Nicknames

Stella has had quite a few nicknames in her young life.

It all started with Juan Carlos, then she was born and Juan didn't stick. Probably because she's a she.

Then it was Stella Bird. When she cried or complained she sounded just like the bird "Kevin" from the kids movie "Up." The sound was similar to that of a peacock. We don't hear that anymore, unless we are at the zoo.

Then her nickname was Turtle, because she wouldn't roll off of her back. So if we laid (??) Her on the floor on her back, we could rest assured she would be in that same spot when we returned, however many hours later. Then, at one-year-old, she finally figured out the rolling over thing, so it didn't feel right calling her Turtle.

While she had the Turtle nickname, we'd also been calling her Grizzly Bear here and there as her personality was really starting to shine through.  This is the nickname that I think is going to stick. She even stands her ground like a Grizzly Bear.  She'll be crawling towards Joe when she gets up on her knees, scrunches up her face and screams at him, coming down on her hands for a second when she loses her balance, but getting right back up on her knees.  A picture below to help you visualize.  Joe was trying to get a picture of it today, but she kept coming closer and closer attacking him and swatting at his phone.



The bathtub picture I posted because it was bath time tonight when I was thinking of all of the different nicknames she has gone through.  Griz loves bath time and hates when I don't put her in the tub the second she discovers what time it is. So she was standing up next to the tub and then looking at me and started the usual screaming, and that screaming left me wondering what ever happened to the good ole bird calls. 

Neglect

I apologize for the neglect, but I had to focus on survival for a little while there. I've been unmedicated since Labor Day weekend and it just caught up with me.  I guess that explains the crying over my young chicken. Today I dropped Sami off at her Great Aunt Kathy's because Kathy was taking Sami and some of her cousins to the movie Dolphin Tale. Anyway, Joe helped me load up our old car seats this morning plus I went out and collected one that I gave to someone a while back (but they never ended up using it) because my Village Family Magazine says that it's Kohl's Car Seat Safety day today.  Bring in old car seats and get a $10 gift card for each one. I Googled it and got the times.  Joe wasn't able to come with because he was helping somebody move something. So I drop off Sami and then Griz and I head to Kohl's. I see nothing in the parking lot but think they must be doing it inside?? I'm pregnant, okay. What's your excuse? I load Griz up in the stroller and contemplate bringing in one of the car seats (because it would take two trips anyway), but then think for a minute and decide that I better wait to make sure they are doing it inside and I didn't get the times wrong.  I get inside and no indication of Car Seat Safety, so I ask one of the workers if she knows anything about it.  Her response was an unapologetic "there's construction in the parking lot so we had to cancel it."  Deeeeeppp Breaths. I struggled to prevent a meltdown and made it outside of the store with the stroller and no handicap accessible (auto) doors (another mama drama that I won't go into) and managed to calm myself down and get Griz loaded back into the car without crying. This is just an example of what I've been struggling with.

My emotions are ridiculous, to say the least, and I haven't been good about asking for help in the past couple of weeks to make sure that I get some 'me' time away from the kids because although I encourage people to do it, I don't do it myself unless I am at my breaking point. Mission accomplished.

I suppose that I'll have to extend my 30-day deadline. Or maybe I should just start all over. No, let's not get too crazy. I'll just add a few days to the deadline.

It's going to be a looonng four months. And fast at the same time. I've got a real post on the way tonight.  And, the plus side of my mama drama is that it will probably make for some giggles if/when I post about it!