1. It happened tonight. I hear a thud, then I hear "Let me in, let me in." Here is the conversation between E and me that takes place downstairs -
Me - "Did you hear that?"
E - "It was just me closing the cabinet."
Me - "You sure - I think he just got out of his bed."
E - "No - it was the cabinet."
Me - "Is he saying let me in?"
E - "Yeah - hmm"
Me - "I will go."
Sure enough I walk in and he is at the door because he can't open the door. I walk in and ask what he is doing out of bed and he says nothing just climbs in the chair for me to rock him. As I sat there and rocked him and smelled the Johnson's baby wash in his hair I just thought how sweet of a boy he is. (Once you keep reading this statement may seem crazy.) All he wanted was for me to rock him and put him to bed. And finally I looked down at him and his droopy eyes and said "Ok its time to lay in your bed and go to sleep ok?" And him and all his nighttime sweetness replies, "Ok Mommy". I lay him in his bed and he says stand with me just a minute. (In this toddler bed I will stand by him and rub his back just a minute.) And so I did. I wish I could keep this sweet mental picture in my mind when I just want to scream in frustration at him. Like yesterday....
2. We finally made it to church. He had been sleeping until like 8am on the weekends - soooo nice by the way. Except that if he sleeps till 8 we will never make it to church. He was in a fine mood. I thought we were all prepared. We talked about how you have to be quiet in church. We had Nemo snacks, fruit loops, juice - I mean what more could we need. Uhhh lollipops apparently.
1 - We walk in late. Great start.
2 - We are there maybe 5 minutes and he goes digging in my purse. "I want a lollipop" he says. (Que Prayer) "I don't have one Coop." Screaming starts. Not a little scream people. A full out wail. I go to pick him up to take him out - he screams louder. So I let him down and just start praying seriously hard, "Please God make him stop." No Luck. Prayer ends. I look at Eddie and just glare and mouth the words "GET HIM OUT OF HERE". He does. Then comes back like 1 minute later. "What are you doing?" No response. He somewhat behaves the rest of the service. By "behaves" I mean rolling on the ground playing with his cars.
3 - After the service I have three mothers stop me and comment. Things like Oh don't worry you notice it more than anyone else. Or he is so cute - I know he was trying you today but he is adorable. And my favorite (by a little boy sitting behind me) "I'm sorry."
I was mortified. I almost cried. I don't know why. I was defeated by a 2.5 year old that knows better. Why do I think he knows better - he told me. After the service I said Do you know why Mommy is upset? He says because I was loud in church. Pure frustration folks.
3. How do you deal with toddlers? I love you Cooper - with all my heart. But boy do you test me. I lose all sense of calmness when he throws a fit. I need to be better. He needs to be better. We need to learn how to figure this out.
You know what's really scary is I see myself in him when he gets like this. Don't tell Eddie that ok? He won't read this so I am safe, but if you guys go and tell him its all over folks. (No more stories for you all!) He gets frustrated and freaks out. That's me. His new thing is he sticks his tongue out and spits. Or (exactly like me when I was little) he bites himself on the arm. Maybe I should ask Eddie how he deals with me???
4. Cooper is into dancing right now - only for the right song though. He likes to spin around on one foot and bob his head. Cracks me up. He also really likes to play this golf game on the Ipad - can he do it himself you ask? Oh yes folks. He can.
5. Tonight he went on the potty and we celebrated. And I said yay for you. And he says I get a treat! So I said that's right - if you go on the potty tomorrow morning you can have two treats on your way to school! His reply - Mommy I just went on the potty. (Just insert the face of like I did what you said come on lady!) Classic Stubborn 2 year old.
So now a few pictures of Coop in action...
And yes I realize my child is a mini replica of his dad.
