For parents.....

Everyone who has a small child really needs to read this article. Like, today, right now. Toddlerhood is wonderful and fascinating and surprising and exhausting. It's not easy to discipline. It's not easy to know which limits have to be set every time or which can bend a little bit for a special day. It's not easy to know when to give up the nap and then have everyone miserable during dinner because MELTDOWN MODE is on. It's not easy to practice manners at home and then have your child ignore all those teachings in public. It's not easy to have all the time in the world to play when in the back of your mind you've got to make dinner, do laundry, do yardwork, clean the house, etc. It is amazing to see them learn. It is amazing the hysterical things that come out of their mouths. It is amazing to get hugs and kisses without prompting. It's amazing to hear prayers before bed and to hear them recite their favorite books by heart. It's amazing!!! This article helps us to remember that we are not alone in the process and we are all doing a great job (most of the time, anyway!!)

This other article is one I've seen around FB and in the blogosphere, but if you haven't read it either, please do. Totally worth the read. Her blog, in general, is SO truely spoken. I love it!

Have a wonderful Tuesday! And please say hi in the comments! I'd love to hear from you today!

Happy Birthday, Dear Spencer!!

Spencer Young, today you are TWO!!!! How quickly time flies! Your smile is enough to light up a room and when you errupt into laughter, everyone else does too. Your happiness, energy, and vivaciousness are definitely contagious, buddy of mine!!

Morning of your second birthday in the front yard.

You are talking up a storm.  Constant stream of two word phrases with some three word sentences thrown in for good measure.  You can currently identify about 3/4 of the letters of the alphabet and can easily count to 11.  You're definitely meeting all your milestones that you need to meet, though I don't think you're the smartest kid your age (even though Mimi thinks so!!).  Right now your favorite saying is "Oh man" with the cutest little accent.  It's really funny and since we laugh at it, you say it even more!!  You're pretty good about please and thank you but we're still working on saying hello to strangers or people you don't know as well. 

You are slow to warm up to people you don't know.  You are definitely NOT a social butterfly unless you are in your regular situations.  You talk a lot at daycare and are very busy there (and not shy), but you are pretty hesistent in other situations (even at church which is a weekly situation for you).  When other kids, friends, or family come to our house, it takes you less time to warm up as you are at home with mom and dad. 

(You've got one down, now we just need to get you to do 2!)

You're a good eater still.  Today at the doctor's office you were 29 lbs 6 oz.  We're able to switch you to skim milk now (yea for one less gallon in the fridge).  We also have to work on getting you to like cheese less as it's definitely your favorite food!!  There really isn't much you don't like- green beans and cucumbers do not cross your lips ever :)  Peas and carrots are the veggies you like the best.  You'll eat any fruit, you love pasta ("noonles") and pretty much all meats.  Tonight we made black bean burritos and you ate them right up- lettuce, onions, beans, cheese and all!!

You've been waiting for these cupcakes for weeks!

You have been soooooo sweet with your "brudder",baby Peter.  Daddy and I are so happy that you are responding well to him.  It certainly helps that Mimi is here helping for 10 days so you are getting tons of attention.  You give him kisses all the time, love to hug him, and want to show him all your toys.  I'm hoping this continues once we are settled into normal life with no visitors.

You are really upset that mommy can't lift you up but you understand that mommy has band-aids from when baby Peter was born.  It's going to be a longggggg two months, kiddo.  I already miss holding you and picking you up like crazy.  It's probably harder on me than it is on you, but I do know that it's hard for you to understand.

You're a great kid, buddy, and we're lucky parents.  You have your moments (ahhhhhh.......two.  I've heard it gets worse at 3, lucky mommy!!!) and I'm sure we'll have some discipline issues in the next year, but, honestly, we do feel that you are a pretty good kid.  We love you like crazy and cannot believe how fast the past two years have gone!  I hope the next year is just as funfilled!! 

Something all moms should read.

I read this blog post Monday, and while I don't have four kids (yet???  Just kidding, B!!), there are days when one (sweet and perfect (ha!)) toddler is enough to make me think I'm crazy for having another.  Most days, this is not the case, but let me tell you, getting him into the carseat when he is mad and doesn't want to is the worst.  I had zero concept of that prior to being a mom.  Or when he decides he is starving in the middle of the day and there are no more snacks in the diaper bag and he is screaming "Nack, Nack" over and over.  Or when whining takes over your toddler to the point where you want to send him to his room for inappropriate behavior (laughable for a 21 month old!). 

Most days, I adore being a mom more than I ever could imagine, but there are days.  For sure.  I think this post is the best I have ever read on the journey of motherhood.  We all judge; it's so easy to do.  But what is so important to remember is that everyone, you, I, children, husbands, bosses, EVERYONE has a bad day now and again, and just a little bit of kindness may be exactly what that person needs.  I compliment parents at work often (since I work in pediatrics and it's part of my job), but I don't ever think about it in public.  This is my reminder to myself that everyone appreciates and deserves compliments regularly and that it is always wonderful to hear that you are a great mom or dad and that your child is being very well behaved/respectful/polite/patient/funny, etc.  We're all trying very, very hard to do right by our children.  It's just not always perfect!!