Leprechauns discovered!

Mia has a wild imagination and a faith that mystical creatures do exist. This includes leprechauns. I didn't grow up believing in them and I don't know when and why this tradition became popular, but every year on the eve of St. Patrick's Day leprechauns come to play tricks on all the little children. It's not my favorite thing to intentionally make some big mess, blame it on the leprechauns and then proceed to clean up the mess. The boys were "lucky" enough to get to make leprechaun traps as a school project-the project had to be completed at home (by parents). Anyway, I go along with it, but this year I was able to think of a trick that didn't require me to have to make a mess and the kids were delighted. They couldn't believe the leprechauns got away with their trick without even waking them up.






This was also Mia's last year believing. At one point Mia asked me if I believed in leprechauns, and because I am ready to have someone take over the job of mischievous leprechaun I flat out told her "NO, I do not believe in leprechauns." In a tone of disbelief she asked "Well then who wrote all over us...YOU?" I just started laughing and laughing and she said "It was? It really was you?!" I felt bad because I could tell she really had believed and I was taking away a little bit of her childhood fantasy world, but she's almost 10, it was fun while it lasted. I have a feeling there is going to be one devilish leprechaun on the loose next St. Patrick's day!

Lemonade anyone?

Lemons: Eli is a terrible napper.
Lemonade: I ge to spend more time with my last baby.

Lemons: Eli's kicked Aaron and I out of our bedroom.
Lemonade: I'm roommates with Mia. I love watching her sleep and getting that time with her even if she is unconscious.

Lemons: Eli's not walking yet.
Lemonade: Eli's not walking yet.

Lemons: Eli cries a lot. A LOT.
Lemonade: Every smile and giggle is that much more sweet and melts all the rough times away.

3-2-1 Blast off!

I wish I had something great to write about, but this is just a vent post. Hopefully to be followed by a brighter, happier post.
It's depressing having a child that is unhappy most of the time. It makes you wonder "is it my parenting skills or lack of"? Why won't this kid just be happy. I love Eli with all my heart, but there are times, like today, that make me want to send him in a rocket to the moon! Moms aren't supposed to say things like that, right? Well spend a little time on your own with him and you might understand. He should have been the first born when you don't know any different and you think all babies are this way. He's generally dissatisfied and seems really insecure. He doesn't sleep well still either. I mean he's making it from 8:30pm to 5am, but at what cost? Neither Aaron nor I can sleep in our own room. This baby has our master bedroom to himself because if one of us sleeps in our bed and has the audacity to roll over we'll wake the little prince up. So if any of us want to get a descent night's sleep we give Eli the peace he needs. He doesn't nap well either. We're lucky if he sleeps one and a half hours in a day. TOTAL. Since he's such a grumpy bugger when he's awake, we need the down time to recharge, but often times it's not much. He's so tired and he won't sleep, it's frustrating for him, it's frustrating for us. I want to enjoy him. I just want to know when will this get easier? After it didn't happen at 6 months, I thought for sure it would get better after he turned one. Not so. In fact one area that he was easy in, eating, he's complicated. He's great at communicating though. He knows a bunch of ways to tell us no. It's been an exhausting uphill climb with him and I don't even care about the downhill, I'm just looking forward to it being level.