wanted to lay down. Finally, after we finished our book and said our prayers, it was time for the big moment. I put Cale under his blankets, with Spiderman on one side of his pillow, and his blue puppy on the other side. Surpisingly, he laid there. He didn't get up jumping or playing or following me as I left. He just laid there and drank his milk.
I know that initial success doesn't mean that the rest of the night will be great. But, it's a start. And to tell the truth, it's more than what I had imagined in my mind all those times I thought about taking Cale out of his crib. Now, ask me tomorrow morning and I may not feel quite so positive about it!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Zoo
This weekend I decided that we were going to the zoo. Carl knew there was no changing my mind because I had been wanting to go since May. But, with the hot weather we had during the summer, we decided we better wait. So, when I realized that Saturday was going to be nice, a trip to the zoo was on the agenda. That morning before we left, as Carl was planting the two Weeping Willows that we bought for our yard, he cut his leg. The cut looked small, but deep. And it bled. A lot. After putting some heavy duty bandages on the wound, we decided that we didn't want to deal with the unimaginable emergency room bill for stitches, so we just decided to let the cut heal on its own. We went ahead with the zoo plan, partly because we had already told Cale that we were going and partly because we wanted to go eat somewhere good afterwards. A good thing about Carl and I is that we pretty much think alike: food. restaurants. eating.
We were excited to get to the zoo because it was Cale's first trip. Well, first trip to the Little Rock Zoo. It's always a little disappointing when you go to that zoo because it seems like half the animals are in hiding. But, Cale still enjoyed seeing what animals were in view. A few minutes after arriving, we heard a train whistle. We pretty much lost Cale at that moment. He left thoughts of animals, and entered into "trainland". He begged and begged to ride that train every time it came around...and since it's a pretty short route...it came around a lot!
About an hour into the trip, Carl looked down at his leg and it was sopping wet with blood. He shoe, sock, and pants leg were completely covered. Luckily we brought other bandages so we tried to inconspiculously doctor his wound and continue our trip. Abou 10 minutes later, the same thing happened again. At this point we realized we better go and that maybe walking around at the zoo was not the smartest thing we could've chosen to do with Carl's cut leg.
Now I knew that Cale had to ride that train before we left. He was obsessed with it. His every thought was train related. It was all he truly cared about. The sign said that it cost 2 tokens to ride the train and that the train ran until 4:00. Well, wouldn't you know it was 3:35 and I didn't have any tokens. So, since Carl was bleeding I told him to stay with Cale and I began to "book it" across the park to get some tokens. I bet a pregnant lady has never moved so fast at the zoo. I think people must have thought I really needed to go to the bathroom or something because I got some strange looks. By the time I got to the entrance of the park, I was sweating and feeling tired...to say the least. I bought some tokens and began running all the way back. I just knew I would be too late. Amazingly somehow I made it back in time. As Cale and I were about to get on the train, I noticed another sign that said, "2 tokens or $2.00". Lovely. I could've just given cash to the conductor instead of making the awkward "pregnant girl huffing and puffing" jog across the whole zoo and back. Oh well, I got some exercise and Cale got to ride on the train which in his eyes was one of the best things he's ever done. As we were getting off the train, a little boy in front of us was screaming and crying. Cale loudly bragged, "I'm not crying!". We were a little embarrassed (hoping the boy's mom didn't hear), but also a little glad because he was right. He didn't cry one bit as he got off the train!
We were excited to get to the zoo because it was Cale's first trip. Well, first trip to the Little Rock Zoo. It's always a little disappointing when you go to that zoo because it seems like half the animals are in hiding. But, Cale still enjoyed seeing what animals were in view. A few minutes after arriving, we heard a train whistle. We pretty much lost Cale at that moment. He left thoughts of animals, and entered into "trainland". He begged and begged to ride that train every time it came around...and since it's a pretty short route...it came around a lot!
About an hour into the trip, Carl looked down at his leg and it was sopping wet with blood. He shoe, sock, and pants leg were completely covered. Luckily we brought other bandages so we tried to inconspiculously doctor his wound and continue our trip. Abou 10 minutes later, the same thing happened again. At this point we realized we better go and that maybe walking around at the zoo was not the smartest thing we could've chosen to do with Carl's cut leg.
Now I knew that Cale had to ride that train before we left. He was obsessed with it. His every thought was train related. It was all he truly cared about. The sign said that it cost 2 tokens to ride the train and that the train ran until 4:00. Well, wouldn't you know it was 3:35 and I didn't have any tokens. So, since Carl was bleeding I told him to stay with Cale and I began to "book it" across the park to get some tokens. I bet a pregnant lady has never moved so fast at the zoo. I think people must have thought I really needed to go to the bathroom or something because I got some strange looks. By the time I got to the entrance of the park, I was sweating and feeling tired...to say the least. I bought some tokens and began running all the way back. I just knew I would be too late. Amazingly somehow I made it back in time. As Cale and I were about to get on the train, I noticed another sign that said, "2 tokens or $2.00". Lovely. I could've just given cash to the conductor instead of making the awkward "pregnant girl huffing and puffing" jog across the whole zoo and back. Oh well, I got some exercise and Cale got to ride on the train which in his eyes was one of the best things he's ever done. As we were getting off the train, a little boy in front of us was screaming and crying. Cale loudly bragged, "I'm not crying!". We were a little embarrassed (hoping the boy's mom didn't hear), but also a little glad because he was right. He didn't cry one bit as he got off the train!
Our little boy is now talking up a storm. And I mean a storm. You never know what he is going to say or when he is going to say it. For some reason, he is under the misconception that he must announce it to the world when he has...uh...gas. "I tooted!" is something that comes out of his mouth at least 2 or 3 times every day. It's hard because I can't help but find it funny when he says that, but of course I realize that this is not something he should shout from the rooftops. And it can get quite embarrassing at times too. And don't think he won't call you out if you accidentally let one slip, because he will. He'll announce it to whomever is listening...you just have to hope that no one is around.
As we were at Wal-Mart tonight, Cale had something to say about every single aisle we walked down. Of course, he mostly was asking for things he spotted that he wanted...a pumpkin trick or treat pail, a tractor shirt, a ball...etc. In the baby aisle he tried to convince me that he needed a new bed. I guess he remembers the conversation we had the other day about him getting a "big boy bed" soon because his little brother would be needing his baby bed. When it was our turn to check out, he shouted at the Wal-Mart worker, "Hey you!". I was a little embarrassed because it came out sounding so rude for a little guy like him! But, overall Wal-Mart was more successful than normal. Of course, this may have had something to do with the fact that I bribed Cale with a potential trip to the park if he was a good boy in Wal-Mart and sat in the cart the whole time. Miraculously, I'm finding bribery works. Not one time did Cale climb out of his seat in the cart.
As we were at Wal-Mart tonight, Cale had something to say about every single aisle we walked down. Of course, he mostly was asking for things he spotted that he wanted...a pumpkin trick or treat pail, a tractor shirt, a ball...etc. In the baby aisle he tried to convince me that he needed a new bed. I guess he remembers the conversation we had the other day about him getting a "big boy bed" soon because his little brother would be needing his baby bed. When it was our turn to check out, he shouted at the Wal-Mart worker, "Hey you!". I was a little embarrassed because it came out sounding so rude for a little guy like him! But, overall Wal-Mart was more successful than normal. Of course, this may have had something to do with the fact that I bribed Cale with a potential trip to the park if he was a good boy in Wal-Mart and sat in the cart the whole time. Miraculously, I'm finding bribery works. Not one time did Cale climb out of his seat in the cart.
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