Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream......

So, we have been very lucky with Jonah and his sleep patterns up until a few weeks ago! He started sleeping in his crib at 6 weeks and about 90% of the time sleeps "like a baby" through the night unless he has a nightmare or is sick. Now, I attribute that to having the Schneider gene which means he will always try to at least get in 12 hours of sleep a night plus a 2 hour nap during the day! I've really tried my hardest to keep Jonah on a tight schedule in the evenings and we follow the 3 B's - Bath, Book, Bedtime! Well, a couple of weeks ago he started really crying and yelling "Mommy, Daddy" in the most pitiful saddest voice you have ever heard every time we tried to put him down for the night which "used" to be around 8:30pm. This was the kind of cry that tears out your heart and makes you want to rush in his room with your red cape on, swoop him up in your arms and be the hero parent that saves the night! But even though it was killing me I stood my ground with him and I told Josh that he would just have to cry it out! Well, Josh is a big pushover (Sorry Sweetie, but it's true!) and couldn't take it so he started going and getting Jonah and letting him come lay down on the couch until he fell asleep and then Josh would put him back in his crib. Then after a few nights of this, Jonah casually mentions "Mommy's Bed" (I'm not sure why he considers it "my" bed. Josh sleeps in there too. I promise I don't make him sleep on the couch!) Jonah has apparently been training with Yoda and learned the Jedi mind trick because when he said "Mommy's Bed" and walked into our bedroom and proceeded to climb into our bed I just couldn't say No! Though I have to mention that he is the sweetest little thing when he's laying there falling asleep. He rubs my face and then will ask me to pat his back and sing "Mary had a Little Lamb" (Okay maybe I'm a pushover too!) So, the first night I laid in there with him until he fell asleep and then, like the previous nights before, Josh carried him to his own bed. That was it. It was done. I had broken the #1 Cardinal Rule - Don't start letting your children sleep in your bed because if you do it will continue for the next 5, maybe 10 years rule! Just ask my mom! And since Josh has been gone this week in California it's gotten even worse. Jonah has not only fallen asleep in our bed but has also slept there all night because I was too lazy to pick him and take him to his own crib. And to make matters worse the time that he has fallen asleep has progressively gotten later and later! It's like I've thrown all the time I spent keeping him on a schedule out the window! So, tonight I put on my Mommy Armor and we followed our normal routine of Bath, Book, and Bed and then I put Jonah down in his crib at 9:45pm. As I'm typing this post I'm listening to him cry out "Mommy" and it's slowly tearing at my heart! It's a hard habit to break but I have to be strong and keep telling myself that he will eventually fall asleep and it will be okay and I'm not a bad mother! I think they need to make a Mommy patch (like a patch for people trying to quit smoking) that will ease the pain of breaking these kinds of habits!

Stay tuned until tomorrow's post to find out if Jonah makes it through the night in his "gasp" own bed!!!

Monday, January 28, 2008

What's in a Name??

Okay, so I'm online trying to find a restaurant for Josh and I to eat at when we are in San Fransisco this coming weekend. I've never been to San Fran before so I'm not familiar with any of their culinary hot spots but while I've been searching online these are some of the more interesting names I have come across. Now while I shouldn't judge a resturant by it's name I'm having a hard time just finding one place that even sounds normal!

House of Nanking - Where should I start??
Scoma's - Sounds like a skin rash that I don't want.
Goat Hill - Again, I don't even know where to start with this one.
Pakwan - I think this might be named after one of the Jolie-Pitt kids
Cha Cha Cha - this could be promising but should I dress in hot pink and bring a flamingo with me???

So, if you know of any restaurant recommendations in the area please let me know! We aren't picky. We pretty much like everything except raw foods and fondue! If I'm going to have to pay someone else while I cook my own meal I might as well stay home! ;)

Tag, I'm it!

My very good friend Sarah tagged me this weekend! This is my first tag! These questions were harder than I expected but still fun to answer! Enjoy!!

Finish the sentence with the 1st thought that comes to your mind.

I know....that I have a very blessed life!
I believe...in God.
I fought....off a cold yesterday but it may not have helped!
I am angered....when Riley (our dog) decides he has to go potty right before our alarm goes off in the morning.
I love....when Jonah rubs my cheeks with his hand and then gives me a kiss.
I need....to start working out!
I take....long hot bubble baths at night to relax.
I hear....silence in the background. Ahhh!
I drink....a lot of flavored water
I hate....telemarketers (one just called).
I use....lots of Jo Malone Lip Conditioner right now with the chilly weather.
I want.....to find a new house that I love.
I like.....to shop!
I feel....happiest when I'm getting hugs from Josh and Jonah
I wear...flats like these most of the time but still love to wear heels like these when I get dressed up! Of course I'm having to save up to buy these particular heels!!
I left...the Superbad DVD in the DVD player and returned just the case to Blockbuster yesterday! Oops!
I do.....love spending time with family and friends.
I hope...to plan a vacation soon with Josh and Jonah.
I dream....of watching Jonah play at Wimbledon one day.
I drive...a BMW X5.
I listen....to lots of different types of music.
I type...really fast.
I think....about too much all the time.
I need...to learn to be more patient.
I wish...Josh and I could retire now!
I am....going to San Fransisco this weekend for a mini vacation with Josh!
I regret....some of the things I've said to those I love.
I care....the most about my family and their happiness.
I should....volunteer more of my time to the causes I'm passionate about.
I am....planning on having another baby soon.
I said...I love you to Josh on the phone a few minutes ago.
I wonder....where my family will be and what we will be doing in 5 years.
I changed....a lot after having Jonah. It put my life into perspective.
I cry....when I think about how innocent Jonah is and what the world has become. I just want to protect him from it forever.
I lose....my keys all the time.
I leave...late all the time - usually because I'm looking for my keys.

Okay - so I'm tagging Shannon from the Slade Family and Janna from The O'Neill Family. Copy and Paste and then fill in your own thoughts! Have a great week!

Monday, January 21, 2008

The Weekend Edition

On Friday Josh, Jonah and I went over to our friends Shannon and Bryce's house for dinner. We had pizza and then did what married couples with kids do on a Friday night - talked and watched the kiddos play! We are so old now! LOL! But Jonah and Ryan had a good time hanging out. Saturday morning Jonah and I met Vicky at Willowbend Mall and Jonah acted as Vicky's fashion consultant while she tried on dresses for a charity event. He did really well at Saks Fifth Avenue so he was rewarded with some playtime in the kids area! Afterwards we headed home and then Jonah went to Jerod and Lauren's for a sleepover!

Josh and I ran some errands and grabbed some takeout and then hung out at home before we attened our good friends Jenn and Vincent's wedding shower. We had a lot of fun catching up with some of our friends we hadn't seen in awhile and we finally got to meet our friends Cat and Richard's newborn daughter Grace who was one week old! She was absolutely precious! You forget how tiny they are!

Group pic of the shower hosts with Jenn and Vincent

Afterwards we came home and crashed! Sunday we slept in and then went over to Jerod and Lauren's for dinner and to pick up Jonah!

Jonah turns 22 months old!


So grown up - sitting on the couch with his feet crossed, eating trail mix and sipping on a juicy juice box! Where did my little baby boy go???


Jonah turned 22 months old today! Here are some new fun facts!

* Jonah loves for you to sing to him. He's a big fan of Mary Had a Little Lamb, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and You are My Sunshine. I usually catch him trying to sing the words in his bed in the mornings over the monitor when I'm getting dressed. It's so cute!

* He also loves the song Bubbly by Colbie Calliat. He even sings some of the words and always dances when it comes on!

* Before he goes to sleep at night he either has to lay on the couch with Daddy or in our bed and he pats us to sleep.

* Jonah has discovered and loves Pizza! Any kind of pizza! He takes a bite and says "Mmmmmm"!

* He is a talker. He talks all the time. On the phone, in the car, in the bathtub, while he's eating, everywhere! And he has never met a stranger! He will talk to everyone at Target, in the mall, at a restaurant! He just loves to talk! This may cause problems when he starts school!

* Sleep - Jonah loves to sleep! He sleeps an average of 12-14 hours a night and then takes an hour to two hour nap during the day at school and on the weekeends he sometimes takes 3 hour naps!! It must be from all that talking or then it again it might just be that he's a Schneider! ;)

Only two more months before he turns the big #2!!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The mystery under the couch cushion....

I clean our house religiously even though we have a housekeeper! Josh might even label me as borderline OCD but the one place I always forget about is under the couch cushions! And since a dog, a husband, and a toddler occupy this couch frequently I'm sure there is quite a collection of change, cheerios, popcorn and God knows what else habitating under there! Well, leave it to Riley to remind me! I walked into the living room the other day and this is how I found him! LOL. My living breathing vacuum cleaner! I just hope he doesn't eat the change!

Torin Turns Two

Jonah had yet another birthday party on Saturday for his good friend and classmate Torin. We ventured out to Jump'n Land in McKinney for some rides, slides, and pizza! Jonah had a lot of fun and I think Josh did too!



Jonah was so excited about wearing the birthday hat! Can you tell???

The Haircut

On Friday Jonah had a post op doctor's appointment to check out the 2ND tube we had put in his right ear. The visit went well and his ears looked great! We were in and out in 10 minutes! Afterwards, I took Jonah to the cuts for kids salon down the street since he was in desperate need of a trim! He was very excited about the race car seat he was going to sit in. That is until the hairdresser squirted water on his head and came at him with a pair of sharp silver scissors! Then, all hell broke loose! Jonah did not want any part of a haircut! He squirmed and squealed and if I had let him he would have jumped right out of that race car! We tried toys, lollipops anything to coax him back into the seat. We even resorted to me holding him in one of the other chairs with a cape on. I literally had to hold his head with him screaming and crying while she tried to trim his hair! It was horrible! We were both covered in blonde hair! She felt so bad she only charged me $5! I don't know why she felt bad! I was the one who had the toddler that acted like he was being tortured which is so weird because he's done so well with all of his other haircuts! It was not one of his finest moments! Anyway, we got to the car and after a close examination I could see why she only charged me five dollars! His hair was so uneven and he had a partial mullet in the back! It was really bad. So, instead of eating at chick-fil-a we got our lunch to go and headed home. I tried my best to trim up the back and all the other uneven pieces but cutting hair is not one of my best attributes! So, needless to say he doesn't have his cute curls anymore but the good news is they will grow back. Because it will probably be awhile before I attempt another trip to the salon with Mr. Jonah!

Here are the final results of the "cut." No more cute curls for now!!! :(

Breakthrough with TMX

So, after almost a year we have finally had a breakthrough with Tickle Me Elmo (see previous post Tickle Me Elmo) To our amazement the other night Jonah pulled Elmo out of his toy bag and said "Hi Elmo!" Then, he gave him a kiss and a hug! Of course we didn't turn him on for fear of traumatizing him but it was still a huge breakthrough! It looks like he might be warming up to the furry red guy!

On Sunday night Jonah and I went to Target and he saw a smaller stuffed version of Elmo and said "My Elmo!" So, I bought him and his friend Grover in hopes that it will help Jonah learn to like the TMX! So far, he's been very fond of Elmo and Grover and he even let them sleep with him the other night! That's huge because before he didn't want anything to do with Elmo!


Saturday, January 12, 2008

Getting to know you....

I was bored tonight so I thought I would blog a getting to know you post!! The questions are taken from an Amex ad I saw in a magazine but I thought the questions were fun and different and maybe you will learn something about me that you didn't already know!

Blogger Name - Monda
Blogger Since - 2006
Occupation - WAHM/Project Manager
Proudest Accomplishment - Jonah
Perfect Day - Sleeping in Late, Brunch with Josh and Jonah, Spa for a Massage and Mani/Pedi, Nap, Excercise, Playground, Shopping, Dinner with adult friends, Going to the movies, in Bed by 10pm*
Most Unusual Gift - a shower radio
Recent Impulse Buy - A stuffed Elmo and stuffed Grover for Jonah at Target
Retail Therapy - the shoe department at Nordstroms or Urban Allye Boutique in McKinney
Can't Shop without - finding more stuff I want!

*not sure if there are enough hours in the day to accomplish all of this but it would still be my idea of a perfect day!

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Octopus

At dinner the other night Jonah was watching Baby Einstein and there was an Octopus on the screen and he said "What's that?" When we said Octopus he tried his hardest to say it! So, of course I had to grab the video camera and record it so you could hear him!! It's too funny! There was also a saxaphone on the TV so we tried to get him to say that too but him trying to say Octopus was just too cute!!!

My beef with Blogger

Okay, I'm not very happy with Blogger right now. When I started trying to upload my photos from the holidays a couple of days ago I received an error that I was over my limit on the number of photos that I could upload from Picassa Web (which is where your photos on blogger get stored) After logging into Picassa to find out what the limit on the photos were I was at 97% capacity so I thought maybe I would just delete some of my older photos to make room for the new ones. Well, I found out that if you do that then you lose those photos on your blog! I don't want to lose those photos! I put a lot time and effort into this blog and want to keep it for Jonah to look at when he's older! Blogger's solution - purchase more storage space. I knew there had to be a catch! So, now I'm trying to figure out if I want to spend $20+ a year for more storage space. That's really nothing and I'm sure I'll end up forking it over because I like being able to add 1 photo at a time if I want to for a blog entry. But in the meantime you'll be seeing lots of slide shows using other services like One True Media or Smilebox :)

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Park Adventure

Jonah and I headed out the park on Sunday and had fun playing on the slides and riding his tricycle! Afterwards we came back and had pizza and then both of us took a two hour nap!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Birthday Bashes

Jonah had a fun filled day with two Birthday parties! First thing this morning we headed to Animal House to attend his friend Rylee Bleu's 2nd birthday! Jonah had so much fun seeing all his friends from school especially "Belle" They had a lot of fun playing in all the bounce houses, eating pizza and cake! Next up was our cousin Jacob's 5th birthday. Jonah had fun jumping in the bounce house at Jacob's house with all of his cousins Seth, Jacob, Ethan and Kyle!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!

Josh and I hope all of you had a Happy New Year! We celebrated with some friends on New Year's Eve and then had a low key day at home on New Year's with Jonah!

It seems the theme for 2008 is "Change!" Changing habits, lifestyles, expectations! (Oh, that reminds me, I gotta go change the laundry from the washer to the dryer!) Anyway, back to "Change!". Our family was very blessed in 2007 but we hope to bring even better changes to our family in 2008! Josh and I are going to try to spend more time together as a family, eat healthier, and get our bodies in better shape (since we aren't getting any younger!!). Some of the exciting things that we are looking forward to this year are - My parent's 50th wedding anniversary (rarely heard of these days!), Jonah turning 2 years old, welcoming a new niece or nephew, attending our good friend Jenn and Vincent's wedding in April and possibly moving to a new house! So, we have many changes to look forward to and we hope that all of you have a wonderful 2008 and are excited about any changes you'll be making in the New Year!

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