Brushing teeth, revisited

I have achieved teeth brushing in 4 year olds at our house for 3 consecutive nights. Oh, wise mother, I did I do it? Quite by accident...I was in the usual state of cajoling, pleading, griping, begging, and then I glanced at her school papers on the desk which she was so proud to have shown me earlier, with a CHECK PLUS PLUS on them. I said, ok, if you brush your teeth, I'll give you a CHECK PLUS PLUS. I had no idea how I would do that exactly, but after she brushed and rinse, she went over to her box of markers and took one out to draw a CHECK PLUS PLUS on her hand. She was happy, I was happy.

Hmmm...wow...that's all it took.

Bedtime Issues, revisited

Loulou has decided to be very contrary when it comes to bedtime the past 2 weeks. It has become a great source of tension in the house on some nights. We really try to start around 7:30pm (after dinner) beginning with a bath or shower, quiet playtime, teeth brushing, story, a few songs with a goal of lights out by 9pm. It has become a battle and most nights we don't get to the goal until 10:30-11pm. She has been fighting the teeth brushing which is hard because a recent trip to the dentist revealed extensive cavities that will require treatment in a few weeks. We have taken away milk in bed (we didn't start it in the 1st place...was started by well meaning grandparents and we got lazy) or only milk if supervised teeth brush occurs.

I cannot really pinpoint anything that might be weird in her life now. The week was a little weird as she was sick and missed some school. Perhaps it is just the preschool limit pushing thing. Her little sis Lala has no choice...she can't get out of her crib! She is in bed by 7:30-8 everynight without too much fuss.

We're going to try getting her up earlier in the morning. It has been hard for me, however as I have been on several medications that makes me awake at night and groggy by morning (need to adjust timing on those meds, but will soon be off of it once I am better...bad,bad skin eczema). Dh is going to try on weekday mornings to get her up when he does. She has in the past had periods like this but it has been a while so this is hard on us. I know...this too shall pass...

Floating thru January

2 weeks into the new year and I have already fallen off my healthy eating resolution. It would have probably helped to not have small bags of chips in the pantry also. Love the salty, crunchy snacks that leave orange stuff on my hands. I was exercising, but the past week I broke out on my legs and now my arms an itchy, ugly rash. I am prone to allergic skin reactions so I will suffer thru (high and drowsy on antihistamines) until this gets out of my system.

Lala fell asleep in her high chair tonight at 5:45pm (usual bedtime is 7:30-8) and I am wondering (hoping) she'll keep sleeping until morning. She has either a bit of a stomach bug or its teething. Blame it all on teething. I am feeling a bit poorly today too...just a feeling like I am about to get sick.

Yesterday my horoscope said (I never read it, but happened to glance at it while enjoying my comics), that I should consider staying home and changing my career. Wow, I thought, maybe I should really reevaluate my choice to work outside the home. 2 hours later, after cleaning up 2 bouts of vomiting while cooking spaghetti at the same time from/ for small children, I knew my place was not full time at home...ha,ha,ha. We were out for a walk in the stroller and nearing home, Loulou skipped around to the front of the stroller and exclaimed, "Lala spit up!" Not just spit up, but pools of curdled milk everywhere. Oh gosh, what if someone had seen us...mom oblivious to the fact that her baby threw up somewhere on the walk outside. There is a reason I pay my babysitter well.

Dh and I had a fight about what we paid a babysitter (occasional) the other night. I am not sure if it was really about that or about me being defensive about the decisions I make about our household budget. He thought we paid her too much for 3 hours (probably so, but I only had a $50 bill in my wallet). In the past we have given her 10-15 dollars an hour because she is an adult (over 30) and also cleans the house (she's our regular housekeeper once a week). I mean the house is sparkling clean when we get home....no toys, no goo, etc and the children are fed, bathed, and a load of wash is done many times. For a teen I probably would pay less for various reasons. Anyway, we made up and came up with an agreement about how we would handle the amounts. Strangely it felt good to fight...we almost never do, just glower in resentment. I actually told him how he made me feel....to the tune of "you just ruined my pleasant evening." It was kind of sexy to spar with him.

New year 2010!

Well, it's time to make some resolutions again. I think I am always making some but never hurts to sit down a make a list.

1. Have more loving Sunday mornings (see last post to see why)
2. Have 1 carb free day (low carb!?) once a week
3. Have 1 meat free day once a week
4. Pack a lunch for husband 2 days a week (to encourage healthier eating)
5. Be thankful for my warm kitchen and abundant food.
6. Be conscious of my time with my family...be more present
7. Make to keep track of Loulou's dental hygiene (we have at least 2 visible cavities at the moment...dental appt in 1.5 weeks)

I think that's enough for now!