When Good Sleepers Go Bad

This is a plea for help. Oh, and by the way, the pictures have nothing to do with this post. Just a little cutie.

So Sally Rose has been sleeping in her big girl bed for the last several nights. Once she falls asleep, she's fine and sleeps through the night, but getting her there is pretty difficult. Before we went to Oregon, she was SO easy to put down. She wanted to go down and would occasionally ask to. While on vacation, she had a rough time going to sleep. I thought I would let her get back to her good sleep habits before making the transition from crb to bed, but she climbed out and fell on her noggin. So, big girl bed for her. She thinks it's cool, and loves hanging out on it, even in it, just not alone. Some nights have been better than others, but as soon as Bill or I leave the room she screams. And screams. And screams. She tries to come out, and we were holding the door, until last night when we realized we could lock it and pick the lock from our side. We tried doing different things in the putting down process. It seems, she just has to give up eventually. Any attempts to go in and soothe make the process longer. She always ends up in bed, although usually with shoes on which she didn't have on when we left her. That part is cute. I'm wondering if any of you have any tips on making this any easier. Last night, it was over an hour. I hate to say that that is not atypical.

So sweet when she's awake.

She loves sitting up here when she gets her hair fixed. She also loves soaking her feet just like her mama. I like to do it together and make faces at each other in the mirror.

She LOVES these new crocs, or target brand crocs. She's always putting them on. Or her froggy boots.

Oregon

We are now home after a fantastic week in Oregon. Bill hadn't been with his siblings since our wedding. I loved getting to know them better and their families. We spent the weekend on the gorgeous yet windy coast for a family reunion. We met up with Bill's cousin, her family, and Bill's aunt. Everyone took turns cooking and we had some fabulous meals. Fun was definitely had by all. Sally thought she was a big kid and joined right in with the others in their races and hide and seek. Isabella and I got haircuts that both were a little unsure of at first, but I think we both like them now. We also went shopping for clothes which Isabella totally scored on. I only wish she would have bought these bright blue extremely high waisted jeans with rainbow stitching. She looked amazing in them. Amazingly something, anyway. We also went to the zoo, the aquarium, and picked some fantastic raspberries and blackberries. It was a great time and I look forward to seeing those great people again sooner rather than later.

Here are a some pictures of our awesome time.

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We're outta there

We are now in the beautiful state of Oregon! It is SO beautiful here, with rolling hills of green and lots of rivers running throughout the city. After we get home, I'll post some pictures of our adventures here in the Northwest. Bill's sister and family came into town last night and it is wonderful to see them. When they wake up (Sally got up at 3:30 this morning, she hasn't quite made the time change yet) the kids will get to meet and play. We're gong to the coast tomorrow with all of us, Bill's brother and girlfriend, and some cousins. Kid wise, there will be a two year old, (or three months shy), three, four, five, six, and fourteen. Fun to be had for sure. I hope you all find yourselves in as much beauty as we do.

Note from Bill

I recall telling Emily that I see myself more able to relate to children a little later in life. I just needed to be properly introduced to the magical world of children - and Sally has given me a fine introduction. For me, Sally is the little child whose hands are raised overhead in excitement at the delight of new adventures depicted in the painting The Voyage of Life: Childhood by Thomas Cole. I agree with Cole that life is a prospect to be understood in distinct stages. Mistakes are made otherwise. For instance, some of the attitudes made popular in Victorian England are in error - that children are to be seen and not heard. Children were dressed up like little adults and were expected to act adult-like as soon as possible - were seen as stunted adults. Artists like William Blake reacted against these unnatural demands on childhood and felt the need to champion the cause of children against oppressive attitudes. Take for instance Blake's Songs of Innocence.

Emily has very naturally sidestepped the Victorian errors. For myself, I was prepared to be sympathetic and understanding. But childhood cannot be properly enjoyed from that sanitary, distant attitude. I've since been found reveling in childhood and have found it a tonic composed of marvelous qualities and capable of wondrous effects.

Charles Baudelaire defines genius as "nothing more nor less than childhood recovered at will - a childhood now equipped for self-expression with manhood's capacities and a power of analysis which enables it to order the mass of raw materials which it has involuntarily accumulated." I agree with this formula. The gifts of childhood take up at least a half-portion of the gifts of artistic genius. Baudelaire also notes: "The child sees everything in a state of newness; he is always drunk. Nothing more resembles what we call inspiration than the delight with which a child absorbs form and color." Sally has verified these comments for me.

Several times Emily and I have been driving along focused on some mundane goal oblivious to our surroundings when we hear a declaration from the back seat made in a sweet little voice that a "star" shape can be seen along the road over there. A little someone is back there paying attention.

I like to sing the following ditties to Sally:

Good Morning:
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!
Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!

Treat:
Oh it is nice to have a treat.
It's nice to have something to eat.
Oh it is nice to have a tasty treat.
Yes it is nice to have some thing to eat.
Yay!

Family Song:
Dadda loves mama. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Mamma loves dadda. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Dadda loves Sally. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Sally loves dadda. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Mamma loves Sally. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Sally loves mamma. Bum-ba bum-ba bum-ba bum.
Yay!

Yay for babies!

Yours,

Bill

Budding Artist

Sally Rose loves to create art. She loves coloring with crayons, sidewalk chalk and especially markers. These days, though, she's found a new medium to love. Paint! She gets SO excited to paint, either with brushes or hands. We got this easel at IKEA a while back for something like $10. A very good investment. She's such a sweetie and I hope she continues this passion.

This was her first experience with brushes- she wouldn't look at me because she was so into it.

This is Sally's look of concentration. I love her lip.

Sally gave this work to Daddy for Father's Day

Finger painting is so fun!

Check out her eyelashes in this one. She could paint with them.