Bedtime Battles

  Jordan, lately, has been fiercely battling against bed time. She refuses to do her bedtime routine and fights us once the word bed is spoken.
  Her bedtime routine is a bath (bath night is every other night) then a small snack (fruits). I take her to the bath room to help her brush her teeth and to braid her hair for the night. Jordan then says good night to Daddy and Brother. I take her to her room and tuck her in. I read her a story, dim her lights and close the door.
  Yeah that doesn't happen too often any more. Sometimes we can get through most of the routine. It's when we get to her room. There is always something else to do before bed. She wants to clean her room or find a certain toy to sleep with.
  Or she has excuses. Daddy and brother are too loud in the living room and are keeping her up. Tyson (our boxer) keeps licking her even though he has been laying in her doorway sleeping. Her favorite excuse is she needs me to stay in my room because it's my bed time too. She won't sleep until I go lay down.
  I thought, at first, she maybe she just needs some extra time with Momma or Daddy. Tried that and it seemed to make things worse. She wants to cuddle with us in our bed. I've tried reading to her longer, trying music to sing her to sleep.
  I am out of ideas. I refuse to put a t.v. in her room so that's out of the question. I've tried giving her extra time to play out side. I've tried music and cuddle time. I've tried different reward systems.
  Hopefully this thing with bed time passes. It should pass. It's just her testing the boundaries. Right?

Tornado Season & Every Day Life

  Tornado season has officially begun in Texas. Two and a half weeks ago a tornado touched down in San Antonio and earlier this week several tornadoes touched down in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I live not far from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and luckily no damage here. Unfortunately, for one family member of mine there house did sustain some damage but I am glad to report no injuries. They were some of the lucky ones as many of their neighbors were not able to return to their homes. Times like these make me realize miracles still happen.
  The past two weeks have been very busy for both Jordan and I. I have been helping two friends move. (If any has ever moved, then you know what a pain in the ass it is.) One is moving closer while the other is moving farther way.
  It was fun seeing how helpful Jordan is and realizing she is no longer the baby girl I brought home from the hospital 4 years ago. She is turning into a smart, full of sass, helpful and kind, yet can be a brat, girlie girl.
  The friend I helped move into my area is the one who actually runs the knitting group I recently joined. My mother took Jordan while I helped Vicky arrange furniture and sort through boxes one day. Then I was back over there (after spending the weekend with Hubby) to help unpack and arrange some more. Jordan helped keep Vicky's dogs occupied and helped unpack as well.
  We helped my other friend pack her house and sort through what's to be taken and left. It's hard to have a close friend move farther away. It's something Jordan and I are experiencing for the first time. This friend has played a nearly daily role in our lives for over a year now and I am sad to see her and her family go. There, of course, will be visits and get togethers but it won't be like it used to.
  Change is very hard on me and not something, I think, I deal with well. Jordan doesn't understand why her little friends have to move or why they can't just live with us. It's....difficult. I am not sure how to explain things to her without leaving her emotionally scarred for the rest of her life. Hell, I have trouble dealing with difficult situations. I am a bad bad mother when it comes to these things. I always try to watch what I say or do around Jordan because I am terrified of messing her up and then being the person who cause her to go down a revolting, cursed path. One that she may never be able to come back from. Yeah, I know. I am being overly dramatic but then again what mother isn't when it comes to her kid/kids?
  On a side note, I have been working on my wrap when I can. It's coming along quite nicely. But my main thought on this project is I will be so glad when it's done. I've told myself I will NOT start another knitting project until this one is done. So instead I started working on out Disney scrapbook.  :)