The Art of Not Posting

I knew that I would probably struggle to come up with new and interesting information for all of my avid readers (hi family!), but never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would actually make it an entire month, or two, before posting again.

The most interesting new thing to report is that Link is tall enough that our old spots to put things we didn't want him to see or grab are no longer useful. He can reach things on the kitchen counter (to a certain degree), he knows now how to open drawers and actually look for something he knows he saw us put in, and he's even figured out how to get on my nerves so I'll just give in (for those of you playing the home game, the answer is: shrieking like a pterodactyl).

When we're bored, well, when I'm bored, we take a very short trip to the Children's Museum of South Dakota. Anyone at the Wulf house will tell you that being so close to the museum is a God sent for us. When we visit, typically once a week (a special thanks/shout out to Dad and Vicki for the year membership, it's more than paid for by now!) we like to let Link run around on his own. We've been enough times that he has a handle on where things are. And since we are a stay-at-home bunch, we're able to go when school is in, meaning there's maybe a dozen other people there when we go. For those of you that haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting (family from out of state, good day!) some highlights include:

• A giant light and color wall (think Lite Bright)
• A water room (picture included)
• A kid-sized grocery store, complete with cash registers (with fake money), grocery store items (empty boxes with labels, fake eggs, veggies, etc.)
• A "farm" where kids can pick corn, tomatoes, potatoes and carrots
• A well-stocked art room (I think this room is more for me than Link right now, it might change later)

Another reason we enjoy the museum so much is because of what happens to Link when we get home:

If we're lucky, Link will take a two-hour nap sometime during the afternoon, preferably earlier in the day. But on children's museum days, he's typically asleep by the time we get home, or shortly thereafter.

We are trying to get better about limiting Link's TV time, but if he's watching anything, there's a 90% chance it's talking veggies and includes a Bible message. I realize that this doesn't justify letting him watch several hours of TV a day, but it's nice to know that he's actually learning valuable lessons (like that God made him special).

We've also recently purchased a set of Dr. Seuss themed flash cards to try and teach Link colors and shapes. He seems more interested in sticking the cards in the printer and any other place that's less than ideal, but he will sometimes humor me for a minute or two.

Link is now in a toddler bed! At his last doctor's visit, it was something we asked about, and when we were told there wasn't really a set limit like car seats, we decided to give it a go. Link's crib converts by taking off the front, so we did that for a few nights and found that Link was rolling out of his bed. With that, we made a trip to our friendly neighborhood Walmart and that night Tyler put together the new bed, complete with roll bars. Since then, Link has been sleeping fairly well in his own bed, and now, when he wakes up at night, he gets out of bed and walks to our room, rather than crying. If it's too early for us to have him with us, Tyler walks Link back to his room, and nine times out of ten, Link will fall back asleep.

Something I'd like to do at this point is include a list of the words Link knows. I get this question a lot, plus, since he's just-ish passed the year-and-a-half mark, it will be fun to look back at someday (there's probably more than what's on the list, but obviously I couldn't think of them). Without further adieu:

1. Uh-oh
2. Up (said more like "up-ah")
3. Please
4. Thank You
5. Get Down (which to anyone else sounds like "thank you")
6. No
7. Bye-Bye
8. Love You (sounds more like "Ah ooo")
9. Night-night
10. Sleepy
11. Yeah
12. Mommy
13. Dadda
14. Nana (meaning either Nana or banana, depending on where we are)
15. Owwie (is it strange that it bothers me that I don't actually know how to spell this? I've never had to know before... hmmmm)
16. Stinky
17. More (sounds like "moe")
18. No
19. All better ("ah beh-er")
20. OK

Well, that's all that's happened since I've last posted, and I will make it my best effort to keep the time in-between posts shorter from now on.

The Santa Debacle

Okay, so I feel like this post is going to be interesting. I want to start by saying that this is something we have DECIDED to do. It may not be popular, but it's something we feel strongly about. I've already had some feedback (some good, some not), but I want to post mainly because I want to give other parents who may eventually stumble on this blog something to think about. I think parenting should be an ever changing experience, and I want to encourage others to talk with their spouse and not be afraid to do things differently. So now, without more adieu, I give you our Santa decision:

We're not doing him.

Yep, you read me right, we are not going to do the whole Santa thing. We have reasons, which I will talk about, but I want to reiterate that we have made this decision. Any family or friends reading this that want to debate it with us are welcome, but don't expect us to be easily persuaded. Please also understand that we are not saying that parents who do the whole Santa thing are bad people, because they aren't. My parents did Santa with me, and their parents with them.

I also want to reassure anyone worried that because Link doesn't believe in Santa means that he's going to go running around informing the other kids at school. We plan on working very hard at explaining to him that it's important he not interfere with other families ideals and beliefs. This is a trait we think is important for him to learn anyway, and this is just one way he can learn it.

One of the biggest reasons I didn't want to do Santa was that I feel like it's almost like lying to him. We're telling him about this man who lives far away, and who visits once a year while he's sleeping and drops off toys, knowing all along that this isn't true.

Another reason is that I didn't want Link to go through the devastation of finding out that Santa isn't real. I remember how confused and upset I was, and my sister and I have discussed how she felt. It seems like such a difficult thing for a child to go through.

The next reason ties in some with the previous. We worry some that if Link is brought up to believe in Santa, someone that he never sees (well, sees once at the mall) but then learns isn't real, that bringing him to believe in Christ may be a challenge. I can already hear the argument from my family, but you believed in Santa but still have a firm faith in Christ. That is true, but I don't think that this is excuse enough.

Let me reiterate again that because we are not judging those who choose to do Santa, nor are we trying to imply that we are somehow superior. We are simply defending our alternative parenting style on this subject.

I dare say this is probably the most scandalous blog post yet. I suppose now I'll wait for the phone calls from family members...

Sleep is, evidently, overrated

Okay, so I suppose it's kinda our fault for letting him sleep for two hours after 6 p.m., but last night was, in a nutshell, an experience.

It started out as one of those nights where we found ourselves pleading with our adorable baby boy to please, please go to bed around 11. This lasted for about a half hour, before we conceded that Link was not in fact going to sleep. Then, I offered to let Tyler go to bed since he had to work today, but that also was short lived, when God gave me the insight to realize that my anger had the upper hand. So, at right around midnight, Link, Tyler, my pillow and I headed back upstairs.

Another thing that we learned from last night: if you want your child to lay down and try to sleep, don't put on their favorite movie. Tyler and I (mostly I), in our infinite (or not) wisdom, decided that the simple solution would be to lay down a blanket, put on a VeggieTales, lay down on previously-mentioned blanket, and wait for Link to lay down next to you and fall asleep. HA!

Oy. Long story short-ish, my wonderful and caring husband took one for the team and took Link to his room, sat down in the recliner, and rocked Link as he screamed as if we had taken away his birthday. This lasted until shortly after 1, when Link finally gave in to sleep and Tyler, extremely exhausted, laid down in bed.

I woke up as Tyler was getting in the shower, and decided to stay up and enjoy some time to myself. Tyler got ready for work and left right around 8:30. I sat on the couch as he left, ready to enjoy some time to myself, but as soon as the door shut behind Tyler, I heard crying come over the monitor. Yep, Link was up, at quarter to nine. And he shows no sign of napping.

But, in all of that, I can still say that I am so happy. I'm happy that I have a child to keep us from falling asleep. I'm happy that he wants to spend time with his parents (I know that someday this desire will be gone). And I'm happy that even though he doesn't always want to sleep, we have a healthy, happy baby boy.

Official Beginning of the SAHM Adventure

So I know that I've "been" a stay-at-home mom since the first, but so far Tyler has pretty much been at home most of the time. But beginning tomorrow, December 12, 2011, at 8 a.m. (well, call it 7:45) Tyler is off to his 40-hour/week job for the university. Oh, boy!

Update on the Linkster (and, for those playing the home game, this is one of the ONLY acceptable nicknames involving his name. Some of you [I'm looking at you mom and Greg] have taken to calling my baby LJ which is not cool): Still on the medication, but his eyes look all but back to normal, and as to his ears, it's difficult to update since he doesn't really give us a clue that anything is wrong in the first place.

The latest update on his overall development and attitude, for those who deem this interesting (I'm looking most at future me here): His speech is developing fairly nicely, say for the absence of understanding to call me "mama." He words he uses most: Dada, bye-bye, up-a (I worry that I have forever tainted his ability to say up because when I was teaching him, I emphasized the P with an "ah" sound, as in Uh-PAH so he wouldn't say "uh" when he wanted up), no, hi, and uh-oh. He's learning please, cheese (which sound very familiar, but he seems to point to his ribs when he says please for some reason), and puppy, although especially with puppy anything that's furry and on four legs is now a puppy.

As to his attitude: he's a very mild-tempered baby, but he seems to enjoy getting on our nerves. As my mom will tell you, his naughtiness seems to be payback for the little sh*t I was growing up. He likes to stand up on the couch, and when he does this we sternly tell him "no," to which he either smiles or outright laughs, which apparently is very similar to how I once reacted to punishment. He does have a wicked little sense of humor, which is adorable and he uses as a weapon. He knows that if he makes mommy and daddy laugh he can get away with stuff.

He has learned to give hugs, and when he's sleepy he gets particularly cuddly, which is heart-melting and adorable, all at once. I maintain that even though he can be a pain in the butt sometimes, he still is one of the best things I have ever had happen to me.

Well, I think I've droned on long enough to get most of you to fall asleep and drool on your keyboard, which is exactly what I was going for. :) You're welcome.

And Now for Something Completely INSANE!

Houston, we have a sick baby.

Link has an ear infection in both ears AND pink eye in both eyes. The pediatrician told us to watch for fever and coughing, because that could be a sign Link has pneumonia. Awesome...

I must say, however, that Tyler and I are lucky to have a child who is extremely mild-tempered. With all of this wrong, I know I would be crabby, but Link doesn't seem to phased by any of it. He's been a little naughty lately, but that's just part of growing up. It has nothing to do with this.

The only time he's been a little difficult to be around was earlier this week when we were down visiting my parents, and the biggest problem then was that he wouldn't nap and didn't sleep well at night, not that I can blame him.

I don't know who all is out there reading this, but if you are comfortable doing so, would you pray for a speedy recovery and for a healthy baby?

I hope to post an update sometime soon.

And it Begins...

Day one, already halfway gone. The entire day all I've been thinking in my head was: I think I can, I think I can... So far he's been pretty amazing; not too crabby, except for when he desperately did not want to take his nap. Well, there was the bit about him first waking up at 6:30, but then I laid him in bed with us and the "alarm" didn't go off again until 8.

I've already made some concessions. I told myself that I didn't really want to rely on TV for entertainment, but then, this morning I found myself putting in some Christmas Veggietales (but, hey, it's Christmastime!). I also found myself playing a game of Sudoku on my phone while Link played with his toys, but I am only human and I put it down the second he seemed to be getting bored.

I also feel like today didn't fully count as my first day because Tyler just had lab from 9-12 so he's been home most of the day also. Really, I probably won't start feeling this new "position" and all of its stresses until Christmas break, when Tyler will be working for SDSU and there a little more frequently. But even then, family will be visiting, so I'm sure the demand to see Link (and, therefore, the potential for helpers) will increase.

Now, he's down for his nap, Tyler's playing a video game, so I figured, what the hey, I've got time and this IS why I started this blog in the first place. I must admit that it's been both wonderful and frightening to not have a job anymore. It's nice to make plans with people and not have to tell them that it all depends on my schedule.

All in all I still completely stand by my decision. It's like I read somewhere (though can't remember where to make the association for my avid readers): You will never talk to a mother that wishes she had more time away from her kids, but you won't have to look too far to find one that wishes she had more time with them.

Okay, I really feel like it's time for that grand finale exit that I've been teasing in my previous posts, so without further adieu...

Always live life like there's strobe lights on. (I haven't figured out quite what that means yet, but I said it to Tyler in the car and he found it humorous)

Getting Closer...

I know in my heart of hearts that the decision we made is the right one, but it's still just something that I have to get used to the idea of. I mean, don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my son, but then again, I enjoy times like today where Link's at daycare, Tyler's at work, and I'm home, watching TV and playing games on my computer. And in a couple short weeks, this will no longer be how things go.

I completely trust that we are doing what we're being called to do, so I know that things will work out in the end, and I feel like right now I'm just going through the trials and tribulations that come with all major life decisions.

The thing I am most looking forward to with this change is the easier time we'll have come Christmas. Instead of stressing about having to choose carefully about time, we'll enjoy time with everyone.

See, even this post can't decide how I feel about this. It's awesome but it's stressful. It's the best decision and the most stressful decision. Oh, boy.

Still working on that catchy phrase to end my posts. Stay tuned!