A Rollercoaster

What a rollercoaster the past few days have been! Yesterday, Paprika's school had a big end of term party, and we all went. I really like so many of the other parents, and hope that we find some good friends over here.

After the party, we went back to the Aquarium, as I was hoping that Ginger would fall asleep in the car for a nap like she did the day before. Of course, someone (Paprika) wanted to sing songs the whole car ride, so Ginger didn't fall asleep. But it was okay. Any day at the Aquarium is a good day!

Today we've been busy, busy, busy. I had a friend come down to visit and we had a girl's day at the beach while Mr. Mustard entertained one of Paprika's friends and her dad here at the house (I have been calling it a man-date instead of a playdate- ha!) Paprika had a wonderful time...she was in tears at the end of the day because she didn't want the playdate to end.

When I got home from my girl's afternoon with my friend, Ginger was happily chasing Paprika and her friend around the backyard. Ginger saw me and ran to me like she hadn't seen me in years. I picked her up and she let out a big sigh and fell asleep in my arms. I took her in her bedroom, laid her down in the bed...and she's currently taking a nap. I shouldn't even mention it because I don't want to jinx it...but wow, that was unexpected. I really should go out with my friends more often if it will get her to nap!

Ginger has been really into dolls lately, and half the time, I think she likes to stay up late so she can play with all of Paprika's dolls without Paprika knowing about it! I don't think Paprika was really into dolls at this age, but Ginger sure is. She puts them in the little stroller, feeds them, tries to dress them, gives them kisses, rocks them...it is a-dorable!

We have a big weekend planned - lots of here and there and friends we haven't seen in a long while. I feel like we're just getting into the groove of summer, and it's already August. How 'bout you? :-)

The Pledge

Last night during dinner, Paprika surprised me with this little thing. I haven't posted a video of her in awhile, so I thought I would. If you've been reading my blog for long, you know that Paprika memorizes things the first (or maybe second) time she hears them. She's kinda funny that way. I haven't posted a video of her at her current age (3 years old), so I figured it's about time!

I have been having a lot of fun looking through old videos of her at various ages:

Age 1: Singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Age 1: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food

Age 2: Singing The Little Mermaid

Age 2: Reciting "The Big Honey Hunt"

Turning Into Pumpkins

I felt so much better after I got the whole story with our sleep situation off my chest last night. Like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. A glimmer of hope that things can get better.

Last night was more of the same sleep-wise, and this morning I was really tired. So, while Paprika was at preschool, Mr. Mustard watched Ginger, and I took a long nap til noon. I woke up feeling refreshed and so good. It's amazing how much three uninterrupted hours of sleep can help.

Then, of course, Mr. Mustard was really tired (he was up editing all night at The Amazing Race last night)...so I decided to let him get some sleep, and I took Ginger and Paprika to the Aquarium today by myself. That gave him about four or five hours to sleep while we were gone. I guess we're sleeping in shifts now. Haha!



Paprika has this special thing with the divers in the tanks at the Aquarium. She walks up to them, has long conversations with them, and makes up stories about their lives. She imagines whether they like pastrami on their sandwiches, if they have brothers or sisters, just stuff like that.



Now that Ginger can walk, she is totally unstoppable. Anything Paprika can do, she wants to do, and faster. Paprika kind of pulls her around. She calls her "doggie" - like, "Come here, doggie! Be a good girl, doggie!" Paprika thinks Ginger is the ultimate sidekick.

Ginger has a really really loud voice, so much so that on two occasions today, two different people came up to me to tell me so. One said, "Wow, she really knows what she wants and she isn't afraid to let you know it!" The other person heard Ginger talking and thought a wild animal was on the loose. No joke.



So, this is my self-portrait from today. A bird landed on my head (a Lorikeet). I was carrying Ginger in the Ergo, and carrying my purse, and still managed to take a picture. I was mildly impressed with myself. Haha. ;-)



Paprika has lots of long conversations with the birds. She wants to know about their families, where they came from, what they had for lunch. And, of course, what they dream about.

At the end of the day, I said what we always say at the end of the day, and that is: "Guess who's turning into a pumpkin?" So, Paprika started asking people, "Hey, are you turning into a pumpkin like me and my sister?"



Ginger fell asleep on the ride home. So, I rolled down the windows all the way (it's cool here), and parked in the driveway. Paprika and I sat on the front porch and I read her stories while we watched Ginger sleep in her carseat for about an hour. I guess that counts as a nap. At this point, I'll take what I can get!

When All Else Fails

Since Ginger refused to go down for a nap today (what's new?), we decided to go to the park and feed the ducks.



Quack! Quack!



All Ginger wanted to do was eat the ducks' bread and bagels. She had zero desire to feed her food to any ducks. Smart girl!



After the bread was gone, it was playtime at the park. Paprika made some "just for today" friends and they had a grand time until the sun was setting and it was time to go home.



I'm not really sure what to do about Ginger's sleep issues. She has always been a pretty terrible sleeper, but I guess I just figured that it was something that would get better after she turned one year old. I think it's more that I am now at the point where I want her sleep issues to change, and nothing really seems to be working. It's pretty overwhelmingly exhausting. I have read pretty much all the books on the subject, and I'm at my wit's end with it all.

Today I felt like I was about to break- she won't nap, won't sleep...and it's one of those things that can really start to drive a person CRAZY.

So, that's why when I felt like I just couldn't take it anymore, we went to the park and fed the ducks. Because if you're going to be completely.freaking.exhausted, then why not go to the park and feed the ducks?



It's actually not true that she won't sleep. It's that she won't sleep without me holding her. Since the day she was born, I have sat up in bed and held her while she sleeps because that was the only way I could get her to sleep.

See this brown pillow on the bed? And the pink donut shaped boppy pillow? I sit up with the brown pillow at my back, and the pink boppy around my waist...and she nurses the whole time she sleeps.

I even bought pillows just like these when we went on vacation to Maine and Indiana (it didn't make sense to bring them with because of the baggage fees)...but you'd better believe, I made sure I had pillows just like that when we were on vacation.



Now that she's mobile, the mattress is on the floor in case she unlatches and moves, which she never does. What's that? Oh yes, she has to be latched on, all.night.long to sleep. That wasn't such a huge issue until she got EIGHT teeth all at once about a month ago. Now, it's not so awesome. Not really awesome at all! ;-)



So, basically, I have not slept lying down since June 18, 2009...and I am, for lack of a better term, an all-night chew toy. I kid. Really. It's not that bad. (or at least that's what I'm telling myself).

I know it will work itself out. In the meantime, I am taking this sleep thing one day, one nap, one night at a time. And when all else fails, it's nice to just take a break, remember the big picture, and be grateful for the good in life (because even if I do have to sleep sitting up for the next five years, she is so very worth it). You know?