Week 22: Toddlers (Part 2)

Toddlers are difficult,  I have talked about this before.  But now that Alex is walking, he is beginning to take things up a notch as he develops a new sense of independence.  We took him to Tracy Aviary on Friday, and oh boy. . .all I can say is I think it's time to get a leash!  He also started practicing his drawing skills while I was in the shower the other day. .

This kid has no interest in drawing on paper, but apparently scribbling on walls is AWESOME!  When I tried to explain to him that we only draw on paper and NOT walls, he completely ignored what I was saying, grabbed Matt's hand, and pointed out his beautiful masterpiece.  Oy! . . At least it wasn't in a room that we have finished yet.     

Alex has also begun a hands-on study of culinary arts.  Yesterday while making some biscuits for dinner, Alex insisted he help stir.  As any good chef knows, a spoon is completely unnecessary in these matters when you have the use of your hands.  After getting dough all over, he was very distressed that his hands were dirty, so I sat him on the stool at the sink to wash.  He began playing with the faucet while I finished up, putting the dirty bowl in the sink.  And what do you do with a dirty bowl when you are 1.5 years old?  Why you put it on your head, of course!  Who knows, maybe globs of dough make for a good conditioner.

 

Having a toddler is hard!  They are crazy, and loud, and really really messy.  At times I wonder why I was so eager to have kids in the first place.  

And then things like this happen: the other day I had to do laundry, so I pulled out the hamper and began picking up the clothes on the floor (yes, we are slobs like that).  Alex was happily playing with the USB cord he found in the office, and I honestly wasn't paying too much attention to him.  The next thing I know, Alex is at our dresser, frantically trying to open the drawer.  "No, Alex, we don't need to open that right now," I tell him.  He starts to throw a fit.  My blood pressure rises.  "Alex, don't throw a fit.  We don't need to get in there right now. Go find something else to do."  He starts pounding those little fists of his and screams.  "Ahhhh!!!  KID!"  I stop what I'm doing and bend down to pick him up, at which point I realize that he is holding some dirty clothes from the hamper.  "What on earth?  Little man, what are you doing?! . . . . .ohhhhhhh"  And then it hits me; last week I had him help me put away Matt's socks, and now my sweet little boy had decided to "help" me by putting the dirty clothes from the hamper into daddy's drawer, but was frustrated that he couldn't get it open by himself and I had told him no.  . . . motherly FAIL right there.  I promptly changed my tune once I realized what he was doing and tried to explain that I was grateful for his help, but that those clothes needed to go in the washer INSTEAD of the dresser.  Thankfully he was equally as happy to throw all the clothes in the washer for me.  

Yes, my child runs around like a mad man, makes huge messes, and has become the Tantrum King.  Yes, it is definitely a challenge to take care of him.  So why do I do it?  Why does anyone ever have kids? 

Playing in a blanket fort

Because it is completely worth it.

Happy photographing!