Weight: 25.5 lbs
Height: a little over 34 inches
Shoe Size: 5.5 to 6
Still working on potty training- have just about mastered #1, but #2 will be a different story!
And we just cut our first 2 yr. molar
Hollyn got to enjoy her very first parade. She called it a "Hip Hip Horade!" 
She was tired and as you can see, did not want to be there at first. 
I have been reading a book titled, "Raising your Spirited Child" by Mary Kurcinka. I have read MANY parenting books and have not been impressed with too many of them. (Mainly because Hollyn wasn't exactly a textbook baby.) However, I really like this one. Here are a few paragraphs that caught my attention at the beginning of the book:"The word that distinguishes spirited children from other children is more. They are normal children who are more intense, persistent, sensitive, and uncomfortable with change than other children."
"Profound statements roll from her mouth, much too mature and intellectual for a child her age. She remembers experiences you've long forgotten and drags you to the window to watch the raindrops falling like diamonds in the sky. On the good days, being the parent of a spirited child is astounding, dumbfounding, wonderful, funny, interesting and interspersed with moments of brilliance."
The book goes on to give you some ways to know if you have a spirited child. There are are 5 main uncharacteristic of a spirited child, and four "bonus" traits. This pumpkin pie has eight on most days and some days ALL nine.
So rather than write about the book, I have come up with a few ways to know if you have a spirited child, in an attempt to capture Hollyn as this age.
You know you have a spirited child when: (in no particular order)
You know you have a spirited child when: (in no particular order)1. One of her shoes is at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, because she threw an insane 1 hour 15 minute fit on a boat ride.
2. She can go from "Mommy, I love you. You the best mommy in the whole wide world." to a screaming, kicking, "Go away, don't touch me!" in 60 seconds flat.
3. She can see a bale of hay and think it is the most exciting thing she has ever seen.
4. She gets less sleep in a 48 period than some children do in 24 hours.
5. She spends the night away from home and decides she wants to go home. So she tells Nana, "My Mommy sent me a message and her needs me to come home."
6. She lets herself out of time out to go in the playroom to pee on a stuffed animal. When you ask her why she did it- she says, "Because I WANT to."
7. Randomly, she opens the Bible and says, "God gives us gifts and leads us."
8. Started letting me know if she didn't like her clothing at 12 months old. There cannot be one bit of scratchy or out of the ordinary fabric on her clothing. Getting her to try something on for you is like trying to tame a wild cat.
9. Freaks out if the sun gets in her eyes. Every. Single. Time.
10. If she doesn't want to do something, she cannot be bribed, tricked or treated. Period.
11. Some of her favorite phrases at 2 are,
"Hmm, I don't know about that."
"That's a great idea!"
"I don't care."
"That's not fair!" and you have know idea where she learned these from.
12. She has an amazing imagination and is always on an adventure.
13. Often you start her bedtime routine at 8:00 PM and she finally gives it up at 12:00 AM. Yes, you read that correctly. And then still doesn't sleep through the whole night.
14. You will do anything for a night of sleep. So you buy a $40 clock with a bunny on it. You can set the time to make the bunny sleep or be awake. You teach your child that when the bunny is asleep, she must stay in her bed. The very first night you use the clock, your child seems to have fallen asleep in less 45 minutes. A true miracle. You sneak out of the room simply elated that this purchase has worked! Less than 5 minutes later you heard strange noises coming from your child's room. When you go in to investigate, you find your spirited child has pretended to be asleep and has then gotten up and RIPPED the clock out of the wall. No $40 bunny is going to tell this child when to sleep!
4 comments:
Jill - When I read a post of yours a while back, I ALMOST recommended this very book. Seems like your sweet girl and our firstborn have a lot in common! I read lots of books, but this one was truly a lifesaver for us with our Jaxson. I hope you find the book to be as helpful as we did. I think the most important thing it did for us was to change the way we viewed our spirited child so that we approached him in a completely different way. The hardest part of raising a spirited child is letting go of all of the expectations of others who think you are being too lenient or are letting too many things go. In reality, parents of spirited children learn what battles are worth fighting and which ones are not. I think I told you one time when I saw you in Target that things get better. Jaxson started sleeping around the age of 4 :) And things really do get easier as they become school-aged, at least that has been the case for us. He now has learned how to use his passion, intensity, and "more"ness for good! Good luck! Jill
Paul weighs 4 lbs less than she does. LOL! I loved all of these descriptions of Hollyn!! On your Spirited Hollyn list, we identify with numbers 2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12, and 14. hahahaha! We have twins. I laughed out loud on #10 because there is no bribing, coercing with candy/toys/train rides/or anything else I could dream of for that matter to get Josiah to go pee pee or even sit on the potty. He will not be treated or bribed. He is too smart for that and tells me I can just eat the candy and he'll pee in his diaper.... knowingly. Goodness gracious, our spirited children are funny.
And don't be freaked out about my non-sleeping 2nd child at the moment. He was doing great until we both got a cold and the congestion won't leave his chest. We've both been up coughing at night for a week. Normally he just wakes up at midnight and 5 am to eat and is up for the day between 7:30-8. He's so predictable. I keep telling Justin if Paul had been born first and Josiah second, we would have thought there was something seriously wrong with Josiah because they are so different!
And I was encouraged by the previous commenter about her spirited child and it getting a bit easier as they become school age. I really hope so. :) I really loved this post by the way!!
Oh, I am cracking up! Jill, these are so funny and just so hard to believe! Most people probably don't believe these stories, hugh? She has such a cute and funny personality! Sounds like a good book, and helpful for you and your spirited child:)
Sounds like my Mia. She is very spirited! She does not like to be hugged or loved on unless it is her idea. You cannot talk her into anything. Not even something fun. We still make her obey the first time she is told which means she has to get A LOT of spankings. She says things to me like "But 'my mom' said I could do that". and I say "I am your MOM and I said no you may not". Sometimes it is so funny and other times I feel like I am going to pull my hair out. I am beginning to realize the more one on one time I spend with her, the better she acts. She needs that uninterrupted time with me. Not lots of hugs and kisses (like I love to give and get) but just time. It is so hard being a parent. Just wait until you have another one and they are totally different. It is crazy I tell you! Love you Jill! You are doing a great job!
Post a Comment