Friday Fun

I think I want to start keeping a log of fun activities we do during the week. I have been making an effort to find more things E and I can do to keep busy and have fun during the day, especially since it's been so dang cold this winter. I don't always feel creative, and many of my ideas are borrowed from other people, but I thought if I at least share them here then I can browse through them later if I'm ever in a rut.

I'll just mention two activities this week. First, I finally attempted a sensory bit like the ones I've seen on Pinterest. I just used rice and different types of pasta, poured them in a cake pan (I plan to get a rubber maid container for it eventually) and gave him a scoop and a funnel. Despite the rice that ended up all over my kitchen floor, the activity was a success. He loved it!

Yesterday we were pounded with frozen rain all day and there is a nice layer of ice over everything (even the snow), so we are pretty much housebound today. I did the dishes while he ate breakfast, and he got excited about the leftover bubbles in the sink when I washed his hands. So I filled the sink back up, gave him a couple of cups and a scoop, and let him go to town.

He had so. much. fun. Why have I never let him do this before? It just never crossed my mind. I think he would have continued playing much much longer had I let him. He was soaked, the floor was soaked (despite the towels I put down), so overall I'd say this activity was a huge success. I'm going to make this a regular part of our week! And maybe in the summer I can budget for a water table for outside, so we can have some fun in the yard!

Magical Mommy Moment

I don't do these as often as I'd like. Then again, I don't post on here as often as I'd like. E often gives me reasons to smile. Tonight, while I was putting him to bed, I was singing to him. He's so stubborn about bed time that I often have to sing lullaby-like song I know to him. Tonight I was singing Toby Keith's "Heart to Heart (Stellan's Song)." The chorus is as follows:

When he cries she'll match him, tear for tear.

When he laughs, she'll grin from ear to ear.

When he's wrong they'll stand there face to face,

She can put him in his place.

Side by side, hand in hand

She'll talk up daddy's little man.

He knows that she's done her part

Watching God's love grow heart to heart

Na na na na na na na-a

Na na-a na na na na na na na na na-

Tonight, just as I reached the end of the chorus, before starting the "na nas", E suddenly starts saying "na na na na na na!" I was so proud! Especially since he's so stubborn about using his words, and here he was singing with me! I thought "wow! Look how well my little boy knows this song!" He "sang" that part along on the next chorus too. Love my little guy!

Never Wake a Sleeping Toddler...

...even if you really want to. I have errands to run and limited time to run them in, but I can't bring myself to wake him. I remember one of my first posts being about the sleep training we were embarking on. That wasn't the first sleep training we did, and I guess it won't be the last. The truth is, E still doesn't sleep. The past several nights he has woken up at 2:00, 3:00, or 4:00 (after not going to bed until 9 or 9:30) and just been awake for two or three hours. Today he finally went back to sleep just before six, but he was awake again before seven. And now he is asleep in my bed, where I am currently sitting, watching him sleep. He is beautiful when he sleeps. I wish he did more of it.

I am so beyond tired, and I'm tired of being tired all. the. time. I feel like I never accomplish anything, and I'm worried about my health because I can't seem to find the time to exercise. I have made more of an effort to eat healthy, but I fail at that quite often too. I should just make myself exercise, despite being tired. I know that. As it turns out, that's somehow easier said than done. What is this mental block I have? Why can't I seem to accomplish anything?

E's sleep problems are becoming a source of concern to me, since I tend to get frustrated and yell, as I did last night. I keep trying to think of things I might do to help him sleep better. He has a night light. He sleeps with music on. I try to make sure he has enough (or few enough) blankets to be comfortable, since he tends to wake when he's too hot or too cold. Watching him sleep on hubby's pillow, I think that will be my next step. Maybe he'll sleep better with a pillow. After that? Toddler bed? I don't know if I feel ready for that step, but if he will sleep better I might be willing to give it a try. I love this little man more than anything, but boy oh boy does this mama need some sleep!