a little encouragement goes a long way!

Logan was SUCH a tough baby, but I never once thought to google his personality traits or even think that there would be books written about tough babies. It wasn't until he was about 18 months old that I even heard the term "high needs" or "spirited" children, but once I read the descriptions I knew that the entire book had basically been written about Logan! It's so comforting sometimes to know that other people go through the same things when it seems like so many others have the textbook "good" babies/toddlers.

Found this on the Fussy Baby website, and just thought it was interesting. It is such an accurate description of Logan as a baby, and now Logan as a toddler.

Spirited Child Characteristics

Babies

• Want to be held all the time.
• Doesn’t schedule well for eating, and toilet habits.
• Cries for no “apparent” reason.
• Reacts strongly against sleep training.
• Won’t stay for long in carriers that are not attached to parents.
• Gets bored very easily.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

• Smart - won’t play with toys, mostly real items.
• Every day is unpredictable.
• Mood swings occur in minutes.
• Wakes up generally unhappy most times from naps and night sleep.
• Experiences early night terrors and many night awakenings. They are restless sleepers.
• Severe separation anxiety occurs, often lasting from age one to age five.
• Goes through most daily requirements such as getting dressed, car-seat buckling, transitions, diaper changing, meals, bath, tooth-brushing, with difficulty and opposition.
• Clings in new situations and with strange people.
• Wants to do everything themselves. The child is very self-directed and is “The Boss”!
• Child is not easily distractible.
• Child has violent, intense tantrums that may last for at least an hour. Tantrums may include screaming, crying, head-banging, vomiting, hitting, and an almost catatonic state where the child can’t hear, respond or listen to calming influences.
• Child is very active during play and sleep
• Often a picky eater.
• The child still requires a lot of attention and physical contact during night-time and day

The baby characteristics are pretty much spot on to how Logan was as an infant, and the toddler characteristics are pretty darn close as well...minus the night awakenings and intense tantrums (so far, at least). He is an awesome night sleeper once he goes down, and so far his tantrums have been limited to 10-15 minute all-out bawling episodes during which there can be no calming him down but just patience until he stops.

I also discovered this little article by Dr. Sears on high needs children, and it has really encouraged me! I love love love Logan's personality most days, but on the tougher days he really can give me a run for my money. On those days it's helpful to remember what high needs/spirited toddlers grow into:

INFANT	TODDLER-CHILD	TEEN-ADULT
alert intense draining demanding cries impressively loud unconsolable supersensitive high-touch	busy high-strung exhausting spunky energetic stubborn impatient strong-willed obstinate discerning challenging expressive tantrum-prone interesting tender huggable	enthusiastic deep passionate resourceful dominating opinionated determined persistent insightful fair sociable compassionate empathetic caring affectionate

Whew!! I'll take those traits as a teen/adult :) As for now, I'll just have to remember to embrace and appreciate every since one of those toddler/child traits! And know that I'm probably just getting exactly what I put my parents through - my mother says I was a lot like him as a kid ;)

links:
http://www.thefussybabysite.com/causes/characteristics-of-the-spirited-child/
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/high-need-baby/changing-personality-profile-high-need-child-grows

6 months down, 3 to go!

I feel like my To-Do list before baby gets here just keeps getting longer and longer, and I keep getting more and more tired. I remember this one myth...oh yeah, that my energy would perk up during the second trimester! hah! That was a lie! Things have been definitely going downhill in the energy direction. Boo :(

Random jumble of thoughts

I think we might be going through a growth spurt over here! :) Somebody weighed a whopping 23 pounds on the scale this morning (and that is a big deal for my non-grower over here!) and has finally outgrown several pairs of 12 month shorts and pajamas. Woohoo!! That means shopping time for this mama :) I do love shopping for toddler clothes! Everything looks cute on them.

He has been a little ham lately. I know I say this all the time, but I really do love seeing their little personalities develop. He's starting to talk a little bit more; mostly babble still but some is starting to a least resemble what he's talking about. Yesterday he said "shoes" clear as day! Still nothing to write home about since he's not as advanced in talking as some of his buddies, but any progress is good over here.

In typical boy fashion, he already loves bugs and animals. His favorite neighborhood cat passed away, but luckily a new little cat has been coming around (and this one is even friendlier!), and he has a newly found love for all frogs, bugs, and ants. Lucky me...hopefully he won't want any of these as pets some day.

Since Mickey Mouse has been his newest obsession lately, I've been leaning towards putting together a Mickey costume for him for Halloween. Mickey even comes to bed with him now! Nothing will ever replace Cow, but Mickey comes pretty close.

After a long time waiting...

it's finally happened for me!! I have dreamed for, oh, about a year and a half now about those long 2-3 hour afternoon naps that everyone else talks about their kids doing. And I was insanely jealous! For way too long Logan was stuck on the 45 minute nap; then it became the hour and a half nap, which was slightly better, but still not as nice as 2 to 3 hours! But after a few weeks of this schedule, I'm proud to say...

he's finally a pretty reliable two to three hour afternoon napper!! Woohoo!!

It gives me a much needed break (especially now, being pregnant...I'm tired literally ALL the time!) and he wakes up in happy mood. Of course now that I've made this announcement he'll probably decide to drop all naps and be one of those busy preschoolers that I hear about, but for now I shall celebrate! :)

Note: this only happens at home! If we're on vacation or visiting family, this schedule goes haywire. Sigh...can't have everything.

It's the middle of September already? sheesh.

Trying my darndest not to be negative, but I'm so over Daniel's work schedule lately! Just ready to go back to normal life and have family dinners together and not be husband-less every other week. But anyways, what can ya do. :(

We visited my parents for a few days this week since Logan was a bit sniffly and out of commission for most play dates, and we had a great time! The highlight of our visit was making the trip over to Winter Park for some play time in the park, a yummy pasta with clam sauce lunch at Pannullo's, and a little bit of window shopping. Logan was obsessed with eating the parmesan cheese (the kind in the shakers on the table!) and dipping his bread in the olive oil. Just like his daddy! We even spotted an Amtrak train go by in the park to Logan's delight, although once we walked over for a closer look the train was a little too scary, lol. Choo-choo as Logan says!

So excited to get started on Logan's big boy room soon. I've been collecting ideas for the past couple of weeks and it's slowly starting to come together. Now I've just got to figure out what color to paint the room, find another cherry dresser, and buy a twin mattress! I was thinking white to make it easy on myself, but then I discovered that there's only five thousand shades of white to pick from - is there even a difference between marshmallow white and eggshell white?! We're going to do a cars/trucks/motorcycles theme (all of Logan's favorite things, of course) and Blake will inherit Logan's sea themed nursery (with a few new touches just for him). Probably will need to make an Ikea trip here pretty soon. I hope it turns out!