My growing girl turned 18 months old yesterday. My baby is quickly fading and one very opinionated little lady is taking her place. I love my girl beyond measure yet, wow, can she challenge me already. She could never be described as 'meek'...at least not with mama ;0)
Fortunately, I am up to her challenges. Still, she learns very quickly what buttons to try pushing for maximum effect. I have conditioned myself to reduce my reactions to any of it but, sometimes, that is the most difficult thing to do. It is utterly amazing how much those little wheels of hers are turning already. I am both impressed and sweating it out when I think about her teen years!
Of late, our big challenge is a resurgence of sleep issues. We are finding our way yet again but it is also very obvious to me why sleep deprivation is a form of torture. It really, really works.
Being C's mom is the most amazing part of my life but also the most challenging. I suspect that will never change. I am in awe of how much I have changed since becoming her mom. I was never a very self-focused type person anyway but being a good mom certainly beats any self-centered nature right out of a person! This is not to say one should never care for themselves..not at all. Matter of fact, one MUST take care of themselves or the wheels fall off in a hurry. It is just that even thinking about yourself comes way after assuring that all is in place for your child first. Unfortunately, some people just don't get that. That's not something I will take on as my problem. I didn't take the mom gig on as a convenience and I won't treat that role as less than the most important in my life. To those who cannot understand that...(use your imagination as to what goes here).
For now, I'm just going to enjoy the glory of being home and knowing my girl is soundly sleeping (even if not the entire night). There really is nowhere else I would rather be.
The facts
- C's Mom
- Midwest, United States
- Welcome! Thanks for visiting us. My daughter and I became a family in Jiangxi Province, China. Life has taken on a whole new meaning and it's the sweetest thing.
What day is it?
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
26 comments:
The line about sleep deprivation and torture cracked me up. You are NOT kidding. Thanks for the congrats- glad you stopped by my blog! I am SO over the moon excited...
The sleep thing comes and goes and comes and goes. Lily went through cycles with it, Rosie just likes to sleep but sometimes and lawdy help me if I jinx myself, she likes to pull an all nighter.
Mummyhood has a way of putting it all in perspective even if you thought it was all already there.
It's the best kick up the arse I ever got.
That little Miss C is one cute thang.
Happy 18 months..
Sounds like she is doing a great job of turning baby into toddler..
Sounds like you are doing wonderful..
Have a great week.
thanks for the update..
Oh do I know those same wheels that turn in those little minds...Hayden's seem to never stop turning and she is only 10 months.
Good luck with that sleep thing, every night that we have a full night of sleep I am grateful, but I am always wondering when that night will come that it will all change....
I love this post, I think you are a great mom with a beautiful daughter!!
Love and blessings, Kristy
That 18 month sleep thing sounds familiar. We went through it and it seems like it lasted about 2 months (seemed like forever so 2 months may or may not be accurate - I've blocked it from my mind).
I think it's a totally normal phase. Moxie says so.
http://www.askmoxie.org/2006/04/qa_18month_slee.html
Hard to believe Miss C is 18 months old.
Do what you need to do for you and for Miss C. Nothing else in the world matters.
Hope the sleep area smoothes out soon.
We had sleep issues on and off with Lindsey for the first few years until she was not quite 3 1/2. Ever since she's been an awesome sleeper! She is sleeping right now (8:15 a.m.) and Allison has been up since before 7:00. :-) Sometimes Lindsey will sleep until 9:00. Of course once school starts this fall (she'll be in first grade all day) she will have to get up much earlier.
Sleep deprivation is the absolute worst, you're right! Just hang in there for now, there might be ups and downs for awhile like we had with Lindsey but hopefully eventually she will also "sleep like a log" every night like Lindsey does. :-)
Glad to hear your doing well! AS for the sleep thing.... Entire nights are still an unexpected treat for us :) Would love to see some pictures :):):)
Hope the sleep smooths out for Miss 18 Months!
Sounds like it is challenging but so, so rewarding. Enjoy every good and bad moment.
Keep smilin!
A strong girl needs a strong mama and she's got one in you, for sure. :)
Happy 18 months to your beautiful girl!
Being a mom IS grand! You are doing a GREAT job! The button pushing thing never goes away, kids will learn to push those buttons in other ways as they grow. Sleep depravation is a horrible torture for sure. Hope it gets better soon.
18 months old already and cuter by the moment! Your an amazing mamma and your world centres around your amazing bundle of love....just as it should!
Hope you're able to find some rest soon. Can't imagine how difficult it must be to function like that. Time will tell though! :o)
Our girls are sooo smart and strong aren't they? Good to hear from you. I'm just taking one day at a time still- sometimes each half hour at a time! Just spoke with another single adoptive mom (who I see checked in above!) about finding time for yourself so as to make the mom/daughter relationship even better in return. If you find the answer, let us know! Happy 18 months to your little one. And happy one more month together-as it should be! =)
Awww...it's hard to believe how quickly they grow up isn't it!?! Enjoy every single second, savor it like it's the last and just go to bed knowing that you will never sleep well again...unless you bring Ron back into your home;0)
I'm so glad you are enjoying motherhood and all of its pitfalls and perks. They definitely are little personalities and way sharper than I ever realized before I had my own kids. Enjoy the ride!
It is amazing how quickly they learn to play us. I hope the sleep issues resolve soon. I agree with the whole sleep deprivation as torture theory. It kills me.
BTW, I love your June picture.
We have been dealing with the sleep issues for four years now, but then Kerri never was a good sleeper from the get go (she has night terrors). You will find that you can and learn to deal with lack of sleep, lol. Load up on the caffeine! All kidding aside, hope you get some rest soon and that little one goes back to sleeping better.
Happy 18th months!!! It sure seems like time is flying once they come home, eh?
It's amazing how well I can relate to this post ;-) I know exactly what you're saying . . . exactly.
Enjoy!
Holy moly... our girls must have some sort of telepathic connection... the sleep disruptions have resurfaced here as well. I think it's a conspiracy to see just how nuts they can make us with this whole sleep deprivation thing!!! Like you, I feel it is worth every lost wink.
Been thinking about you guys, and hoping all was well! Glad to see an updated post! :) Nothing like a toddler to put your life in perspective! I hope you both continue to challenge and enjoy each other as only a mother and daughter can!!
Hugs, Jill
you are (as always) such an inspiration to me and I am learning so much from you... seriously. i don't have as much time to comment with all this PREP to leave, but i do take time to read :O)
got your bid and have it down- :O)
THANK YOU!
In your world, only you and C matter. Forget what everyone else says or thinks. You know what's best.
And lord.. I can't believe she's 18 mths old already.
SO Happy to hear that you are enjoying and truly understand the true meaning of motherhood,hard to believe little miss cutie pants is already 18 months.looking forward to seeing more photos soon.
Hugs from Canada!!
My goodness, I can't believe that much time has passed already....wow! C simply gets cuter by the minute. I've been curious as to whether or not you've seen any improvement/changes since her operation. Any better?
Sleep deprivation? What sleep deprivation? I sleep perfectly each & every night. Ha! In my dreams. Oh wait. I don't sleep long enough to dream.
Post a Comment