Handling the crazy

Boden will be two in just a few short months and the taste of the "terrible twos" that I've had so far has been bittersweet. On one hand, it's so fun to see him grow and have this little person to hang out with everyday. On the other hand...it's hell. He is like a moody teenager, or a woman with raging hormones. He's happy one second, and the next moment he's flailing on the ground screaming. Or he will be crying with tears streaming down his face and mid-cry he will start laughing hysterically. He is on a rollercoaster of emotions and it just figures that it starts now, when my hormones are finally starting to balance out. I guess that's how nature intended it to work, and I'm thankful for that. I'm afraid that someone would have jumped ship if there was more than one of us in the house flying from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. We can only handle so much crazy.

The hardest thing about this phase is the hitting and pushing that B is experimenting with. We are out at playdates and activities a lot with other kids and I've started to have to hover over him all the time to prevent him knocking someone over! 99% of the other kids that we play with are girls, and they are all so lovely. None of them hit, they all share nicely, and they sit on their mom's laps like sweet little cherubs. My messy, wild, little boy does none of those things and runs around like a banshee smacking these little, sweet girls on the head. It's heartbreaking and has brought me to tears many nights after putting him to sleep. I know it's a normal phase for kids to go through but that doesn't make it any easier when he's just pushed a little girl, half his size, down on the ground and she's screaming and crying in front of ten other mothers. For one, it's embarassing. Two, it's hard on the kids getting pushed and it's hard on Bodie. It just sucks all around. Sometimes I think that we are out too much and he gets overwhelmed with all the activity. This week, we've skipped all the activities and instead have had some quiet time and smaller outings together, hoping this will ease him into the social scene a little easier. It's a learning process for us all, but boy there have been some tears shed at the Leopin house lately, and not just Boden! I'm thankful though, that during this cold January weather, we have a safe, warm home where we can spend our days snuggling and reading books. And, we are spending a lot of time with our teddy bears and dolls, practicing sharing and playing gentle. Stay tuned.

 

 

Out with the old and in with the new!

I took a break. From the middle of December, when I was hit with a nasty bug, to the first of 2015, I checked out of my day to day responsibilities. First, I was taken down by a head/chest cold that knocked me out, bad. It was my first time being sick with an active toddler and holy mother, it was rough, rough, rough. Christmas Eve was the first time that I felt the least bit better, thank god! Then, Christmas was upon us. Boden was happy as a clam, picking up the word "fun!" days before, so he was able to play with all his new things while yelling "fun! fun!". What a joy. Trains, games and building blocks were his faves. This was my break; I enjoyed my family. I picked up my vacuum once in an almost three week period (!!!). It was heavenly. I didn't clean, I didn't cook, I passed diaper changes off to all of Boden's grandparents, aunts, uncles and daddy. I played on the floor with my soon to be two year old, visited Santa, played with friends, snuggled on the couch, spent time with Boden's great grandparents (on both sides), grandparents and many other people who love him. We went for walks and enjoyed the mild December weather. We just enjoyed each other and tried not to care that there were dust bunnies quietly growing under the kitchen table or that we were living out of laundry baskets. We made the most of the season and now there is a new one upon us. A New Year that is sure to bring new joys and new challenges. The closing of 2014 marked my first full year of being an at-home mom. It's taken me a year to get my bearings and to finally feel like I'm doing it right. It's also taken me a year to realize that my choice to change careers has forced many other things to change as well, in every aspect of my life. I'm trying to embrace the changes and throw myself into being the best mom I can be. I'm diving into 2015 with an open mind, an open heart and open eyes. I don't want to miss a thing. Oh, and I've reconnected with my vacuum and my closet. It's still a love/hate relationship.

Toddlerhood

Boden yelled "mama!" from his crib the other morning and my heart melted a little bit. He's a warm, snuggly ball in the morning and I'm thankful that I get to pluck him from his crib each day. He's almost 19 months old and he sleeps from 7pm-6:30am. He has two favorite things that he sleeps with: a muslin blanket and a zebra lovie little blanket. He calls them both bae, so funny. I love that he's attached to something...it's adorable.

B still naps a couple times a day, though he's starting to fight his afternoon snooze lately. Our routine is constantly in flux and sometimes his naps depend on what our plans are for the day. He's flexible and goes with the flow. He's also talking up a storm and starting to put words together. He says "good boy" to Kale and it's amazing. My most favorite thing, ever, is that he says "love you". Oh mah gawwwd! I've waited so long for him to say it back and it was worth the wait. It comes out sounding like "la lou" and trust me, it's magical.

He climbs stairs like a champ, can say "more" and "thank you" in sign language, says please (peas!) before everything, loves it when Kale licks his face, enjoys trucks, loves music and dancing, can run like a track star, scribbles with crayons, can identify a few colors, pretends to swim in the tubby, and calls fire tucks "wee-news". He also hits, bites, throws, yells, scratches, and throws hissy fits on the ground. I think it's safe to say that we are officially in toddlerhood. I'm glad you're along for the ride.

 

 

-Nicole

 

Halloween 2014

 

We had a laid back, laughter filled Halloween. Bodie and I went to his great Mimi's condo for cookies and cider with the rest of the family. After that we had a pizza party at Grammie & Grampie's house and handed out candy to trick or treaters. Casey headed up north in hopes of bagging a buck the next morning. The hunting gear worked in a pinch for our photo op, though he had little luck the next day.

 

-Nicole

 

The October Nor'easter

We survived the week of relentless rain and wind and came out on the other end nursing our cabin fever. We were inside almost all week. I was practically scratching at the door when the sun finally came out on Saturday. On Thursday, Boden and I braved the 1/4 mile car ride to the library for our weekly toddler story time. "Story time" is used very loosely here. Really, it's the sweet little children's librarian playing her guitar and singing for 10-15 toddlers and their parents. We attempt to sit in a circle on our mats but in reality the kids are up, dancing around inside the circle. Boden is easily distracted (I say he's just ready for his next adventure...) but he usually spends the 30 minutes doing his own thing. A few weeks ago there were some landscapers outside dumping dirt and working on a patio. B spent the whole story time with his face smooshed to the glass door, waving at the work men and saying "Hi! Hi! Hi!". He successfully rallied a few other kids to look too but they always found their way back to the music. Boden watched the trucks the whole time. Two weeks ago he started exploring the whole room and got smacked in the head by another boy for no apparent reason. (Toddlers don't need a reason to hit, right? They just do it?) It didn't phase him and they just kept playing. He also learned where the exit was. This past week he banged on the door to get out and would try to sneak between any parent's legs who opened the door. (There is a train table in the other room that is his favorite thing in the world right now.) He did dance a lot this week and is making friends quickly. He's starting to communicate more and understand more. Fast! Lately I keep looking at him and just tearing up thinking of how big he's gotten in such a short amount of time. The ache is real and I don't like it. Babies are not babies for near long enough and it's just not fair. *foot stomp* He's becoming a little boy, with his own personality and sense of humor and it kills me! Being a parent is freaking awesome. I didn't snag any photos at the library but will share some from our week of "rain, rain, go away".

 

Quiet time

The best...

Snuggling with friends

 

After nap grumpiness

Kale, look! Look!

Making sure the birds have plenty to eat

 

Richard Scarry. Thank you.

 

-Nicole

 

A day at the museum

Our baby Boden is 18 months old. I'm not sure where the time went and where our little [quiet] baby boy is. The days are long but, damn, are the years short.

I took B to the Portland Children's museum for some fun on his half birthday. He loved the museum and exploring one of our favorite little cities! Auntie Kiki joined us and I give her credit for all of the photos in this post.

 

I also attempted our traditional monthly photo to document 18 months and it was a struggle to say the least.

18 months

Just six short months ago!

 

We are weathering the October Nor'easter right now with the wind and the rain. I'm waiting for nap time to be over so we can throw on the rain boots and jackets and go terrorize some puddles!!

 

-Nicole