Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

Earlier this week, I thought I might have bitten off more than I could chew with this whole "new leaf" (see previous 2 posts), but now I'm not so sure. I just had to get my thoughts more organized and SLOW down. All is well now. Still plenty to do, but it doesn't all have to be done this minute. Geez.

Before I tell about that kind of stuff, I thought I'd tell a couple stories from my week. They entertained me.

Ariel is crawling now. I'm so excited. I was worried her "extra" weight was going to mean bad things or at least slow things. But she is finally there. Although, those chubby thighs do require a little more coordination on her part. Interestingly, I think she is more excited that she can get into a sitting position all by herself than she is about crawling. She's been doing this for several weeks now, but just this week she decided its exciting. She keeps finding things she wants to crawl to, gets into position, and stops to sit up. She always looks very proud of herself after she sits back up again. Silly girl. I think I have a video of both the crawling and the sitting I can post on here. I keep finding her in her crib after naptime sitting up looking at the door. She's super cute and oh so proud. Maybe later today I'll post that video...during nap time. :)

Speaking of Ariel, let me tell you about her toys. The dogs have dis...brief interlude to stop Ariel from pulling the DVD shelf on top of herself (Ariel is learning "no" with a vengence this week)...the dogs have discovered her toys. Several times in the last week when I have come home toys have been taken from Ariel's basket and chewed on a little or just strewn over the floor, but today was my breaking point. Truck has torn, or rather eaten, the eye out of one of Ariel's new stuffed animals - a chameleon that goes with a book from Kohl's. I was hot. Now I think I'll have to find a new way to stop this from happening. Unfortunately, they don't mess with the toys while we are around, so reprimanding isn't really working. This is sad to me because for the last 9 months they have NEVER messed with any of Ariel's stuff. I was so proud of my very mature, smart doggies. Back to square one...or at least back a few paces I guess.

You know, I think I just figured something out. I have moved the dog basket up to a level they can't reach - can't remember why, but there was a reason at the time - it was supposed to be temporary. Maybe they are just bored when we leave? I'll move them back and see what happens. Wish me luck. I don't want to have to move Ariel's toys to her bedroom everytime we leave the house, but that may be what happens. ...Oh now I remember, they were being very noisy with their toys on a day I wanted quiet, so I kept taking the toys and putting them away as they go on my nerves until we had an empty bottom basket. Poor doggies. They haven't really had any toys for about 2 weeks. I was wondering why the outside balls kept coming inside. This mystery may be solved.

My silly story for the week: I locked my keys in my car and "lost" my cellphone. So here I am at Wachovia being so organized. I was depositing several checks and going grocery shopping, but I get to the atm and realize I have left the checks in my coupon organizer with my list instead of in my wallet (organization bites me in the butt), so I go back to my car - throw the keys into the passenger seat - grab the checks and head back to the atm. I get my banking done and go back to the car. Oh no! The keys are on the passenger seat in the locked car. Oh no no! My cellphone is lost. Can't drive, can't call Jason. So I think "I'll ask a stranger if I can use his phone...everyone has a cell phone right?" - just when I find a guy I realize, "Jason can't help. I have the car with the carseat and he has the baby". Final result: I walked home with a pen in my hand and an atm card in my pocket. It wasn't very far, but it did start raining for the last block. I felt healthier though since I got to exercise that day!

During my grocery shopping trip that night, Jason had his first opportunity to discipline Ariel. She was trying to open the cabinet under the TV. It isn't very sturdy and not a good habit to start, so he firmly said "Ariel, no!"...this happened a few times with little result so he did it again, took her hands away, and popped them. She immediately turned away from him, put her head way down - think chin touching chest. Waited a few, very long seconds and start to bawl! She didn't do it again for a while, but I think she just about broke Jason's heart. He resisted giving into her, but from the way he told the story it must have been very difficult. She's heard no before and even had her hand popped, but not by Daddy. Oh well, she'll get used to it...and he will too.

I think I'll write more about my new leaf stuff when I put the videos up. I'll be back.