All Is Well...Finally!

It has been about three weeks now, and the sickness in our household has finally subsided...sort of. I think I was the carrier this time, running a low-grade fever with few other symptoms. Reagan caught whatever I had, which then developed into an ear infection. Then Scott caught it from her, and while her ear infection was healing, she re-caught the virus from him and ran a high fever for several days. She seems just about well now, and Scott is much better, although he continues to have a hacking cough.

While she was sick, Reagan had her every whim met. If she said "juice," we delivered. If she then decided she wanted milk instead, we made the exchange. If she asked to color eight times in one day, we obliged. You get the point. Now we're paying the price. If she hears the word "no" in any context, she immediately "throws a fit," as they say here in the south.

We're remaining strong, not giving in to these tantrums. But, OH, how we'd love to have our kind, sweet child back. Could this be the start of the "Terrible Twos"?

Crisis Averted

This new napping plan is really working! The first day, Reagan stayed awake the entire hour that she was in her crib--no nap at all that day. On the second day, she was still going pretty strong, but she did eventually fall asleep within the hour. By the third day, Reagan had realized this new system wasn't going away, and she fell asleep within about twenty minutes. Now, about a week later, she has been consistently falling asleep within minutes, without whining or crying, just as she does at night. Hooray!

Reagan's First Ear Infection

Well, we managed to get through almost two years without one, but Reagan now has her first ear infection. After a couple of days of a runny nose, not eating, and goopy eyes, I took Reagan in to see Dr. Lee. (Of course, by the time we got to his office, Reagan had perked up and was acting almost well. Isn't that the way it always goes?) Dr. Lee assessed her symptoms and guessed an ear infection, which was confirmed when he looked in her ears. (Have I mentioned that I love my pediatrician? He is so good!) He prescribed an antibiotic, gave Reagan a butterfly sticker, and sent us on our way.

Three days later, Reagan is a different child. She's back to her normal appetite, and she's much more energetic. But after several days of having her every whim catered to, we are having to deal with a few temper tantrums when we now say no. Hopefully we'll have our old happy-go-lucky Reagan back soon.

Reagan Might Be a Genius

Well, probably not. But she did count to ten this week--well, sort of. She skips 4 and 9, but gets the rest of the numbers in order. Not bad for a not-yet-two-year-old, I think. At the end of the numbers she says, "Here I come!" which leads me to believe she learned to count by watching the "Journey to Ernie" segment on Sesame Street. (It's the game where Big Bird hides and Ernie seeks.)

Reagan's language skills are exploding these days. She is using new phrases and sentences every day. She continues to sing her favorite songs in the car, while swinging, in her crib, or wherever the mood strikes. And she loves to dance--although Scott mentioned that she does dance a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld. A little frightening.

The most exciting thing is to see Reagan's emotional side developing. She now says, "I love you," without being prompted. She also willingly says she's sorry, and she loves to give hugs and kisses. We can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Help! Reagan Won't Nap!

We have been so blessed with a baby that has slept well from a very early age. At night, we simply put Reagan down in her crib--awake--and she drifts off to sleep. Naptime, however, has be a struggle recently.

My usual routine has been to snuggle with Reagan on the couch to get her down for a nap. Lately this process has been failing, with Reagan simply refusing to fall asleep. It usually involves me making several trips back and forth from her room, putting her in the crib, taking her out, etc. I have tried rocking her, letting her play for a while before putting her down, giving her milk, playing music for her, all to no avail.

After spending yesterday afternoon researching our little problem, I have come to the conclusion that I must employ a similar method to what we're doing at night. So, just after lunch today, I told her that it was nap time. I handed over her favorite cow and her pacifier (getting rid of the paci--now, that's a subject for another day!) and put her in the crib.

That was almost exactly one hour ago. She has been pretty calm for the entire time, but I can still hear her in there talking to herself. I have committed to following this plan for at least one week before trying something different. (I think it takes at least a week of consistency for a child to adjust to a new system.) But if anyone has any other bright ideas about how to get a toddler to nap, I'm all ears.

Addendum to the Addendum

OK, I was wrong again. I don't actually have links on this site. (I do, however, have them on my other blog.) Anyhow, you can read the below-mentioned post at:
www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com

Addendum to The Stripper Strikes Again

I realized that the previous post I referenced in the post below is actually from my other blog, Val's Mom Blog. That post is Raising a Stripper. You can reach it by clicking the link to the left.

The Stripper Strikes Again

On Monday, per my usual schedule, I put Reagan in her crib at 10:00 (between Sesame Street and Barney) so that I could get my shower. I put her Barney CD on "repeat" and headed for the bathroom. When I returned, just fifteen minutes later, she was standing, completely naked, clutching her stuffed cow and smiling that guilty sort of smile usually seen on psychopaths. Beside her in the crib were her pajamas, her discarded diaper, and a puddle.

Keep in mind my earlier post in which I mentioned the PJs with that one important snap--the snap that had previously kept her from unzipping and removing her pajamas. Apparently, that snap no longer does the trick, since these were the very PJs she was wearing. Is there nothing that can stop my child from indulging her exhibitionist side?

A Good Read

I read constantly, both for work and for pleasure. At any given time, I have about four or five partially-read books on my desk. And I read a lot of bad books. I very rarely will NOT finish a book. (I just can't stand leaving something undone.) But few and far between are what I consider to be the real jewels of my treasure hunt for a great book. Eats, Shoots & Leaves is one of those rare gems.

If you're in any way involved in writing, editing, or even teaching, you should read it. It's a book about punctuation--its history, its usage, and, most notably, its mis-usage. To the non-stickler, it may sound a bit boring, but I assure you it's anything but. It is a delightful look at one woman's frustration at the growing ignorance--and even the complete absence, in some cases--of punctuation usage in our society.

Now, I have to admit that getting past the British rules was a bit of a challenge to my CMS-driven brain. (That's Chicago Manual of Style for you non-grammarians.) But the sentiment of author Lynne Truss is near and dear to my heart. I am, in her words, a stickler. I tremble with indignity when I see a billboard that reads, "Your Welcome Here" or "Whose Doing Your Taxes?" (If you didn't get those examples, please stop reading now. You're one of them.) I break out in a cold sweat when I see a hyphen where an em dash belongs. And possessives...well, don't even get me started.

I realize that by recommending this book, I am opening myself up to all sorts of criticism for any punctuation "errors" on my blog. First, I will say that this is essentially my journal. I'm writing in a free-form, off-the-cuff style. I do try to at least spell-check before posting, but I'm not doing a full proof or edit. Second, many times what are considered "errors" are actually simply differences in style. I can respect other styles--as long as there is consistency. (Take, for example, the serial comma debate. I prefer the final comma before the "and," but I can respect someone who omits it consistently.)

Final word: If you enjoy words, language, or even just a healthy argument, read Eats, Shoots & Leaves. (Notice the omission of the serial comma. Not my usage, but the author's.) This tops my "Good Read" list for now.