Sleeping on the cold, hard floor

Well, it's week number 3 and Elisa is still not fond of nightly sleeping. Seems as if the little girl just wants to be held and the presence of another human with her. Our nightly struggle begins anywhere between 2 and 3 am and lasts until 6 am when Wil leaves for work. Don't get me wrong, we don't let a little pout and whining fool us, even though she's our first. It seems that our social butterfly is just not found of sleeping during the dark hours of our day.

We've tried the Ferber method of crying it out, many Baby Whisperer techniques, and now I am trying out Super Nanny's camping out in her room and slowing moving myself out each night. The second night the floor seemed a little softer, but the noises (not whines or cries, mind you) from the crib beside me were something else. For almost 2 hours straight, Elisa tossed and turned, dangled her feet through the railings and practiced her new vocabulary. I think she finds it humorous that I am laying on her floor. Oh the stories I will have to share with her later.

So, poor Wil, I have been a grumpier than usual, but fellow moms have assured me this to will pass...

Stuck inside...

It's day 2 and Elisa and I can't play outside. Well, we haven't been able to do that for several weeks, but with this ice storm, it's beginning to look like a long winter. Maybe I should be enjoying days of being in a warm house...but I admit I am spoiled. Three years of NOT experiencing winter has this mom wishing for some pupusas (typical Salvadoran food), fire works (to bring in the new year -- the loudest fireworks ever and right in front of your door!), and singing Christmas songs with your car windows down. Those are just a few things that I will miss this Christmas. But I have to admit, being with my family here is worth missing all of it.

I remember one of the funniest things Wil said to me his first winter here (and this is number 3!). We were walking out of a bank in Kearney and Christmas carols had been playing. It was windy and freezing cold outside (I can't remember if there was snow), but he said, "Okay, this is so wrong, to hear Christmas music and to walk outside in the bitter cold!" I just smiled, knowing he was used to tropical holidays. He has definitely learned what those picture postcards are really like now!

No, I will NOT sit on his lap!

Well, I never thought that she would be scared. We went to see Santa at the library today and if you can see from the video, she was up in the middle dancing, thriving on being the middle of attention. But she grabbed onto me when it came our turn and didn't even want the candy cane he tried to give her.

All and all, she is doing really well and is saying new words all the time. She is now even repeating Spanish words with Wil, which he is excited about.

We are counting down the days (a little over a month) til we get to soak in the tropical warm weather again. Winter has just started and Elisa and I are so very anxious every day to get out of the house. I can just imagine how it will be when we have ice storms.

Dancing with Santa