The Big Girl Room Transition

Baby Bear is well, no longer a baby.  In fact, Toddler Bear isn't even accurate anymore.  A full school year has passed and I think it is time I get used to having a Pre-school Bear.  *sniff sniff*

Her school pic from this year.

The time has come for Ellie's room to become more of a sanctuary that compliments her status as a "big girl".  It is long over due seeing as the crib had been dissembled and donated over a year ago due to Ellie's little Cirque-du-Soleil escapades.

Sometimes, I think that these transitions, as small as they may seem, are more difficult for this mama bear than for Ellie.

I recall clutching that pregnancy test in a 24-Hour Fitness bathroom stall when those life changing two lines appeared.  Pregnant!  After months upon months of trying.  I so much wanted Andrew to be involved in preparing for Baby Bear's arrival that I allowed him to choose the nursery decor.  My manly (and sexy!) husband chose dogs.  A red and blue theme with puppies frolicking about.  The prediction that Ellie would grow to love dogs as much as Andrew (and me!) came true.  I am certain that her dog-obsession resulted from our Sophie Princess Puppy Paws forcing herself into Ellie's personal space as opposed to the decor of her nursery.

This is how you sleep on a big girl bed.

alternative sleeping arrangements

The crib is gone and a lone, twin-sized mattress rests on the floor for her room, without its box spring or frame. . . a place where Ellie occasionally deigns to sleep (vs. the floor).  The walls are dingy from little fingers and the pictures appear to be hung upon the walls haphazardly since we had to rearrange the room to accommodate the mattress.

Tomorrow, we are going to start painting "The Big Girl Room".  The last remnants of the nursery brushed away.  It is bittersweet for me.  My baby is now "big girl".  Yet, she is not such a big girl that her room is going to be plastered with Justin Bieber posters.  No, they will be plastered with cupcake pictures.

That's right, folks.  Cupcakes.

I mean, really, are you surprised?

A sneak peek of things to come!  This Mama Bear has gone crafty!

*April and Linda, I promise that I have not forgotten about the Liebster!  Still working on it.

Le Bec Fin

I have been in a funk lately.  I am fully blaming it on lack of sleep.  Lack of sleep as a result of Bear's surgery and complications.  Her sleep routine is still off and this has led to 4:30am wake up times and lots of Ellie-no-naps.  Lack of sleep leads to a cranky toddler with epic temper tantrums.  You know the ones where the child throws herself onto the floor and actually kicks and waves her arms?  Yes, she is Ellie.  She drops her words and sometimes even drops her signs.  Thankfully, the PECS are our friends.  It appears that the trigger is our lack of donuts in the house, but in reality it is lack of sleep.  Mama Bear is tired and sadly I am finding it harder and harder to get out of bed.  Harder and harder to leave the house for things beyond grocery shopping.  In the last 27 days, I have emerged from my self-imposed cocoon twice--once for my dear friend's birthday at the Melting Pot (Yum!) in late April and once this past  Friday for a quick lunch for my other best friend.

I remind myself that this trying time shall pass and I find myself looking at these pictures of The Bear's Antics.  She is full of spunk and shows me how to live life to the fullest--through cupcakes, donuts, and birthday cake.

No serious posts on this blog, right now.  No thought-provoking posts or even my favorite and ever frequent medical posts.

Just plain old antics.  She brings light to my life and hopefully to yours too.  Many of these are unedited, iPhone pics.  I hope to pick up my beloved SLR camera soon.

In other news.  I firmly believe that the next time we are in Philly, I can bring Ellie to Le Bec Fin.  She is ready.  Awesome table manners.  She even wipes the table with a rag after she is finished eating.

What do you mean by "no shirt, no shoes, no service?"

Ahh, the Nutella Coma.