Clear Epic

It may have looked like I’ve gone MIA but in all honesty it is my motivation that is missing. Seriously. I need something to spur me on. I’ve been working working working, certainly not winning deals which completely takes the wind out of your sails! BUT I think I should pay more attention to my blog. Writing, even when I don’t feel like it, even when I have nothing to say, and even when it is not eloquent is still soothing to me. It is my own little therapy.

What makes me sad is that I’ve been lacking on capturing some of Prayse’s moments so here is what I can remember. My baby is growing up WAY too fast!! Here are a few of the things that this angel has been up to and what I have been learning as a Mom:

• She is doing GREAT at sleeping. We worked really hard on establishing a nigh-night routine. What I’ve learned is that PATIENCE is they key to parenting. Really. I always thought that the nighttime suggestions should just work instantly. That was the wrong type of thinking. When P and I worked together to establish a flexible routine that worked well for her and that created a positive night time experience both of us were happy. She now falls asleep usually around 8:00 give or take. I have learned to pay attention to her and to recognize her “Mama I’m tired signs” before she starts crying. So now we always eat around 6:00, take a bath (or if it is not bath time then we switch into pajamas and I give her a lotion massage while she plays with one thing or another). We then come downstairs to play some more until I see her getting tired. It is then a bottle while we rock, we read two books, then shut off the lamp and rock until she goes to sleep. Yeah, yeah I rock her to sleep or at least almost to sleep but a wise friend told me recently, “One day she will be 15 and never want you to touch her.”
• We are trying more table food. I have bought a half cup food processor to help her out but with only two teeth the going is slow. I had to remind myself again today that patience is the key. Who cares that other kids her age are eating mostly table food? I think we’ll back off a bit. We had some trouble with noodles today… coughing/choking baby because of a noodle and a Mama who is having a heart attack is not worth it! She is becoming so independent though. There are times she gets so frustrated with me spoon feeding her, she wants to do it herself.
• I have myself a Dancing Queen. Morning, Noon, and Night when there is music this chica is grooving! It is so fun to watch her move to the music. At her school they call is the Stevie Wonder The cutest thing ever. We have a lot of dance parties at our house and she definitely knows how to find the beat.
• Talking- Prayse has never lacked in this area. Ever. But it is so much more intense now and the babe talks herself to sleep 50% of the time and then continues talking in her sleep. So funny. She is also now saying: Dada, Mama, ga, pa, and na (to close to “No” to me).
• Sign Language is working, she knows the sign for milk. When I bring out her bottle she immediately starts signing and gets really excited. She is so smart!

The latest and greatest… she walked. Dear Lord I am in trouble. She is on the go 100% of the time. I am LOVING it. This is the funnest stage yet, we are bestest buds and Mama is the center of her world. What is even better is that I have learned to trust my instincts as a Mom. Too much in the past I relied on those who I thought may have known better because of their experience. Every single time I have regretted doing that. I am Prayse’s Mama and I know what is best for her. I am more confident of that now and will trust myself and my daughter.