Bike Trailer/Jogger

We finally got a bike trailer!

We've been looking for a few weeks now, reading reviews, watching Kijiji, looking around and finally decided on one! We went to Mountain Equipment Co Op tonight and bought a single bike trailer which is also a jogger. Its not too heavy, and the bar for the stroller is a great height for me, which is not easy to find! It was a bit on the pricey side however its great, and lets thank God that we're getting some extra money back from our taxes, and this is why we can buy a more expensive trailer!

Let me guess, your also thinking "A single trailer, what if you have another kid!?" Well one, we're not planning anytime soon on having a baby right away, and two if it was to happen (by God's plan, not ours!!) MEC has such an awesome return policy, they are never sticky about anything!!

Here is Eli's new ride!

Advice

I have a headache today, and feel tired. Maybe I feel defeated. I dont know. Here's our Eli & sleeping situation over the past day or so.

Yesterday, he had one nap in the morning, no nap in the afternoon. We got him ready for bed around 7:00P.M, he was in bed and screaming by 7:30P.M. Oh did I mention that yesterday for his nap at 10:30a.m, he cried until he threw up again!? Yup. Gross. So back to bedtime. In bed by 7:30P.M, and screaming. I decided I wasn't going to get him up after he was put down to bed. He only had one nap all day, and there is no reason why he should be up past 7:30P.M. He would sit up in his crib screaming, and I would lay him down and say "Please, lay down Eli. Its time to go to sleep." He'd sit up, and we'd do this over and over. Finally I left the room, as he was screaming. Andy went up and tried to calm him. I tried swaddling him, nothing. So finally, Andy put his ear plugs in so he could study, and I came downstairs to listen to him scream. It finally got quiet, and he was asleep.

I had a few people give me bit and pieces of advice. Here is some of them!

1) He's getting older, and doesn't need as much sleep.
I really was starting to think this, and question myself aswel as if I know my son and his needs. Maybe he doesn't need as much sleep as before, he is almost a year. This morning however I realized this is not true. I need to trust my instincts. My first thought is maybe this is happening because he is overtired!! On our way to the church this morning, he was in the car for less than 10 minutes and he was already asleep... after being up for less than 2 hours this morning!! He is tired, and does need his sleep! As his mom I know whats best for him, and should never doubt my "gut" feeling.

2) He's getting something out of crying until he throws up, let him sleep in it for 4 or 5 nights and he'll stop!
 Okay, I know what your thinking. LET HIM SLEEP IN HIS THROW UP!? Thats horrible. Yes I feel that way too, however the past 4 nights he has been getting something out of crying until he throws up. We get him up, so he can play downstairs for an hour or so or until he tells us he's ready to go to bed. Uh, who's the boss here!? Andy and Karla, or Eli!? For the past 4 nights Eli has been, but not anymore! I dont think I'll let him sleep in his throw up if he continues to do it, but I will go upstairs change his p.j's, his sheets, and put him back down to bed. A few nights of this and him realizing that crying before bed doesn't get him anywhere and I have a feeling maybe he'll stop. He's smarter than we think!!

Those are the 2 biggest pieces of advice I have gotten, from many many people! We'll see how it goes!

Some awesome news to tell you! We found out this week that our car payments are done! We thought we had another few months, but we had a phone call this week letting us know that our last payment was this month, and we no longer owe anymore money!!? Awesome, and Praise God! How cool is that!?

Also, I just found out that we will be receiving $300 more back on our taxes than we were expecting!? God is so faithful I just cannot get over it! We're so blessed.  God says "Ask and you will receive." And while we think we always know what is best, and we ask for some crazy things, God will continue to bless you in one way or another, even if you ask for something and dont receive it right now. I'm so thankful!

Wits End

So my little dream sleeper has turned into anything but a dream. I'm still lucky that once he's down he is down for the night, however during the day and getting him down at night for the past few evenings has been so hard!

This morning he woke up at 6:40a.m and was ready to get up. It seems like its getting earlier and earlier, and bed time is getting later and later!

Today is Andy's birthday so we went out for a great afternoon! We went to MEC (mountain equipment co op) sportchek and a few other places, and then out for supper! It was great! We got home and Andy's mom had gotten Eli ready for bed, and had just put him down, but he had no intentions of going to bed at 7:00P.M! So we got him up for an hour, and then tried to put him back down. He had no intentions of going down at 8:30P.M! THat being said, when he's up he is happy and not whining at all. I finally just put him down and its almost 9:30P.M!!) He's not getting enough nighttime sleep thats for sure! On top of the going to bed issues, he is really pushing it on the day time naps too! He refuses to go down for his 2nd nap of the day! I dont get it!

I'm feeling drained and tired. The day is starting early and I really only have 45 minutes (if that!!) before I have to go to bed and it start all over again! I'm at my wits end! Where did my dream sleeper go that I could brag about!? Please return to me!

Another weekend

Why does the weekend come and go so fast!? I feel like this weekend has been anything but relaxing. Eli is teething like crazy and therefore is not the funnest guy to be around! Bedtimes have been especially hard. For a little boy who rarely gives us a hard time going to bed, he sure has made up for it this weekend! Last night again he decided he wasn't going to bed before 8:00P.M. He only had one nap today and its already 7:00 (the time when he is usually in bed and asleep) and he is still going strong. He's quite content to play!

We went to church this morning, and then came home and relaxed a bit while Eli napped. He slept for an hour and a half, and then I went out and cleaned both cars, and then came inside to vacumn and do the dishes. We went out to Canadian Tire, and then to Ikea. Ikea is a place where we go just to get out. Cheap food, and somewhere to wander around where you dont have to buy anything! Nice.

Yesterday I went to J'adore Dance with my cousin for a few mini classes. We did a pilates class, hip hop class, and a naughty hotties class. I'm feeling it today, thats for sure! But it was great! I'm so excited for my hip hop class, and to get more active! I feel very driven now to start working out! As we were at Ikea today, I realized how serious of an epidemic obesity is! Its very scary, and I dont want to be a statistic!

Tomorrow s Andy's 25th birthday! We get to go out on a date! I dont remember the last date we went out on... actually thats not true. We went out for Pizza close to a month and a half ago, and my dad stayed home while Eli was in bed. Andy's mom is going to babysit, and we're going to do dinner and maybe a movie, I dont know. I'm just looking forward to a date!

On a side note! Its crazy to think this time last year I was 32 weeks pregnant, and now we have a 10 month old!! Crazy!!

32 weeks pregnant! April 7th, 2009

April 11th, 2010 - Eli is 10 months old + 2 days!

Internal Clock

Eli has one crazy internal clock! In the morning the clock hits 7:00A.M, and he is ready to get up.

Last night was a tough night. I tried to put him down at his regular bedtime 6:30-7:00, and he refused. I got him up and he played for a bit. This happened 4 times, and 8:30 he still refused to go down. Anytime I put him in his crib he screamed. I'd let him cry for a bit and then he'd start coughing. Finally, we took him for a drive and he went down just after 9:00P.M. You would think that considering he went to bed 2.5 hours after his regular bedtime he would sleep in. But nope. 7:00A.M hits and he is ready to get up!

So I've been working hard on my doula course, and have been reading up on the physiology of birth. There is a ton of information, but its interesting! I'm learning alot that I didn't know before! Neat facts! So with my course I need to attend 2 births. I had a few other students mention that its good to start looking early because then it gives you motivation to really do your reading and assignments. Yesterday, I decided I would put an add on Kijiji just mentionng that I am training, and will do my services for free, but I do ask that the client pays for gas, parking, childcare, food, etc. Within the afternoon I had 4 replies! 4!! I can't believe it, and I'm almost panicking! Most of them are due over the summer, which gives me a few months to continue on with my training, however I need to meet with them over the next few weeks to see if we "click." Like a few of the students said it is motivation to really get going with the course, and now I feel like theres a fire underneath me!! Guess thats not a bad thing!! And so it begins!

I'd love to know who's reading

 So on average I have about 60 some hits per day on my blog! I know a few of you who are reading and following, however I only have 9 "followers". The rest of the 51 people I have no clue who you are!!

I'd love to know who's reading my daily posts, and keeping up with on our Hope Family!! Those of you who follow daily, could you e-mail me or become a "follower"?

Thanks so much guys!

Good Morning & Good Night

I'm so proud that Eli knows what the sign (as in sign lanuage) for milk is. I catch him all the time doing it. Especially this morning. He isn't feeling well, and since he has been refusing solids I decided this morning just to give him a bottle instead of fighting with him to eat breakfast. A few times this morning when he started whining, he showed me through sign language that he wanted a bottle. Sometimes I wonder if its just a reflex because all the sign is is closing and opening your fist with your palm facing inside. But sure enough when he

the sign for milk I get a bottle and he is more than hungry. Chugs back the whole thing.

Mornings used to be so easy for us, however these days they're hard! By 8:00, he wants to go down for a nap. When I hear him first thing in the morning, the first thing I do is pray for patience, and that God would help me get through the day. I dont think I could do it without God's help, and some days I wonder if going back to work would be easier than staying at home with him, but I know whats important is for me to not go back to work. With God's help I know I can get through each day!

So with that being said, this morning was no exception, especially since Eli isn't feeling well. So by 8:30a.m (we hadn't even been up for 2 hours!) he was rubbing his eyes, and I figure whats the point in keeping him up when he's unhappy, I'm frustrated, and he's tired and not feeling well. He needs the sleep I guess. So he's already down for his first nap. He'll probably sleep until 10:30, and then maybe we'll venture out of the house just to get out. Wal mart is always a good place to hit up when theres nothing else to do! And today is not a day for a walk unfortunately. I'm thinking today maybe a day where Eli gets 3 naps.

I should go tidy up and clean my house, although I dont feel motivated to do it.

Lately

So here are a few pictures from the past little bit. The toilet paper ones are from today. I knew it was only a matter of time until he figured out the joy of toilet paper and how much fun it can be! He's been pretty crabby today so I really couldn't be bothered to tell him that he shouldn't be playing with it. He looked so content and happy!!

The pictures at the very top are from our first walk with the wagon! Eli loved every minute of it, and felt like such a big boy... well I'm assuming he felt like a big boy, he never actually told me!

Tomorrow is his 10 month birthday, I cant believe how fast it actually goes!!