Failed Experiment #1254

We have failed....miserably at that. And while I'm all for perseverance, I'm also practical and recognize when it's better to throw in the towel, wait 6 months and try again.

What did we fail at, you might ask? While it's really quite simple...Keegan is SOOOOOO not ready for a "big boy bed". A little back story might help. One night he decided that it would be fun to climb out of his crib. We were a little shocked...and worried, but after a thorough examination we determined that he was okay and that it was just a one-time deal. Yeah, not so much. He did it again a few nights later, and rather than stress myself over when he was going to break his neck, we decided that maybe it was time to start transitioning him to a twin bed, so that the crib would be ready for when his little brother would need it. So, I took the front of his crib off, put up a little railing and thought, "ok, let's see how this will work". The first day...not so great. Come naptime, whereas I used to just put Keegan in his bed with a couple of books, his snuggles and some water and then walk out of the room, Keegan realized he didn't have to stay in his bed, and after quite a bit of crying eventually fell asleep on the floor behind his bedroom door. Bedtime was only slightly better because he fell asleep rocking with me, but when he woke up later, he climbed out of his bed and came into our room. This same pattern continued for the next week and a half (can we say gluttons for punishment?). We tried everything, from shutting his door (he learned out to open it, and very quickly I might add) to going and laying on the floor next to his bed when he woke up, but as soon as we would think he was asleep and we would get up to leave, he would be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed all over again. The worst part of it was the fact that even though my side of the bed is furthest from the door, Keegan insisted on coming to me every freakin' night, while AJ (for the most part) was able to stay asleep. Finally, after a week and a half of minimal sleep, and one final night of Keegan refusing to sleep anywhere but in our bed with us, I gave up and put the front of his crib back on.

Even though we failed in our little experiment, our failure has felt like HEAVEN ever since. Keegan is back to his 2 - 2 1/2 hour naps each afternoon and is sleeping through the night once again, which means that I've been getting more sleep as well (and if I'm not, it's at least not his fault). For now, we'll let him sleep in his crib and the baby will sleep in the bassinet. Once he outgrows that, if Keegan still isn't ready for a twin bed, we'll utilize my mom's Pack-N-Play that she has very generously loaned to us (thanks again, Mom) until we can convince Keegan that beds are WAY cooler than cribs.

The only problem is, if this is how I handle all our experiments with Keegan, the kid won't be potty-trained until he's driving!! Oy Vay!

Dear Frustrated and Overwhelmed

Dear Frustrated and Overwhelmed,
Can you please leave me alone for a while? I'm much happier when you are not around. Yes, I know that I have a choice and can allow life's little quirks to not get me down, but really there are just too many other emotions that I'm trying to keep in check right now and I could really use a break. Please go away and don't come back some other day.

Dear Park,
Thank you for leaving my son totally exhausted when we left you this morning. It was great to have him come home and take a nap and sleep for 2 1/2 hours. You made my son completely satisfied and I truly appreciate it. We will definitely be visiting you again...probably even this week. We look forward to lots more visits this summer.

Dear Public Library,
Thank you for giving me a chance to read a lot of different books without having to spend so much as a penny. I appreciate the fact that you are free, that you will transfer books from a library further away to the one that is closest to my home, therefore giving me the chance to take a 3 mile walk with my son. I also appreciate the fact that I can test out books and not feel guilty if I decide not to finish them, since I didn't have to spend any money on them. I also appreciate the fact that I can pick out a lot of different books for my little munchkin to read and to hopefully instill in him the same love of reading that I have.

Dear Robeks Polar Pineapple Smoothie,
Thank you for sustaining me through my pregnancy this summer. I'm so glad I took a chance to try you out. I really think that I love you more than my stand-by favorite known as the Jamba Juice Aloha Pineapple smoothie (and that's really saying something). I really think it's the papaya juice that you use that makes me love you so much. Needless to say, I look forward to many more lunch dates with you (unless, of course, I'm in the mood for the chocolate-y, peanut buttery goodness known as the Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd).

Dear Family,
I wish that I was much closer to you. I have to admit I was more than a little jealous that you were all able to get together earlier this week. Why can't we all just be independently wealthy and able to live on the same street right next too each other? I'm glad that the distance doesn't keep us from being close. I love and miss you all.

Dear Little Baby,
I'm so glad that you are really active, but can you please stop kicking me constantly? I'd really like to enjoy the last 4 or 5 weeks, but you are making it really difficult. I'd rather not be bruised from the inside out when you finally decide to come into this world. I really do look forward to meeting you, but can we maybe tone it down a little? Thanks, love you, Mommy

To Induce or Not To Induce...

that is the question (for the moment at least). Some of you are probably thinking, "but you are only 32 weeks along and still have two months to go, why are you worrying about that right now". The thing is, I really hadn't even thought about it. Granted, I've joked with friends that I'm already done being pregnant this time around (especially when they told me that based on the last ultrasound measurements that they took of him on Thursday he weighs anywhere from 4 1/2 to 5 pounds ALREADY), but I truly recognize the importance of letting this baby "cook" for as long as he needs so that he can be as healthy as possible, as well as the importance of letting him come when he's ready to, and not necessarily on my schedule.

However, I also recognize that this time around there are a couple of things that I need to take into consideration...like who is going to watch Keegan as well as what AJ's work schedule is going to be like at the end of August (especially since I am due right at the beginning of the football season, not only for the Chargers, but also for the high schools and colleges that he works with). It would be a whole lot easier knowing exactly what day I'll be delivering rather than having to call AJ at work or the hospital out of the blue and the possibility of him not being able to get away right then. It would also be a whole lot easier to set up Keegan's babysitter ahead of time, rather than having to call someone at the last minute to watch him. Plus, that would give me a deadline to try and prepare him for all the changes that will be happening.

It's totally my OB/GYN's fault. When I was talking to her at my last appointment about some questions I had regarding my delivery, etc. since I didn't deliver with this particular office the last time around (although I really wish that I had) she mentioned that if I wanted to be sure that she was the doctor that would deliver me, she had no problem scheduling my induction. I don't know if she did this because she had just agreed the week before to induce my friend and she knew that I knew that, or if she just wanted to reassure me that she was willing to be there to deliver baby #2 (who is still nameless, unfortunately), or because she's just a totally cool doctor who is willing to consider her patients desires (unlike my former doctor who absolutely REFUSED to even discuss inducing me until I had reached 41 weeks...thankfully Keegan came at 40 weeks and 2 days, because I was really done at that point). Whatever her reasons behind the offer, it's given both AJ and I a lot to think about.

Unfortunately, I'm at the point in this pregnancy where I can't make a decision to save my life, or once I've made a decision, I end up changing my mind later, or not liking the final outcome (which is why our bathroom still isn't done yet, and why I no longer like the color that we painted in both our bedroom as well as the boys bedroom...although that was the last pregnancy's fault. Word to the wise...don't pick out paint colors when you are pregnant and only a month away from delivering).

Maybe it's a good thing I still have 2 more months to go.