Let the fun begin! This month we are learning all sorts of new things! Patience, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques. Temper tantrums have begun and it's a whole new phase for all of us. It's interesting watching it all unfold and seeing how we all react to eachother, its fun to sit back and laugh about it at the end of the day, but when you are smack dab in the middle of a stressful moment with Miss Belle it can be overwhelming. Nothing serious, just the usual year-and-a-half year old outbursts. the things is, they aren't so bad when we are at home, or I guess I just don't notice them as much because there isn't an audience. It's when it happens in public and you have the crowd. Some people look sympathetic, some look amused, others annoyed. And it just sucks that you have to even think about it when you and your toddler are just trying to make it through a "moment". Today is probably not a good day for me to be writing this. We attempted the kids' Christmas pictures this morning and it was a complete nightmare! Tula was totally uninterested in being in her dress. Then totally mad about being in the photo room. Even more furious when she had to be beside Maverick. And insisted on not cracking single smile for the photographer. Not one. It was nothing less than annoying. Mav wasn't that happy to be there either. So I accepted defeat and realized right then and there that our Christmas picture this year would and will be taken by yours truly. I did that thing that feels so good when I just accepted that this totally stressful situation didn't need to be happening, I thanked the photographers for their time as calmly as I could, we packed the kids up and went to lunch. My very thoughtful husband came home earlier this week with an early Christmas present for me and it was a portrait backdrop for photography so I could take these sorts of pictures myself, so that is exactly what I am going to do. What a thoughtful gift, what was I thinking not using it today? Anyways, lesson learned. No more going to studios for portraits for awhile. We will be doing them here and saving ourselves an outing. If it's not fun for the kids, it's not fun for us, that's the bottom line!
NInety five percent of the time with Tula at 17 months is still good though. She is busy and happy as ever. Loves playing outside now that we have the nice cool weather. We take walks to our neighborhod park on the days that we have no plans and have a little Mommy and Me time while Mav sleeps in the stroller. I love those afternoons together, bare feet in the grass and sand and hiding in the tunnel from the rest of the world. I also take that time to force and train myself to let Tula play on the equipment by herself. I get my mail and practically have to tie my butt to the picnic table for awhile so I am not hovering over her the entire time she plays. The idea of her falling off the equipment scares the pants off me, and I know its something I need to get over and have faith that she will be okay, so I am working on it the best way I know how. Practice. For her and I. I usually am able to just stand at the bottom, but I still like to be up there with her too. What can I say? I am a bit of a "helicopter Mom". I am working on it though. Regardless, Tula doesn't seem to mind and I know park afternoons are her favorite as well. We have such fun together.
Tula is really starting to like to copy me. She likes to try and say words I say, which is very new. She used to not respond when I would tell her to say this or that, but she is starting to try. A couple new words: dog, Papa, help. My mom would tell you there are a million more but I just don't hear them. Maybe I am too tough on her, but I feel like they have to be pretty clear before they "count". Mom thinks every little baby babble is a new word and it cracks me up. Tula, your Grandma thinks the world of you and has convinced herself you are the smartest thing ever! Not that I don't feel the same, but maybe not quite to the degree of Grandma. Lucky girl you are to be so, so adored!
Tula's favorite foods right now are cheese, cheese, and cheese. Hahaha. Seriously, food isn't super easy right now but I am not trying to stress to much till these back molars that she has been teething the last couple weeks are completly through. She still has no interest in any meat at all, except the ham in my scrambled eggs in the morning. She likes pasta with cheese, quesadillas, cucumber, apples, peas, and of course her three bowls of milk and Cheerios every morning, which she finishes by drinking the milk afterwards (by far the cutest part!) Muffins and baked goods also seem to be a hit with Tula. We are going to get along JUST fine.....
All in all, it's been a great month. Tula is a busy little girl and keeps me on my toes lots, but she fills up the days with smiles and giggles so I am trying to just focus on that when the stressy times hit. Tula, I enjoy you so, so much. Know that even when you drive me nuts, there isn't anyone else I would rather be spending all day every day with! Your resilient and perservering personality are just another one of the things I love about you. You turned into a little girl more and more each day and I love getting to know each and every side of you. Love you, Baby Girl!
