What a Diiference a Day Makes

Happy Family!

Like I wrote in my last post, last week was tough.  Zach and I, both sleep deprived, were getting on each others nerves, the kids were driving us crazy and all of lives' responsibilities were wearing us down.  I was done with my role as a mother and wanted nothing more than to switch for the role of carefree bachelorette!   But since I'm not living in a Hollywood blockbuster, more like an independent film,  I can't switch out my role.  I make do.  So I switched my mentality, did some breathing and talked to Zach.  Wow, what a difference that made!

Sunday was good.  We planned our day better, we all ate better, slept better and were just nicer to each other.   We did our chores and got hang out and visit friends.  We drove all over LA and Ella didn't cry the whole time and Miles didn't throw one tantrum.  What was different?  We were relaxed.  The kids vibe off of our energy so much and if we're stressed, anxious, depressed, angry, they feel it and they stress right along with us....causing us even more stress.  It's a vicious cycle!  So we were more aware of each other and what we needed and met those needs with more ease.  God what a difference a day makes!

And this morning was AMAZING!!  Ella woke up only once last night and slept until 7 this morning!  And Miles, the early riser, woke up at 6:30am and was well rested and happy!!  He ate a big breakfast: cereal, toast and egg.  He played.  We played.  He didn't fight me to change his diaper (that's a miracle!) and he didn't whine about wanting to watch TV.  In fact, he had been such a good boy and I needed to get dressed so I was planning on letting him watch some TV while I got myself and Ella ready for the day.  But I didn't need to because he wanted to play outside instead.  AND the amazing part is that he very clearly communicated that to us.  He signed "open" then pointed at the door and signed "shoes"  In other words:  put on my shoes I want to go outside.  What???!!!  You want to know something even more crazy?  Last night while I was reading him books before bed, he pointed at a book and said, with words not sign language: "Ma, read this one."  My heart stopped for a second while I processed what had just happened.  He didn't say it that clearly, but as my mind scanned what I heard, I knew that was exactly what he said. I mean, shit, he was pointing at the book!!  So I said back to him, "You want me to read this one? Ok, lets read this one."

I was floored, seriously, I would have fallen down if I wasn't sitting. It was AMAZING and it was a glimmer of what will surely come more with time.   Miles is truly trying to communicate and I know that he understands a lot more than he lets on.  He's also a toddler, who listens when he wants to.  But he is way smarter than people think and he is starting to figure it out himself.  If he talks, we listen.

He woke up this morning saying "papi, papi, papi".  And I came in the room and said, "What about me?  What about mami?".  So he started repeating mami.   At night before going to bed I tell him, "Okay, it's time to go to sleep.  I'm going to put you in your crib and you're going to go to sleep and dream with the angels, okay?".  He always nods or says "yes", but I wasn't sure he was understanding me until the other day when he said yes then grabbed his Elmo doll, got off the couch, walked to his crib and waited for me to lift him up. Success!!

Miles is processing so much on a daily basis and sometimes I forget that these are all just growing pains.  We are all going through our own growing pains as we continue on our little journey called life!