Big Girl Bed!

Gwen is sleeping through the night and napping in her big girl bed! The first night it took over THREE hours to get to sleep, but she then slept through the night. The second day she napped in her bed no problem, and slept all through the night again. When we went to bed we opened her door and left our bedroom door open so she could come and get us if she needed anything (she did wake in the morning in a little panicked the first morning). When she woke in the morning she didn't make a peep. I woke to her foot steps in our room and her standing right in front of me- which was very startling. She has been going to bed at her usual time (somewhere in the window of falling asleep between 9:15pm and 11pm), and has been waking at her usual time of between 7am and 8am. The third night she did wake up at 3:30am and finished the night with us...she went right to sleep, when usually we are up for at least an hour trying to calm her back down. We still sometimes do a stroller walk to calm her down, but she has been sleeping in her bed since Thursday night (she had been taking all her naps in her stroller for the last 6 months or so).

I checked out a book from the library, Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, and there is a very helpful chapter on sleep. Gwen seems to fit the description of spirited: lively, creative, keen, eager, full of energy and courage. Try putting that to sleep! Sheedy lists five characteristics that spirited children have more of: intensity, persistence, sensitivity, perceptiveness, adaptability. Gwen also has one of the bonus characteristics she talks about, ENERGY! This article has a good breadown of the books approach. It has taken us 20 months, but Gwen is now on a schedule (her schedule, nothing we imposed), but it is more or less the same every day. And it took us this long for her to consistently sleep through the night (one wake up once or twice a month is totally manageable!). Now, if she could just put herself to sleep.......

24 weeks check up; and 20 months update

I had my 20-24 week doctor's appointment yesterday, mainly just a check up to make sure everything is going well, and opportunity for doctor to make an order for the dreaded glucose test. This is a routine screening for Gestational Diabetes which I will go back for in the next few weeks (imagine drinking concentrated Mountain Dew, then fasting for an hour, then having your blood drawn...all very unpleasant). Little brother is doing well and growing right on schedule. He is super active (I think I felt him first around 16 weeks which is early) and Spencer felt him around 20 weeks, and saw him move a few weeks later. Gwen was so sweet the other morning and started rubbing my belly with both hands (I have quite a Buddha now)- and then she kissed it! I can't wait for her to feel little brother move. Since weaning she has been using her pacifier a little bit more, but we are trying to not make too much of a deal out of it, while trying to prevent any bad habits. She is talking up a storm and working on her colors- so far she seems to have grasped orange and purple. We are also working on baby sign language again. I had stopped practicing signs when she started talking, but am working on some 'concept' signs, like emotions and colors. It is amazing what she remembers from months ago! We went to the Zoo Saturday with our friends Kristen, Mark and little PJ (who we have been practicing our signs with) and Gwen signed a bunch of animals unprompted which was cool. She can't say her name, but can name almost everyone else. See video provided by Malia!

Mother's Day Everyday!

This may seem a bit sappy, but having celebrated two Mother's Days I think everyday should, and is, Mother's Day. We work so hard and deserve to be celebrated, but we also get little gifts everyday from our family. That is how I feel right now (could just be pregnancy hormones :-) Gwen is talking soooo much and starting to put together two and three word sentences. My heart melted with the first unprompted, "Thank you Mama." Gwen also weaned herself a few weeks ago, so we have been having lots of cuddle time (which is so sweet since she wasn't much of a cuddle bug before). She still asks for milk sometimes, but it is all gone. I am also starting to get more and more excited about having another baby. The little guy moves quite a bit and Spencer actually saw my belly move a few days ago. Lately I have really just been enjoying life (naps during the day make this possible) and appreciating the little things that are my daily rewards for all the hard work I put in to being a Mother. Some of this Zen outlook was inspired by the Mother's Plunge Retreat I went to with my friend Kathryn last weekend at the Mercy Center. It was a morning and afternoon of lecture by Karen Maezen Miller, followed by instruction on meditation, a little yoga, then after lunch, walking meditation in the labyrinth, and wrap up lecture. I bought her new book, Hand Wash Cold, and brought the copy of Mama Zen Kathryn gave me to have signed. I recommend both! The day was very centering and reinforced what I was starting to think was more of a laissez-faire approach to my life, as more Zen-like. I won't babble on...many asked when I was going to update the blog and I said I was waiting for pictures, since I am not sure how many people actually read my updates. So here they are: Gwen being silly and some pictures from preschool when Spencer joined us this week.

Oh Brother!

Gwen is going to have a little brother, due September 20th.

School!

Gwen is in love with her "school"- we have been doing GymKids at the Sunnyvale/Cupertino Audlt Education Center Since the Fall (right before she could walk. Since she mastered the gym, we started "preschool" (1.5 hours one day a week with parent). These pictures are from the Book Fair they had this evening. She showed off to Daddy all the toys and climbing equipment, and made a new friend who gave her a ride on his tricycle (super cute!).

Silly Gwen-Gwen

Gwen and I have been having a lot of fun together lately. Me napping with her during the has made me a much happier Mama and that has helped. We started our "preschool" class which is super cute- an hour and a half of the preschool experience for toddler and parent. We also started up our Music class again which was on a long two week break, and Gwen was so excited to see her Music teacher and sing/dance. These are some fun pictures from the last few weeks. Gwen wanted to go on a walk one morning with her bay (complete with sunglasses and pacifier- she rarely uses her pacifier). And then at our friend's house lining up the rubber ducks on the hot tub and then discovering she can see in the kitchen window. Silly Gwen-Gwen!

It's a Boy!

Happy April Fools! Just kidding, our ultrasound is scheduled for April 22nd and we will find out the sex of the baby then.
A few people were asking how I have been doing. Much better now that I am into my 2nd trimester. Though I am having serious lower back pain. Friday it came to the point that it hurt to walk and hurt to sit. I saw a chiropractor Monday and I have a pinched nerve on my S1. I feel much better now but still can feel where my back is out and need to make sure I don't over due it. I am going to see the chiro until I feel 100% since I don't want any extra complications during labor (goal is natural childbirth again). And I felt the baby move for the first time last night! Today is Gwen's 1/2 birthday and we are going to have a special dessert (strawberry shortcake) in honor of her, since we may not end up doing much for her actual birthday (depending on when her sibling arrives). Happy half birthday Gwen!