2 y.o. self care

"Iiiiiii, Just SOOOOOOOO OO OOO SAAAAD!"

Thus began this morning. Over the past week we have set up the house to prepare for the baby. (The whole "well your water could break anytime so just go to the hospital when it does" was the extra incentive we needed to get prepped.) We brought half the toy room out to the front room to allow for more interaction with Katie as I sit on the couch. We set up a space for the baby in our room. (Yes, yes we do have 3 bedrooms. I however am a paranoid mother and still have a baby monitor in Katie's room. And I am not a good night wake-er. So having the baby within arm reach is what is best for us.) Katie helped me pull out all the clothes and toys and wash everything. We have meals in the freezer, bags packed, and we even made 14 cloth diapers the other day. (anyone ever gone that way before???!!!! I have no clue what I am thinking!) All in all, I thought she was handling it well. We involve her in everything, and have made matching blankets and shirts for them, and have a few special presents she will get when the baby is born. She sits and has cuddle time with my tummy, gives the baby good night hugs, plays ring around the rosey (my belly has pinch marks from where she grabs on) and sits and sings and reads to the baby.  But she is only 2 (almost 3), and I knew that a day like today was coming. I am sure there will be more.

It started because I pulled out and washed all the "newborn" inserts for the the bouncer, highchair, car seats ect. I left them to dry on the couch last night and woke up to "Oh mommy! Can I use this? Did you wash it for me!??"
Fail= "groan. sweetheart, those are for baby Dakotah." roll over and try to get back to sleep. (in my defense, I was tired. She'd been up with a bad dream at 3am.)

Thus began a sob session. She had hit her limit. The cool toys (teething rings and rattles) were for the baby, the clothes were for the baby, the blankets, the car seat, the play pen, the bouncer, the diapers, the wipes, the binkis, the bottles..... all of it was for the baby. It was just too much for her little brain to handle anymore. (silly mommy thinking that somehow doing this right after christmas when she had gotten a lot of new stuff would help at all.)

"It is a lot of baby stuff, huh?"
Sniff, sniff "YEEEAAAAHHH!"
"Hmmmm, well, it sounds like we need some Katie big girl stuff."
Silence.
"How about a trip to the DI to see if we can find some?"
"OH YES YES YES!"
Tears vanished, she jumped off the rocking chair and instantly stripped so that she could get changed to go.
3$ later we left the DI. Satisfied, if but for the moment. She really will be such a great big sister. She tells me all the time what games and toys and blankets she will share. She even said that she will play ring around the rosey with Dakotah when she is born so that I can take a shower. (This mommy might pull the bouncer into the bathroom and hide the baby!) She is just learning a very important aspect of life. You can give and give and give to others, but ultimately, you have to take care of yourself, too.

Sigh. Too bad hair cuts or pedis/manis aren't 3$.
lol