Our Take on the Spring Break

Spring Break has descended upon the world this week, and I just want to let it be known that almost every holiday that involves some kind of "break" gets a little lost on parents with young children. Nevertheless, I think my family actually captured the essence of Spring Break this week!  Part of it had nothing to do with me- the weather here has been absolutely AMAZING this week, and on top of that, the Magnolia and Cherry Blossom trees have started to do their Spring thing... which also means the the oh-so-squeezable baby leg chub has made it's round two debut!

                            

However, the other part of what made this week so awesome I think I will take credit for. This week, I decided we were dropping the morning nap cold turkey. Bella was starting to show all the tell-tale signs, and when I saw Daylight Savings Time approaching, I thought, "Why not throw another wrench in to this child's schedule?  It's already going to be messed up anyways."  I know that doesn't really sound intelligent, but paired with the weather we've had this week, I now think it was genius. ;)

This week, our mornings have been full of go-go-going, don't stop 'til you drop activity.  I was really anxious about changing up our nice little morning and afternoon nap schedule we had going on there, but I must admit, I have actually loved not having the morning nap.  Why, you ask? Well, for one...

                                  

We have spent hours at the park this week, making friends...

                                 

... and sharing chocolate pudding.

And we've even found some friends who busted out their kiddie pool for the first time this year.  It was kind of an impromptu get together, but Bella still jumped in... fully clothed.  

 

Bella loved the water, and she basically hated me when I made her get back in the stroller. I see how it is, Bella.

We also read a few classics on the back porch...

                                  

...although I'd be lying if I didn't say that Bella usually tired of this quickly and went straight for the dirt in those planters.

                       

And oh, how we've enjoyed the view from our warm rooftop with family and friends.

And the result of all this activity? This girl has slept come the afternoon.  She passes out in my arms each day and sleeps a solid three hours.  It looks a little something like this...

                               

Victory!  

But this is Spring Break people, and the fun does not just take place in the day time.

So last night, we went on an after dinner stroll to the Sweet Lobby.  Best cupcakes and macarons out there.  Period. (The loose leaf tea is actually amazing, too.)

And the view from Bella's stroller wasn't too shabby either. 

But perhaps the strangest coolest thing we did this week, was take an after bedtime trip to witness the elephant parade.  I know.  I couldn't believe it either.  Elephants parading through DC?

Oh yes, believe it. I actually took no good pictures from the evening, but thanks to Sarah the professional, I actually did get an amazing one! Yes, that's me with my iPhone up in the background... on the wrong side of the street. Photography rule #1: Good pictures begin by positioning yourself with the monuments/Capitol in the background.

Bella and her buddy Behr thought the elephants were awesome interesting... um, not really worth the trip.

But that's okay. We got a good laugh out of it.  And by the time the last miniature pony scampered through, we felt like we had seen all of the circus that we really needed to see.  I mean, elephants are cool and all, but the clowns that jumped and wheeled around behind them gave me the heebie jeebies.  Me and clowns, we've had a rough go at it throughout the course of my life.  We'll just leave it at that for now.

Anyways, happy nap dropping to us, and a happy Spring Break to all you out there!

Cozy Coupe Love

Does everyone know what a Cozy Coupe is?  They generally look a little something like this:

Except without the face.  Must be a new thing since Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater made their debut.

Well, one faceless and very special Cozy Coupe found it's way to our local playground during late summer this past year.  It arrived looking all shiny and lightly used, and Bella immediately fell in love with him.  Cozy Coupe arrived right around the time she gained an interest in walking, and so she loved using him as a walker.  She would spend her whole time at the playground pushing him in circles around the other kids and toys.  And if another kid jumped in, she would just push harder and give that kid a ride.  She couldn't get enough of him, and the playground experience was not complete unless she had an encounter with Cozy Coupe.

Cozy Coupe back in his prime.

But months have since passed, and many a child has loved him, driven him, kicked him, fought over him, crashed him into a tree, and knocked him over trying to dump their little sister out of him.  Yes, I've witnessed all these things.  He's aged quickly, Ol' Cozy. And I'm sure at this point in his life, his hair- if he still has any- is gray and wiry.  His eyes are worn and googly from all the tumbles. He's not mentally stable.  And for this reason, I've stopped encouraging my child to play with Ol' Cozy.  In fact, I'm just waiting for the day when we show up at the playground and witness him being hauled off by the city.

I mean, just look at him:

His door fell off months ago.  There's a crack in the seat from that big kid that tried to sit in him.  The awning is held up by one shaky support.  The gas cap is missing.  And his front, left wheel... well...

... the tree stump got him.  It got him bad.

So yes, I confess that in more recent days, I've done my best to help Bella avoid Ol' Cozy.  Upon arrival at the playground, I've put her down to play as far away from him as possible. I've hid him behind trees to no avail.  I've even encouraged other kids to give him a try so I can have a legitimate reason to tell Bella "no".  I know.  I've been mean and manipulative.

But Ol' Cozy isn't going away.  Every time we visit the playground, kids continue to fight over who gets to sit in his broken seat.  Kids still jump at the opportunity to pretend they're driving him, because you see, he doesn't move anymore.  He just sits there.  Sometimes he squeaks out a scoot or two for old time's sake, but really, he's had it.  He's done.

And still, sweet Bella remains faithful to Ol' Cozy.  I'll never understand why she looks past all the awesome toys on the playground and b-lines it to him... every single time.  She loves him, mental instability and all.  And truth be told, my child has helped me find a place in my heart for this beaten down friend.  I'm sure it won't be the only time my child causes me to see life a little differently.  

Ol' Cozy, you've been good to us.  You and I may think you're on your last leg, but you're not.  These kids will love you until you magically sprout an engine and speed off to bigger and better things.

Because that still happens to all the extra loved toys.  Right?

Sleep Issues

We're having sleep issues over here lately.

So let's go check on Bella and see if she's still napping... like she should be.

Uh oh...

Peek a boo!  I see you awake and standing and not sleeping and ready to make some trouble.  I see you smiling at me.  Don't you want to sleep one more wink?  Don't you want to give Mom one afternoon of sanity?

No?  Really?

I mean, look at this drama queen!  She has already mastered the one tear on the cheek look.  But that snot on her face is not working in her favor.

Oh I'm sorry, you're stuck on that hair?  That's untouched.  Like I said, we're having sleep issues lately, and this "up do" is a product of lots of tossing and turning.

It's the kind of week where you wish you could look forward to the weekend.  But these sleep issues don't discriminate between Thursdays and Saturdays.

Hanging in there...

Mother's Day, Take One!

Look who brought Mommy breakfast in bed!

"Hey guys, where did all da muffins go?"


There they are!  Mommy Muffins! Actually, they are Pioneer Woman's French Breakfast Puffs made by Chef Mannina and his little helper.  Seriously, Mike made something with "French" in the title.  Fancy, fluffy muffins rolled in butter, sugar, and cinammon... like a dolled up donut if you ask me.  Yum!

Someone's been working hard this morning.

Flowers!  Presents!  Post-it artwork!

"Here Mom.  I got you a pwesent.  Will you wead it to me?"  Bella got me the hot off the press children's book from my favorite blogger and recipe queen.  (It was a Pioneer Woman Mother's Day if you haven't caught it yet.  When I tell Mike I like something, he runs with it.  He's a smart one, I tell ya.)

A happy mommy with her French muffin and the "You Are Special Today" red plate!  Oh, and a fresh sprig of mint from our new garden.  It's still alive and growing!

Bella, you fill this new mommy's life with such joy.  Thanks for the best first Mother's Day!  

And Mike, thanks for being Bella's special helper. ;)

Sick, Sleepless, & Scootin'

That about sums up the past few days at the Mannina household.

No one told us that once you get your baby sleeping through the night they sometimes decide to stop.  As in, Bella has stopped sleeping through the night for a good month now.  Some nights are better than others, but recently Bella has also come down with her first case of the sniffles and cough combo.  That amounts to her being up beyond the number of fingers on one hand.  I always lose count past that and head into straight delirium.

Weekends are the worst, because I'm still trying to learn that weekends just aren't what they used to be.  I crave those endless hours of weekend sleep, but Bella knows no different.  Take last night for example:

11:00 PM  Mike and I crawl in to bed and say our prayers together, which includes a prayer about Bella maybe, just maybe, sleeping through the night.  And then we make it extra holy by telling God that it will help us be alert during His church service tomorrow.

1:50 AM  The whimpering starts.  I flinch.  I jump up and replace the pacifier quickly, thinking that maybe she'll forget she wanted to wake up and reenter dream world.

2:30 AM  Was that whining in my dreams?  Nope.  Out of bed.  To the crib.  Pacifier.  Where is it?  Hand in a frantic search.  Baby squirming.  There!  Under her head.  Okay.  Back to bed.  Yeah?

2:50 AM  Nope!  I dramatically head to the crib, as if someone's watching and might possibly feel sorry for me.  I give up.  I go against what all those crazy professionals in the books are trying to tell me, and I feed her.  15 minutes later, she's out.  There!  That will keep her until morning.  I so have this under control.

5:30 AM  Bella, really?  This does not count as the morning.   Let me try this pacifier trick one more time.  How is Mike still sleeping?  I fall back in to bed a little louder than normal just so he knows how hard I'm working tonight.  He rolls over.  Sleeping beauty.  Ugh.

5:50 AM  This pacifier is worthless.  All I can think about is how my life is pure misery.  I want out of this vicious cycle.  I'm trapped!  I pick my baby up in frustration and quickly learn that is not a wise thing to do.  The things going through a mother's head at these moments are not likely to translate well to other precious human beings in your life.  I'm better off to leave Bella in the crib until I get control of my self.  Mike!  I'll take my frustration out on him.  After all, where's he been this whole night?  Who cares if he's trying to finish yet another paper that's due tomorrow.  It's dark, I'm tired, and I'm all alone with a baby I have no control over!  I feed her in the midst of my fumes.  I re-swaddle her, extra tight.  She looks up and smiles, like she knows nothing of my horrible, ugly thoughts.  I decide I'll wait until morning to erupt my frustration on to Mike.

7:00 AM  Mike gets up to work on his paper.  Bella doesn't miss a beat and joins him.  She's been waiting for this moment all night long.

9:00 AM  I stumble out of the bedroom.  Mike shoots himself in the foot by asking, "How'd she do last night?"  I erupt on him.  Poor Mike.  He says he wishes I would have woken him up.  He'd love to help me despite that silly paper of his.  He feels so bad.  And he really didn't do one thing wrong.  In fact, he served me by letting me sleep in.  Bella is still smiling and so happy to see me.  Did I mention this is in the middle of her being sick?  I'm stuck staring at my sin in the face.  All I keep thinking is "He does not treat us as our sins deserve."  Then Mike shows me what Bella has been up to this morning:

Lord, thank you for this sweet, scootin' baby girl.  For my precious husband who loves me and this baby girl.  For a Sunday morning full of new mercies.  For the gift of church after a long night.  For your Son and his forgiveness when I have chosen impatience, anger, and self righteousness in the wee hours of the morning instead of grasping for your grace.  For not treating me as my sins deserve.  

 “¹ Praise the LORD, my soul; 
   all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 
² Praise the LORD, my soul, 
   and forget not all his benefits— 
³ who forgives all your sins 
   and heals all your diseases, 
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit 
   and crowns you with love and compassion…
⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious, 
   slow to anger, abounding in love. 
⁹ He will not always accuse, 
   nor will he harbor his anger forever; 
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve 
   or repay us according to our iniquities. 
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
   so great is his love for those who fear him; 
¹² as far as the east is from the west, 
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:1-12

It's a good Sunday here in the Mannina household.  Hope your's is just as full of His compassion and mercy.  And for those of you without scootin' action, I hope Bella via video has that covered, too. :)

Ready for the Day with the Little Green Army

"Standing at Attention"

I've had two recent conversations with friends about enjoying my days with Bella.  As cute as this girl is, I know my natural tendency is to treat my child as another thing in my life to be managed.  Children "how to" books love to push for getting your baby on a set schedule.  While schedules can really serve a child and family, I usually crave that set schedule for the purpose of getting back to my life.

During pregnancy and even to this day, I've been afraid of the sacrifice, responsibility, costs, burden, commitment, etc. of having a child.  But in the end, the choice boils down to whether or not I trust God's Word.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 1 John 3:16

Is Christ's example at the center of my love for Bella?  Am I willing to lay down my schedule, my tasks, my friendships, etc. for her?

Or how about, "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him."  Psalm 127:3

Do I daily see Bella as a gift from God to me?  Am I enjoying this gift or do I treat Bella as another burden to be managed to my own selfish ends?

While my little green army stands ready to manage the day's cries, my heart is dwelling on these verses so that my attitude, my time, my hands-- my whole self-- might stand ready to love and serve this little girl, as well.

Top 10 signs you've just transitioned from working woman to motherhood

10) You look in a closet full of clothes and think, "I have nothing to wear."

9) Your new cubicle is a couch and three sided pillow (aka The Boppy).

8) Whereas Outlook once ruled your schedule, you now plan your day around feeding schedules, naps, and the weather forecast.

7) You rotate between two pairs of shoes.  All shoes with heels have been thrown in the burn pile... or perhaps just gather dust (depends on where you are in that love, hate relationship). 

6) Whereas, morning showers were once a part of your basic getting ready routine, they are now optional and counted a luxury. 

5) Your new alarm clock is an unpredictable whimper and whine.

4) Your new briefcase is a black leather tote with the words Medela discreetly written on the flap.

3) You view laundry as your new full time job.  Onesies and burp clothes are your toughest clients.

2) Whereas you used to dread the amount of emails in your inbox at the beginning of the workday, you now look forward to checking your email to see if anyone else is out there.

1) You've never had a more demanding boss.  He/she can actually yell for you and warm your heart all at the same time.

Did I miss anything?