How it must be to be two

I have been 'blessed' *COUGH* to enjoy the summer with my two year old. You must understand before I start this blog- that I do truly truly love my experiences with my boys...all of them! But I knew even BeFoRe starting a family that having kids was no walk in the park. Off track for a sec- I think that saying 'no walk in the park' should be replaced with something more simply- because in the century we live in... a walk in the park can seem extremely taxing to some! Quite pathetic really, but also sadly true. I think I'll go with something else. SO I knew that having kids was no sitting in front of a TV. (much better) Ayden lately has been proving to me, what I've known all along, but the one thing I didn't think about was how hard it must be on the TWO year old.

He seems to be constantly sticking his own foot out in order to trip himself. Oh how I wish I had a picture or a recording of the tantrums he likes to throw! He has developed many new habits- the first of which goes along with the above picture. He has deemed his bed unworthy of sleeping in. The floor is much better suited for his needs. This way he can kick the door at his leisure to make sure I know he's still around. He can- if he chooses, pull the doorstop out and snuggle with it as he naps OR he can pull the stuffing out of his poor bear and shove it under the door. If you look close enough at the picture you can see stuffing behind Ayden's ear. :)

Along with his desired napping arrangements has come a new found power over little brother. Since he's not allowed to hit, shove, pull, drag, or steal from Ethan, he has found new means of
dominating him. Covertly playing peek-a-boo with him when in reality he's trying to suffocate the poor guy. *kidding* Naturally Ethan was not in enough peril based off a Mommy calculation and a picture followed my surprise at what Ayden was doing. Many times I have not been able to find Ethan... only to see a bean bag slightly moving. Big brother? No where in sight.

Ayden has also decided that it will surely be worth his time to cry every time I mention "breakfast", "lunch" or "dinner" and then once I have the meal ready he has also found it necessary to push the plate or bowl away in disgust. I have yet to not react to this. It lately has been the single-most annoying thing he has done. We had spaghetti tonight and since he has already pushed the plate away, I have decided I am going to feed the little bugger if its the last thing I do. I get the fork and noodles nice and intertwined and bring them to his mouth and he has the NERVE to smile and turn his head away as soon as the fork touches his lips... if you didn't know what this would do- it makes you drop the fork or lose the noodles all over the place AND it makes you really, really, ReAlLy impatient. You know Hades off of the Disney movie Hercules? Yeah- if my hair was a blue fireball like his, it would have been flaming red all over the place because I was so irked.

As a result, Ayden ate his dinner crying and I tried to relax. Which once he was done I was calmed down pretty good. BUT then I said the words, 'time to go to bed' and he had one of his famous meltdowns. Just picture *Giant red fireball head* We both managed to get upstairs in one piece. Then- time to brush teeth. We were good, but then I kept asking him to open his mouth, which YES he understands. Remember two year old making my life and his life hard. He closes down on the brush and sucks for all its worth. I was in the motion of brushing his back teeth and stabbed the back of his throat as a result. He cries and is done. I put him on the floor and he wants back up, nope- bed time... and another tantrum. SO- no books or songs tonight, just prayers.

Let's see... what else has he done to just make his little life harder? Ah- he doesn't EVER pay attention to where he's walking. He's ran into walls, corners of tables and counters, fallen off chairs, couches, stairs and beds. He'll ask for milk- I'll bring it and he cries because he wants juice, sometimes I'll appease him and bring juice and he'll cry for the milk. AND the one last thing that I'm certain makes it most hard on his little self is the fact that he truly feels entitled to everything in this house. So when we say no to something its like we're saying no to what he's already deemed his. Poor guy.

One day I will find this comical... I just know it. In my defense for my impatience, I have been "single-parenting" for months now, which would wear on anyone. McKay has liver disease and as a result I am the only one physically capable of caring for the boys.