If you haven’t noticed, I got a new design as implemented by The Domestic Diva. I am very happy with it and highly recommend her if you are looking for a quick and inexpensive redesign. She takes a template that you like and turns it into a brand that you love. So head on over there; it’s worth it- trust me.

Earlier this week we moved to a new apartment. After almost two years of living in an apartment that was without heat when the temperature dipped below 30 degrees, we moved the the most beautiful apartment in which we have ever lived. To boot, we put SWHS in a toddler bed and that opened a can of worms. I am also having flashbacks to when we put her into the crib. I’m secretly wishing that she would pitch a fit so badly   that we have to get her crib back.

Is it wrong that I have to lovk her in her room in order to get some sleep? I don’t really lock her in, but I did put a child-proofing contraption on her door because she kept opening it and running through the house. I sort of feel like I locked the Princess away in the dark tower. Please don’t call ACS.

Have you read about my Verizon struggles? If not, head over to Kristina Reviews and chime in. I really need to know if anyone else is having problems.

Did I mention that SWHS is TWO? It came and went so quickly and I think in total, I saw her for about 2 hours on her birthday. That’s right, we celebrated her entry into the Terrible Twos by dropping her off at Nanny and Poppy’s. We had a party planned with a beautiful invitation made by your’s truly, but we had to postpone it because we were moving the next day. The party will be rescheduled for no other reason than I want to use the invitations.

So wha’t the new energy? Well, I have decided to take my blog in a whole new direction. I am cutting ties to some organization and I am going to write what I actually feel instead of what will earn me a buck or two. I have a lot to say and I’m tired of being fluffy.

When I tell people that my daughter (22 months) is in bed every night by 5:45 PM and sleeps through the night, they look at me in awe. Apparently this is not common and most people think I am either lying, or that my daughter wakes up at like 3:00 AM. But, the fact of the matter is that my daughter goes to bed between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM every night. She sleeps soundly until 6:00 AM when we all wake up to begin our day- we drop her off at the sitter at 7:00 PM. Yes, she gets 12 hours of sleep at night and maybe a 2 hour nap during the day. According to this site on average, 2 year olds need between 11.5-15.5 hours of sleep a day, so we are good.

But how do we make sure she goes to sleep? Part of it has to do with the fact that we were blessed with a very good sleeper. She has never really had a problem sleeping. The other part has to do with being VERY in synch with her emotional cues. I learned very early that she becomes a bit of a handful between 6:00 - 7:00 PM. She would get defiant and cranky because she was tired. So, rather than waiting for this to happen, I decided to bypass it all together by putting her to sleep BEFORE the witching hour begins.

Our bedtime routine is nothing too elaborate. I don’t bath her every night before bed. Sometimes I read her a story; but sometimes I don’t. But one thing remains consistent: we begin to wind down with music or just cuddling 20 minutes before bed. Then she gets a bottle, is changed and then put in the crib. We turn her stereo on to lullabyes and that’s it. It is quick, painless, and consistent. In fact, now that she can walk and talk a little, she takes us to the fridge to get milk, and then walks me to her room and says “night-night”.

I know that I am lucky. I know that for some babies, schedules mean nothing. However, I am a firm believer that babies get confused without routine. They need to know what to expect or they don’t know how to react. Despite all the warnings that we received about putting her to bed too early, we figured out what works. Every one says that MiMi is always so happy. I think it is because she is well-rested and not forced to endure my nightly whims: like going out to eat or going to the movies.

1. Eat ice cream from the carton while we talk about our day.

2. Go to the planetarium and try to figure out where the stars go during the day.

3. Play dress up and pretend to be famous divas.

4. Make dirt circles with our feet and read poetry while sitting on one of our favorite swing sets in the park.

5. Go camping and toast marshmallows.

6. Reading Judy Blume.

7. Crochet hats and scarves

8. Bake oatmeal bars and birthday cake for Daddy

9. Get our hair and nails done.

10. Live.

If you are unaware of the latest news, Britney Spears loses visitation rights to her two kids after having a mental breakdown. The problem is that she has been having a mental breakdown since she married K-Fed. I can’t help but feel sorry for her because, despite all of her money fame and supposed talent, she is lacking the one thing that all of us need: someone who TRULY cares. Her mother has failed her so many times it is no wonder that she has no positive role models for parenting. K-Fed, whose morals are very questionable, is obviously unconcerned with the woman he supposedly loved (Hey Shar, how are you?) because if he cared at all he would have tried to help her. Granted, we don’t know the whole story. But it seems that every one in Britney’s life is getting more and more famous while she is left alone and lost.

There is no way that anyone can deny that when a child is entered into show business, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that no one takes advantage of that child. But her parents dropped the ball. They allowed her handlers to exploit the image of the seductive virgin to make them all rich without concern for what that image would do to her future. They allowed her to party all night, to drink, and to do whatever else she wanted. Where were the rules? Where were the boundaries? Where were the values?

But maybe they did give her all of that and she did not listen. It happens. But the fact is that while she is an adult now, she was a child once. And now as an adult, it doesn’t surprise me that she doesn’t listen to anyone. She doesn’t trust anyone. Why would she? Her mother- the one person who was supposed to love her- failed her- repeaedly.

Who is responsible? She is. For her kids. For her kids she needs to find the strength within to deal with the emotional baggage and provide stability for them. She needs to show them that Phoenixes do exists and when the world crumbles, strength and love will always remain. But how can she do that when she can’t make a move without being criticized or ridiculed? Without being watched?

I feel for her and I hope that she will FINALLY get help from someone who is concerned only about her and what she needs to be better.

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