Thursday, October 16, 2008

What's Up!

Things have been pretty busy around here. But I guess that's nothing new. Last weekend was a really long weekend for me. I didn't have to go back to work until Wednesday this week so I really can't believe that it's Friday already. I LOVE THOSE KIND OF WEEKS :)

So we've been really busy with little Miss Ella. Just after her birthday, I started to notice a disturbing little trend with her. She was hitting. At first I told myself that she didn't know what she was doing. Then it was because she was tired. Then it was because she was teething. Then it was because she doesn't see us much during the week. Then it was because she was frustrated. I'm sure that you get the picture. I was coming up with every excuse in the book as to why she was hitting and before I knew she was taking cracks at us every chance that she got. Mostly in the face. I'm not sure about anyone else, but when I get hit in the face it's enough to get my blood boiling.

So I ran through the gamut of options of how to take care of this "temporary situation" (temporary because if I got hit in the face one more time I thought I was going to lose my marbles) She just seemed so mean. Nothing was good enough. She always seemed to be agitated and I was thinking, "What happened to my sweet, happy little 12 month old?". This often left my crying on the couch after I put her to bed at night. One night we were trying to run through our bedtime routine as usual and we were reading a story. She threw the book she was holding onto (yes, we're having a little issue with throwing when we're frustrated too, oh and screaming, but I'll get to that later). So I said, "Ella, we don't throw." Before I could get the word throw out, I got a 12 month sized patty upside the face. Oh I don't think so! Dan shut the book he was reading, told Ella "We don't hit Mommy!", laid her down and left the room. Never had we ever left the room that abruptly for bedtime. It was the first time she had cried in about a month after we put her to bed. IT BROKE MY HEART. I hated it. And I'm sure she did too.

I talked to a lot of people and read a lot of stuff on the Internet (which is something that Ella's doctor wished I wouldn't do). I must admit that some things really scared me because when you start reading about behavioral issues, the first thing they say is if it becomes a recurring problem that a professional should be contacted. So I drove myself crazy and then I thought, "THAT'S IT!!!". So I started just setting her down when she would hit me and walking away from her, which at first she didn't like. It seemed to work for about a couple days. Then she figured out that she could just crawl away and find something to occupy herself. So that stopped working really quick. And then the screaming, oh the screaming. After a while of setting her down she would just look at me and scream or hit my feet or throw something.

So on Tuesday while I was home with her I started something new. Every time Ella would get the nerve to hit me I would march her upstairs, put her in an empty crib, leave the room, go downstairs and start the stove timer for 1 minute. Then after the timer would go off and I would go upstairs and tell her again "We don't hit Mommy". She would lift her little arms up and when I would pick her up she would lay her head on my shoulder and say "Momma?". It made me feel bad but in 3 days I'm noticing a difference in her. Tonight I didn't have to take her upstairs at all.

Now I realize it's far from over. If it isn't hitting I'm sure that it will be something else. But at least I finally feel like I'm doing something that she understands that if I do this mommy goes away.

That really seems like that has been our life. I really don't know where September went.

The only other thing that I have been doing lately that has been taking up my time is craigslist. Dan and I cleaned out the house this past weekend and we're not even close to being finished. But I put a few things up for sale and some of them have sold which is really nice. However the other night I was looking at the stuff for sale and I found a lady in Geneseo who was selling a Little Tikes ladybug sandbox and playhouse. She was selling them for $45 for both. I thought that it might be a good deal and it sounded like she was really eager to get rid of them. So I looked up the sandbox and I found it on Amazon on sale for $30. Now the playhouses a ridiculously expensive like anywhere from $199 to $450 depending on the model. Dan went to look at it tonight and called me and said that they both looked to be in good shape and we decided to buy them. When her got home I couldn't believe it. For being out in the weather like they were they were in great condition. And not only that but when Dan asked her how much again she lowered it to $30!!!! Ella played with the house for 45 mins. tonight! It was great and she seemed so happy. Here are some pictures:

She also figured out how to do this:



Probably should have been telling her not to climb on the chest instead of capturing it with the camera but she was so darn proud of herself. Pick your battles right. At least she wasn't hitting me :)

Well I should give it up for the night and let you go (if you haven't gotten bored already and ditched) Thanks for hanging in there. Stay healthy and happy.