HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET GIRL!

Today E turned 3. For me it is bittersweet. I am loving watching her evolve. Her little brain, personality, mannerisms are wonderful glimpses of the woman she will become. However, it signifies to me the end of babyhood for her-that all we have left of her as a baby are the memories and photos. Not that that is a bad thing-believe me...just a bit saddening.

Today we had a small celebration with some of our Mommy and Me friends. Elly was so excited! She literally was running in circles last night. Our guests arrived this morning around 10:30 and we proceded to play, eat pizza, break an Elmo pinata, sing the birthday song, eat cake, open presents and play some more.

Nap time was sooo nice-for all 4 of us. The girls each took instant 2 hr naps, and so the parents. (sleep training and party prep has really wiped us all out).

Next on the agenda, a bigger party Saturday with some other friends and family and continuing the sleep training saga. (will add pictures tomorrow, B is wailing).

Sleep Glorious Sleep.....

We have a problem in this house....it is sleep-or lack thereof. Up until this past weekend, B was beginning to drive us insane at 11pm, 2am, 4am, 5am....etc. She is 11 months old! This is the pattern of a needy, hungry newborn. Now I probably could have put my foot down a long while ago, but there was still that concerned tug of my heart...notice my emphasis on past tense. We had been planning to use the sleep training method we used (successfully) with E. See, we had the same problem with her. At the time all I was hearing about was Cry It Out. 2 problems with that-1) It seemed cruel after being so responsive to her for 10 months and 2) It escalated to throw up. So I went on the search for a sleep training method that SPOKE to me. In the end I settled on a book Good Night, Sleep Tight By Kim West.

So as I mentioned, we were all set to begin implementing as of Monday (yesterday) since Fishman has vacation time this week. HOWEVER, Saturday around 1:30 am, B started in on her Banshee Wail....in our bed. Since weaning is in process and there seemed nothing that I could do to appease her, we decided to start the training. IT WAS BAD....SUNDAY WAS BETTER BUT STILL BAD. MONDAY, much better. There was a wake up at 11:30, and within 10 mins back asleep, mild fussing. She woke at 2, and again, super easy...about 20 mins. One more wake up at 5:45 and I fed her got her back to sleep in HER CRIB.

I think-I am almost scared to say it for fear of jinxing-but I think we are on the right track. I haven't slept since getting pregnant in July '07...

Wish me luck!

Andi Tagged Me!!!!

Andi tagged me so I will play.....Here is her description

Here's how you play. Once you've been tagged you have to write a blog of ten weird, random things, facts or habits about yourself. At the end, you choose five people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them to be tagged. Don't forget to leave them a comment "You're it!" and tell them to read your blog. You can't tag the person who tagged you. Since you can't tag that person back, let her know when you've posted your blog so she can read your answers.


1. I am word obssessed! I love playing scrabble, word games etc. I play on http://www.isc.ro/ for scrabble-live games, free and safe! I constantly will see a word in my daily travels and think of the score and where I could place it on the board!

2. I don't have a very good track record with plants. ALTHOUGH I am pleased to say I have been successful at caring for 3 plants and from one of those very happy and prolific plants I have created 2 cuttings that have rooted and been planted. I think I am getting a bit of a green thumb...

3. Pre-kids and more so as my babies get bigger, I am a BOOK WORM! I love to read. I can get through a 400 page book in a day....not a textbook or dry topic, but any easy reading, LOVE Mary Higgins Clark! I have followed her writings since I was in middle school. Just picked up a new one at Costco last night...itching to get into it!

4. My music in my iTunes is very ecclectic. I have everything from the Beattles to Garth Brooks to Juanes to Raffi (ok I collect that for the kids but still you might catch me singing along.)

5. (in response to Andi) I have only ever broken 1 bone-my left side of my jaw. I was being dumb at high school...riding on the hood of a car and then jumped off and landed super-girl style on the parking lot. OUCH! Oh, and I have had stitches 3 times, not counting childbirth...I guess that makes 4.

6. I am very nostalgic. I find that the older I get and my kids get I tend to draw more connections to the past.

7. I once owned a newt for a pet. He?she? escaped and I never found the dred up remains...hmmmm

8. I started writing a novel-got 2 chapeters in. It's saved to a floppy disk-no way to re-access that in my technology collection.

9. I already speak Spanish and English, but someday I hope to learn Italian to connect to my dad's family history.

10. I recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles for money-I get a thrill when I earn $5.00. I will pick up cans and bottles from the ground...I draw the line at going on someone's property or into trash cans. Anywhere else is up for grabs...

Catch up!

I apologize for my absence. I started out my blogging experience strong! Then...I let the ball drop! I do have good excuses...really....

1st, we had a weeklong visit with my mom. When Grandma comes to town, all is good! We hit the Oakland Zoo.

We also went to the park....

E really enjoyed all 0f the equipment! She was up on the big twisty slides, climbing the structure ladders, trying to hang on the bars....(must have gotten some inspiration from the monkeys at the zoo).

B had fun exploring the equipment for the 1st time. She became really accomplished at climbing the stairs on the tot lot.

Grandma came with us to tumbling and of course, clothes shopping for Mamafish! It was good times!

Since then, we have gotten caught up in life...and Easter Egg hunt with our Mommy and Me friends...

and cleaning the house to get ready for various parties upcoming...AND chasing after 2 sweet little monsters.

Tomorrow I will take part in Andi's Blog Tag.

Tumble Time!

Every Monday we hustle ourselves to get fed and dressed and out the door for E's tumbling class at 10. Inevitably we are late....but I digress.



We are in this class with several of our friends from Mommy and Me. So far E has gotten quite good at forward tumbles down the incline mat and from a flat surface. She is also very happy to bounce on the trampoline and the tumble track. She has been working on balance and jumping through the tires too. Our class has lots of fun activites that allow the kids to practice skills and to play. Yesterday the kids did a race, the 3 person swing, the rope swing (NOT E's favorite), and had lots of free time.
You can see just how much fun it is! It sure is nice to have a physical outlet for the big girl.

Sisters!

I have been waiting for the girls to begin playing with each other...and it has started! E has always wanted B to be playmate (read do what I say so we can play MY way....) even from the very early days. BUT poor B has not been big enough, developed enough, aware enough....etc. Whenever B has had an interest, E is quick to say MINE, or NO SISTAH, or just to push her away in any sort of manhandling possible. Usually ends in crying and screaming....(oh the horrors of 2 screaming fighting girls-I can see my future now!~)

Now, we have a change.

Now that B is walking all over the place and is pretty steady....the are racing ALL over the house together. B has the Fisher Price walking toy and E has her baby stroller.

They push them all down the hall and into the front room and family room. It is lovely to hear their sweet voices happy in unison. E is especially happy to have her sister playing with her and B is oh so proud to be able to keep up! In this next year I look forward to this becoming more of the norm. (I know there will be plenty of screaming and crying too....hopefully not so much right? A mama can always hope....)

Introducing....

So here we are, endeavoring into a whole new realm of communication. We are: Fishman, Fishmama (myself), E and B. In the interest of keeping some parts of our lives protected as I share ramblings and updates on the great world wide web I will use these names in reference to us.

I welcome you into our crazy world.....