Hanging Out, Being Crabby.

It's been snowy and gross around these parts lately.  It makes me want to cozy up inside and not go anywhere, but I think that's getting to Ingrid.  She wants to play and move and I want to sit on the couch and read or just look at Otis. 

Ingrid has been doing well with having a brother, but just the past few days it seems like it's hitting her that she isn't the only one.  I'm not sure why, it's been over a month since we've had Otis, but just recently she has started acting out in a major way!  Lots of power struggles, lots of demanding we do things for her, lots of not listening.  I'm trying to be patient but it's hard.  REALLY HARD.  Especially when it's already been a long day and I'm alone with both kids and downstairs feeding Otis and she screams that she needs me to help get her water bottle that is right by her bed.  And when I call up the stairs that she can get it herself, she starts to cry "Mama, you don't have to yell at me!" 

Sigh...

Anyway, today was fun even though we had a couple rough patches.  I got her wings to stay (ribbon tied at her shoulders!) and she wore her new dress around and played with her fire truck.  I laid Otis on the floor and we sang songs to him.  It's so interesting to see him wide eyed and awake, he is really starting to act like a normal baby.

Hopefully soon I'll feel like getting out of the house again and we'll be able to go play with her friends.  And hopefully soon Otis will sleep more at night and I won't be so tired during the day!

Me, Controlling??

Okay, so yeah, I'm a bit of a control freak.  I fully admit to it.  Since getting married, I've gotten a lot better, since I can see that when dealing with other people there are things you just can't control.  And being a mom of a toddler, whew!  I can't control this little person with her own mind, that's for sure.  But what I could control, I did. 

And now, after being in the hospital for over a week, with two more weeks on the horizon, I have had to give up even more control.  I still have my etsy shop open because it's the holidays, my busiest time.  I've had Brendan bring everything over so I can package it up and then have him send it out.  He brought the wrong business cards and didn't remember the return address labels.  He brought the bigger envelopes instead of the smaller ones.  And I had to deal with it.  No control.  He's doing me a favor, I need to shut my mouth!

Brendan's parents were here this weekend and one night Brendan came to the hospital and had them watch Ingrid.  At first the plan was to put her to bed and then come over, but he came early and said he'd left Grandma in charge of bath and bedtime.  I was shocked!  No one but my mom or Brendan or I have ever put her to bed I don't think!  At first I was all nervous like do you really think they can do it??  But alas, Ingrid can be bathed and put in her pjs by someone other than me...She fell right asleep and what do you know, she's still alive to tell the tale.

It just got me thinking how I never ever think to leave Ingrid with anyone but my mom.  I always think she'll have too hard of a time and things won't be done just the right way, and it scares me.  But then when I have no control and see things going just fine, it makes me stop and think and, frankly, breathe a sigh of relief.  If we want to get a babysitter, we could.  She'll be fine.  She's a resilient little kid, and she loves us but doesn't necessarily need us 24/7.  Stupid as it sounds, that has been a real eye opener.