Tantrums...A Parent's Nightmare

It started out like any other evening, other than we just came from a very mind stimulating event, the Rodeo. There was a lot going on, the horses, the kids, the new faces, a lot for a little toddler’s mind to take on.

We got home a little later than usual and Daddy went to take Carson’s sneakers off and unleashed the beast. I thought maybe it would just be a simple, “I don’t want you to take my shoes off, I want them back on” kind of whine. It turned into screaming and falling on the floor in frustration. This was our first, all out, over tired, stimulated, full speed ahead temper tantrum.

I let him go for a bit, but the later it got, I knew he needed to go on the potty and get in for a quick shower. It took the two of us to try and get Carson’s clothes and diaper off and two of us to wash him up, all the while he was screaming and kicking. Geoff had to hold him so he wouldn’t hurt himself.

I came to the point where I mentally removed myself from the situation and asked, where as a first time parent do I stop and let him sleep in dirty clothes, sweaty body, all for the shear fact of not letting him go through this tantrum and letting him be. I wanted an answer to fall in my hands, What do I do?

Just like we do with adults, we need to pick and choose our battles with our children. It seems so much easier with adults, because, well, they are who they are, whatever battle you choose to fight or not, isn’t going to shape them into a different person (although sometimes I wish it would).

We are responsible for Carson’s upbringing and shaping him into a responsible, loving adult. Wow, is there a bigger task on the face of this planet? All of this thought process coming from this one experience.

The battles were laid out in front of Geoff and I last night, we chose to fight that one and lovingly explain to Carson that Mommy and Daddy love him and its bath time, everything is ok. I don’t know if we picked the right the battle or not, I guess I won’t know. I do know, once I finally dried him off and got the diaper on; he squeezed around my neck and just wanted to be held.

We haven’t experience this in public yet and I hope we never do, I sure hope to not ever go through this again, for Carson’s sake and ours. Although after this experience, if I ever see a mother or father going through this, I think I will definitely give them a pat on the back and let them know, they aren’t alone and they are doing the very best job that they can do.

Cheers! (letting out a big siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh, thank goodness that’s over)

My sweetest Angel

Project: BIG BOY BED

I was hesitant about writing this blog, as to not jinx myself. Well, here goes nothing...

A letter to my Angel:

Dear Carson,

You have inhabited Mommy and Daddy's bed for quite some time now. People told us we were crazy. "You'll never get him out" they said. We have endured our fair share of opinions on you sleeping with us.
The snuggles, the snuggles are incomparable. You slept on our schedule. You went to bed with us and woke up with us. Vacations..a breeze. No need for a crib, rollaway, pack n play, you were right there with us. Now don't get me wrong, we tried to do the traditional, put you in your crib, cry it out and go to sleep. You refused the crib since you could pull yourself up, which happened way to early at 6 months! To sum it up, it wasn't happening.

It was never a problem before, you sleeping with us, however, it seems that you grew overnight. To top that off, you like to sleep sideways and your feet always end up in my face. That being said, Mommy and Daddy agreed, it is time you get your own bed.

The box came in on June 17, 2011. You checked it out, looked at it and were off on your way. When Daddy came home, you helped him pull the box in your room and assemble your new big boy bed. (Daddy wouldn't let me post photos, but they will be in your book). You slept with us that night and in the morning I woke up and said, "that's it, no more". I was on the EDGE of the king size bed, Daddy was on the other EDGE of the king size bed and you were sprawled out in the middle, sideways again....sleeping very contently.

Here we go: Nap time..I rocked you to sleep, put you down in your bed and you stayed down for an hour.
Bed time: I rocked you to sleep and you slept until 5am! Then we snuggled ;-) You didn't have time to go sideways in 3 hours.
Next day, nap time:.I rocked you to sleep and again, you stayed down for about an hour or so.
Bed time: You stayed in your bed, however, we had some bumps. I ended up sleeping on your floor and Daddy came in and found me at 5am. Rough day for Mommy on Monday.
Monday night: You went down around 930 and slept until 730am!! That's my boy!

You've got it Carson. I'm so proud of you. Your growing up overnight. You look like a little boy when your sleeping in your big boy bed. You were ready, you proved it to us. It was time!

With your dogs by your side checking on you constantly in your bed, your baby days in the crib are a thing of the past. Another milestone checked off with many more to come.

Love you my sweet Angel. Love you Forever.

Below are photos I have taken since Carson started going in his big boy bed.


Turbo checking him out

Sound asleep


Tuna waking him up

"Goldenlocks" and the 3 dogs. Whose been sleeping in my bed?

He's officially a Keys Baby!

The trip, the trip I have waited for. Memorial Day in the Keys with Carson. He's been to the keys twice now, but has yet to experience his first Memorial Day in the Keys. Geoff and I have been going to Memorial Day in the Keys since about when we first met. We've been taking our own boat since 2006. Last year was the first year I missed.

We spent 5 days on the boat and Carson handled it like a pro! He put his life jacket on with no problem at all. Without a question, every time we got up on a plane, the kid was zonked out. I'm talking comatose zonked out.

He also had his first ocean trip. It was short, quick trip, but it was still another first to be documented. Again, no problem. We bought a bean bag for the boat which was recommended by friends of ours. This made the ocean trips much more comfortable with handling of the waves and holding Carson. I'd like to say, it was the best purchase for the boat so far. Highly recommend purchasing a bean bag for the boat with little ones.

Carson and I cruising out in the ocean

On Friday we spent the day at the sandbar. It was wonderful. It took Carson a bit to get used to walking in the water, but once his fears were calmed he was ready to go.

Walking with my Angel in our Heaven

One of the days, we rented paddle boards and had a great time. I cautiously took Carson on my board. The first time, I took him right in the shallows by the dock, I wasn't too sure about taking him in the deeper water. Geoff came and got him and he screamed to go back on. So, I took him with me. We paddled in the bay and he sat there pointing in the water, so relaxed. I told him we were searching for "fishies". To our amazement, he loved being on the paddle board. Really though, how could you not.

Paddling in the bay

Carson definitely is taking after Mommy and Daddy with our extravagant amount of LOVE for the Florida Keys. I always say, my heart skips to a different beat once we hit the 2 lane highway into the keys. Once that sun goes down, I'm sold. I think Carson is too by the look of the picture below. He's officially a Keys Baby!!

Our Angel

An Angel sent from Heaven above,
from God to us a gift of love.
We've been blessed to watch him grow each day,
and we ask you Lord to guide his way.

On May 22, 2o11 we had our son, our sweet Angel, Carson Dedicated to the Lord.
We spent the morning at Community Christian Church in Tamarac, FL with our family and friends.

During the ceremony, as they named each child, they played photos submitted by the parents. Of course, I had such a hard time choosing between 5-8 photos of my thousands. But, I think I did a pretty good job picking out our favorites.

Once the each family was announced, the Pastor prayed for each family and asked for the support and love of the church and family and friends of each child.

Afterwards, we had a luncheon at Nannie and Papa's house courtesy of Nannie, Papa and Grandpa. It was a beautiful afternoon.

We were so happy that our family from Ft. Myers and Jensen Beach drove down to share in Carson's special day. Carson had a wonderful day playing with his cousins and visiting with everyone who loves him so much.

A Big thank you to Nicole and Eva for taking such great photos during the Dedication.

https://picasaweb.google.com/LKEllison0281/CarsonSDedication

And a very special thank you to Carson's Godmother, Danielle and Godfather, Zack. Thank you for playing such an import role in Carson's life.

Thank you to everyone for the blessings, support and love showed on our Angel's very special day.

More teeth

Just a note to the blog:

2 more teeth coming in. 19 Months. Carson is getting his 2 lower canines and he has been a beast. We actually gave him tylenol the other night to calm him down.