"Birthmarks"

I found this link on Pinterest and had to share it.  I know it is vain, but I have been finding myself dreading that post pregnancy body that will be here soon.  I realize that the gift of a child is worth any sort of havoc on my body, yet it does not mean that I will not be insecure and unhappy with the gooey belly, stretchmarks, and overall change in my body after this pregnancy.  Like I said, I know it sounds vain.  Finding this was a great reminder to me of what these changes to my body mean and to embrace them, rather than hate them.  Nowadays I feel that the world expects women to bounce right back after having children within a matter of weeks, rather than giving our bodies more than enough time to get the weight off.  Goodness, it takes 9 months to put on the weight and stretch our bellies out that far, why do we expect it all to go back within a matter of weeks?

If you click on the link you can see tons of pictures of post partum bellies. This really says it all, doesn't it?

A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn.

One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes,

and slept in the most perfect darkness.

One for every time you had the hiccups.

One for every dream you dreamed within me.

It isn't very pretty anymore.

Some may even think it's ugly.

That's OK.

It was your home.

It held you until my arms could,

and for that, I will always find something beautiful in it.

~ Cassie Fox

Big Girl Bed Failure

I am so frustrated now-a-days with the entire transition to the big bed. Eventually, they get it, right? I told myself that two week would most likely be plenty for Belle to catch on...boy was I wrong.

A couple Saturdays ago we started her in her big bed and she seemed more than thrilled. Stayed in bed. Slept all night. Dream. I assumed this was going to be one simple and smooth sailing transition. Then she discovered that she could get out of her bed AND open her door. Epic fail.

I feel as though we have tried everything. Taking things from her, spanking, flipping the doorknob around, and now I am at a loss. The lock on the door broke because she pulled on it so much, so now I am back to holding it shut. Spankings bother her for a quick moment and then she laughs. She could care less if I take things. We do a bedtime routine and I even try to prep her for staying in bed like a "good girl." I even tried the Supernanny approach to walking her back to her bed without saying anything. After an hour or so, I tired of Belle finding it to be a fun game and myself quickly exhausted. Thanks, Supernanny, for that waste of time.

So, help! Please pass along advice, suggestions, anything! At least someone tell me I'm not alone!