the battle of the bottle.

Quinn never attached herself to a pacifier.

 

Somewhere along the way the bottle became her pacifier.

Her soother.

In many ways it was great because if she lost it in her crib it was much easier to find than a paci.  She would find it quickly on her own before a cry would start and fall right back to sleep. 

It doesn't need to have anything in it, it's just a soother.

 

Quinn was about 15/16 months when we started to feel like it was the right time for her to start to separate herself from the bottle.  Sure she drank from sippy cups earlier than this, but it was never the same for her.  Unfortunately right around this stage we were also in pack up the house, things are crazy, go live with grandma ginny, move into a new and strange house phase.  It was too much, and I just knew it was not the time to add another huge change for her. 

We waited until we were settled in and by the end of the fall it was pretty much gone from the day (except for when she is sick - how in the world does any mama deny their only soother when they are sick?)

 

Now just like the battle of how to transition the paci away from nighttime for others, we battle the how to transition the bottle from nighttime.  We have encountered a new battle, a new attempt many times.  Several have worked but then a sickness falls and we are right back to where we started. 

Over all this time it has only ever held a little water or just been completely empty, it is just like a paci for her. 

 

Last night I tried another one of these attempts at bedtime.  But it was a battle for me more than it was the right time for her.  I was ready last night to make the break, but I should have known better that it wasn't the right time for her.  She still has a cold, a cough, and took a slept only in the car nap.

 

I have always been an easygoing, do what's right for her, for us, kind of mama.

I needed to be reminded of that last night.

 

As the conversation with my darling husband resembled something like this:

 

Me:  We created this bad habit for her.  We need to start to break it. 

Todd:  Why is it a bad habit?

        It's her one thing.  It soothes her.  She is such a good sleeper.  She is a good girl.  It's her one thing.

       (and with a big sweet silly smile on his face)

        Is there some law out there that says she can't have it? 

       Do you think that all the moms of the world are going to get together to tell you that you are a bad mom?

       It's not a bad habit babe.

 

I love him.

 

Every thought that was usually in my head had left last night.  I needed to be told what I had always been thinking.  Be the parents we have always been.

 

The parents who do what is right for her, not what is right for everyone else.

 

When she is no longer sneezing, or coughing.  When she is in her normal sleeping routine.

When she is her usual happy easygoing self.

Then we will try again.  And when it is right for her we will know.

 

To the mamas of the world, fighting any battle with themselves. 

It's okay.

We aren't perfect, but you know in your heart that you know what is best for your child.

No child ever follows a book.

Life is more simple than that.

 

Last week was filled with sneezes, cuddles, tissues, thermometers, and comfy jammies.
Quinn was running a fever for several days, and fortunately has kicked that but is still getting over a lingering cough, and watery eyes. :(

Todd's volleyball team continues it's winning streak. :)

Crafts and projects and party things are strewn across the kitchen counter...more updates on those later.

And Great Grandma Ginny is home from Arizona!  Yea!  We enjoyed seeing her yesterday, catching up, and enjoying breakfast.

And yes, a morning post means a morning nap.  I think she will be taking two today.

the remote control.

just for fun.

mondays.

It has been over two years since I switched from full-time elementary school teacher to full-time stay-at-home mama, but not a day goes by that I don't think about it.  I appreciate every single second of being home with her all the more.

I loved my job as a teacher.
I wanted to be a teacher.

I needed to be a mother.
I dreamed of it for as long as I can remember.

I am so grateful for every minute I have at home with her.
I feel so fortunate and blessed.

My Mondays sure do look different though.
Instead of heading back into the work week drag of a Monday with meetings and e-mails, we are easing into our day with chocolate chip pancakes. Why not?  They aren't just for Sundays anymore. :)

and we walk around while eating bananas.
because for some reason when she eats them in her chair she only takes 3 bites but if she walks around with it she finishes the whole thing.

we show off our fake dramatic face just to be silly.

and then we giggle and laugh at ourself for being so silly.

we watch an episode or two of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

and because I have the time, there are usually one or two projects in the works at any given time. 
at this time, I am actually in the middle of about six. :)

we head outside and find our first flowers have bloomed!  so exciting!

 

we run up and down the steps and sidewalk for half an hour because we can.

and then we journey off for a long walk and wagon ride.

 and a stop at the park to hop into our favorite swings.

throw in some coloring.

always a dance party.

Mondays.
They sure have changed.

After she wakes from her long cozy nap, it will be back outside for sidewalk chalk and playing catch with a volleyball (one of her absolute favorite things to do these days).  Followed by dinner, and then daddy will be home. :)

Naptime for mommy is:  dishes, a lunch break :) while catching up on a DVR'd show, then straightening up, blogging and working on any craft or project in the works. 

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And for anyone following along with Todd's volleyball team this spring, this past weekend they won their third tournament championship this season!!  3 for 3 on tournaments and they are 17-3 for the season so far.  It's been such a great season!! 
Will keep you updated.

it doesn't get much better than this.



I guess this post bounces right off the last one.
The simple moments are my favorites.
We make the simple moments feel completely special.
A Sunday morning where we can be together,
so special.

The little things make me one happy mama.

 

 

P.S.  We had a few family pics taken too. 

simple and sweet.

The simplest things are often the sweetest.

We embrace and soak in every little simple moment.
We try not to be in a hurry to move onto the next moment.

The simple moments, the ordinary days... wiping noses, sweet cuddles in soft jammies, baking cookies, sharing an ice cream cone, reading books for hours...
and taking wagon rides.

as many as she wants.

because we aren't in a hurry.
because these little smiles, these little moments of pure happiness...
these we want to remember.

everything else can wait.

our love story: chapter two.

To read Our Love Story: Chapter One CLICK HERE :).

 

 

And I would see him again.

 

Just a few weeks later...

 

I was working another volleyball game, playing with my hair, eating some food, chatting away as per usual.  When in the corner of my eye I see someone walk out of the locker room.

A quick peek, and my assumptions (or hopes) were confirmed.

It was him.

 

He was talking to a teacher I knew, he glanced my way, and quickly our eyes met.

He was wearing a blue tee, black athletic pants, and a baseball cap.

He continued to talk and then he walked away.

To my fortune, the teacher he was talking to came to say hi and sat down next to me for a little bit.
We talked the normal chat, but I knew this was my in to casually question about this guy. 
Since my last time seeing him, I had learned his name and discovered that he was a coach and a p.e. teacher.
As Steve and I were talking, I asked about his hearing.
And I learned that he was in fact Deaf.

And my mind raced with a dozen questions.
Does he understand me when I'm talking?
How is his speech so good?
What would it be like if we were to date?
How do I talk to him?
Do I speak louder? 
What do I do so that I won't offend him?

relax Lisa, don't get ahead of yourself, you may not even talk to him again.

But I did in fact talk to him again.
About thirty minutes later actually.

He entered the gym and slowly made his way over to the scorers table.
He sat down right next to me this time.
Todd:  How's it goin'?
Me:  Good, how are you?
Totally cheesy, but the sly little smile on his face made it all the more amusing.
We exchanged simple pleasantries.  It was a gorgeous and sunny fall day.
It was sweet, it was simple.
I found myself a little more shy than usual in this situation, because I was trying to figure out how to best communicate with him, how he was understanding me, trying to adapt along the way to converse better.
We discussed work, the game we were watching and music.
It was only for a few minutes.

But I did discover this.
He gave his full attention to me in those few minutes.
I had never felt more heard or listened to in my life.
He was quiet, thoughtful, responsive to each word.
And I realized with each glance at my lips how much he relied on lip-reading in our conversation.
But it was more than that, he was genuinely wanting to soak in every word I said.
In an instant he made me feel special, beautiful...without ever saying those words.

I smiled a lot.
His eyes had a whole story to tell.
I wanted to hear it, but...
After just a few short minutes he was up and had to leave.
We smiled,
and said goodbye.

What we didn't know was that this goodbye would be for a while.

It would be a year before we would see each other again.