Bedtime with a 2 year old

I used to look forward to this time of the day because it meant I was able to enjoy some "me" time. I was able to sit down and eat without being interrupted by "mommy this" or "mommy that." I didn't have to share my food with a sticky faced child who would spit it back on my plate if he didn't like it. That always helped with my diet. Who wants to eat after their toddler just regurgitated their food onto your plate!? Television was ALL MINE! I didn't have to watch any more Dora, Blues Clues, or Sesame Street. I could actually enjoy an adult program...not one of those programs either...get your head out of the gutter lol. I was even able to enjoy some hubby time!!

Boy have those days changed...and boy I sure do miss them!! My 2 year old suddenly is going through a phase where he acts terrified of "bedtime." It all started when we moved on June 1st of this year (4 months ago). No matter what we try to do to make this time more peaceful for him it seems to fail. We've tried putting him back into a crib, a portable crib, changed rooms for him, gone through several different types of nightlights, music, allowing him to take a book, a toy, a puzzle and flashlight and even a cup of water or milk to bed with him!! We are desperate for bedtime to be normal again! I feel helpless. It's a fight, a temper tantrum, to get him to bed. We've actually had to spank him to make him stay. Then once he does fall asleep he doesn't stay in his bed. He comes to our eventually. Not every night, but often enough. We have made bedtime a routine as always. Nothing has
changed other then the new house?! I've even questioned if there are evil spirits lurking in my house. I can't handle this any longer!!

Autumn..Autunno..Automne...der Herbst...

I LOVE this time of the year! I look forward to this season every year. I can taste it and smell it. It's the prettiest season because of the colors it brings...copper, rust, yellow, orange, brown, red. Autumn is a time of festivities like Oktoberfest, Halloween, Football Games, Apple and Pumpkin festivals, Thanksgiving, Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, pumpkin patches, Apple Orchards, pumpkin carvings, soup making, pie making, bonfires, leaf raking and then jumping in the pile you just raked, enjoying the smell of pumpkin candles, sipping on a warm cup of apple cider, enjoying a cool breeze at night while snuggled up underneath a blanket, dressing in comfy sweats, watching the leaves turn colors and fall...oh how I love Fall!!

I'm watching Monday night football right now, snuggled on the couch with a blanket and the hubby and enjoying the cool breeze and the warm smell of my pumpkin pie candle burning! This is a perfect night of the best season.

Double Ear Infection

I took Madalynn to the Emergency Room tonight because for the last 2 days she has been abnormally cranky. She is typically a well natured little girl who rarely complains about anything! Last night she woke me up out of a dead sleep at 9:30 crying and was inconsolable. I could tell SOMETHING was hurting her, but I had no idea what since she had no symptoms! I ended up putting her in bed with me because she was so miserable. She woke up crying every 20 minutes. She was very restless all night. Today she was still cranky and whiny throughout the day and had very little appetite. I gave her a bath and she whined the entire time, which is so unusual for her. Typically she loves her bath! I finally decided to call the Pediatrician and the nurse advised me that it sounded like maybe an ear infection because nothing was calming her. She figured that it couldn't be teething because the Tylenol
and Ibuprofen should have helped with that. She said that the doctor wouldn't be able to fit her in until 2pm. Forget that!! I'm not going through another night like the last! I decided that she needed to be seen tonight. I am so happy I did. She was running a low grade fever (99.5) and her ears were infected, with the right being more so. So now she's been prescribed antibiotics and pain relieving ear drops. So far she's been asleep for 2 hours! Hope we get some restful sleep now and hope she feels so much better.

If I had the money I would...

Get a tummy tuck (blessed are thy children who stretched me out), breast augmentation (since gravity has taken over), and laser surgery to remove all stretch marks and vericose veins my body has (I don't stretch as well as a rubberband).

I realize that there is no perfect body in this entire world and God made us each in to our unique selves, but I personally would love my body so much more with those few things done. Let's be honest...mostly everyone would improve something on their body. I guess this is just my personal fantasy...

Some of my favorites

i love wet kisses from my children
i love the smell of pumpkin pie candles
i love dipping my oreos in milk
i love naps
i love sandals
i love massages
i love holding hands
i love bonfires and roasting marshmallows
i love smores
i love bbq'ing
i love cuddling
i love watching movies
i love reality tv
i love being a mom
i love being a wife
i love my friends
i love to read
i love to cook
i love shopping
i love shoes
i love my daughter
i love my sons
i love music
i love roller coasters
i love scrapbooking
i love lip gloss
i love fall
i love the snow
i love the smell of babies
i love jewelry
i love perfume
i love make-up
i love taking pictures
i love LOVE
i love the feeling of cold sheets
i love the smell of clean laundry
i love the colors red, yellow, black, pink and turquoise (not together)
i love chocolate
i love decorating
i love taking long drives
i love dessert wines
i love watermelon
i love slow dancing
i love getting flowers
i love LIFE
i love having someone run their fingers through my hair
i love baking
i love fish frys
i love pizza
i love a fresh salad with italian dressing
i love food
i love being able to enjoy all of these things.
i love God

God knocked on my door today

I know for a fact that God knocked on my door today. He is just waiting for me to invite him in. I have always believed in the Lord, but I've also doubted him. Today however...I didn't doubt him. I know he's real! I know he loves me! I know he showed me signs that he's REAL! I'm not ready to talk about what happened, only because I am ashamed, but I will share in time. I want to share my story only because I want to be a witness of GOD and teach others so they don't have to experience what I had to today. I am so thankful that I was given another chance to see that I am blessed and to not take my children for granted. I believe GOD is telling me that I may have fallen off the path, but I'm still here Melissa...I still love you, but you have to believe in ME! I believe lord!!

Day 2 - A Letter to my Spouse

My Day 2 letter is to my husband Michael.

Dear Michael,

I am writing you to let you know how much you truly mean to me and how blessed I am to have you in my life. We have been married for almost 4 years and I wouldn't change a thing. There is no perfect marriage. We have definitely had our share of ups and downs and there isn't anybody else I would rather share these memories with. No matter how difficult things seem to get, I will always be right by your side. I will treasure the good times and thank the lord for allowing me to share our lives together. We have 2 beautiful children together and I am so thankful that you are their father. It's such an incredible feeling sharing the joy of raising children with someone who loves them just as much as you. I melt every time I see you hug them or kiss them, and play with them. I am proud of the dad you have become. You are a one of a kind man, husband, dad and friend. I know that you truly love
me, adore me and treasure what we have. You make life so much more worth living then if you weren't part of my life. You give me butterflies when you walk in to the room, even 4 years later. I enjoy every second of every day with you. I look forward to growing with you, learning more about the other, creating so many more memories with our little family and spending many more years with you! You have been a blessing to me Michael!

I will love you forever and always!

Day 1 Letter - A Letter to a Stranger

I have chosen to write my letter to a mom who is currently 34 weeks pregnant with her 2nd child, has a 2 year old child and is going through a divorce. I have never met her, I in fact stumbled across her blog tonight and was so drawn to her for some reason. Obviously I now know why...for her to receive my letter.

Dear Jane Doe:

We have never met one another, but I would gladly like to get to know you. I am writing you because I decided to take on a challenge called "A Letter a Day." Day 1 was titled "A Stranger." So I chose you because by pure fate I stumbled across your blog and was so drawn to your story, I just had to keep reading. You are an incredibly strong woman. I commend you for waking up every day and facing each new challenge as it's dealt to you and remaining positive for your children. Not many people would be able to survive the amount of stress you have had to endure at such a young age in such a short amount of time. I pray that you and your children will be blessed continuously through life. I pray that you remain strong, and that God comforts you. Stand your ground "mama bear!"

I will be thinking of you!

God Bless
Melissa Geist

'A Letter a Day'

A Letter a Day.
The idea is "catharsis" which basically means to cleanse. I am going to try this. I may not be able to do it daily, but I am going to try my hardest. I am going to publish the letters here for all to read because this is part of the cleansing process for "me." So here are the letters. Good Luck!

1. A stranger
2. Your spouse, or your future spouse - even if you've never met them
3. Your child(ren) or future child
4. Your first love or crush
5. One to each of your parents
6. Someone in your life who has caused a lot of pain during your childhood
7. Your sibling(s)
8. Someone you've hurt
9. Someone you don't understand
10. Someone deceased
11. The person you'd want to take care of your children if you & your spouse are no longer alive
12. Your best girlfriend
13. Your dreams
14. Someone you don't talk to as much as you'd like
15. Your 13-year-old self
16. The person you miss the most
17. Someone you know who's going through the worst of times
18. Someone that caused someone you love (not you) a lot of pain when they were a child
19. Someone that changed your life
20. Your reflection in the mirror

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I failed at my 31 pictures in 31 days

I just couldn't keep up...so I failed at that project. I just got to busy and couldn't seem to find the time. So we will move forward and onto the next.