No More Quarter-pint Containment...

It's a sad, sad, sad week at our house. This week Quarter-pint has MASTERED climbing out of his high chair (even when buckled in), AND his crib. I'm not ready to have the busy little man loose around the house with NO containment options! My life just got more stressful!

Half-pint Happenings...

I know, I'm a little behind; these are some of the things Half-pint has been up to recently: It's been a busy past few weeks for Half-pint! He started preschool this fall-at the same school he attended last year-with all the same friends and a few new ones. He was so excited to go and this year it's old hat, so there is some comfort in that for him (and me).

We took the boys on their first camping trip in August. Half-pint was so excited to sleep in a tent that it didn't matter that Quarter-pint kept us (mostly me) awake most of the night-both nights. Half-pint LOVED roasting marshmallows over the fire and playing with Aunt C6-they had secret forts under the low boughs of the trees between the camp sites. We also took Half-pint spelunking. He was super excited to go into a "spooky cave". He practically ran up the 3/4 mile (switch back) hiking trail to the cave entrance.

He took one look at the entrance and freaked out! There was NO WAY he was climbing into that hole-into the dark! Daddy and I spent a few minutes of talking, then bribing and he eventually decided to try. Once he got in he was a champ! We had a hard time keeping a good hold on him-he was trying to lead the whole group around in the dark. He even used a rope to climb up a few steep, slippery, muddy slopes. He crawled on his hands and knees, and generally loved the whole experience. We were so proud of him for facing his fear of the dark, cold cave!

Half-pint also tried his hand at fishing (another first) before we left the beautiful Sylvan Lake State Park campground. I don't think they caught anything though. We still had a great time with family for a few days in beautiful surroundings!

On our way home, we caught up with Grammy and Grandpa C in Dillon. We stayed another night there and the boys rode the alpine slide for the first time. They had a blast! Half-pint wasn't even afraid of the chair lift ride to the top. We also rented a pontoon boat and spent a few hours on the lake. The boys took turns driving the boat with Grandpa. They thought it was great fun!

Over Labor Day weekend we were back in Dillon. We took the boys on the train in Leadville (elevation 10,200 feet). Quarter-pint kept saying "Hoo-hoo!" (choo-choo). We ate popcorn and enjoyed the scenery. Then we took a "short cut" back towards the house-we went 4-wheeling over Mosquito Pass. It's notoriously very rocky. We bounced slowly along and both boys eventually fell asleep. After we reached the summit and started heading down the east side, the boys woke up. Half-pint chimed in "Daddy, let's go home. There's lots of rocks on this road!" Then he said "this thing needs new shocks!!!" The shocks on the jeep are fine-it was just REALLY rocky! We got out to look around an old mine-then near the bottom we explored the mine's mill house. Half-pint really wanted to go up the rickety, half decomposed, wooden steps to explore the top two levels-he just wanted to see it all! (I think he gets that from me-I really wanted to explore it ALL too, but it obviously wasn't safe.)

Now we're back into the swing of school and speech therapy schedules and just a regular routine. It's kind of nice (at least for me) to know what the week will hold-but we still have one weekday each week that's totally unscheduled-today we're headed to the zoo!

More Quarter-pint Mischief...

Just this morning (it's not even noon yet), I've caught Quarter-pint tearing pages out of library books, playing with the handicam, playing with my heat laminating machine, picking on his brother, playing with the extra car keys-setting off the car alarm (with the car securely in the closed garage), turning up the volume on the movie the boys were watching so loud that I could hear it upstairs while I was in the shower, tearing apart my spider plant, continually opening and closing the freezer, and generally causing havoc.

This is a fairly typical day with Quarter-pint; sometimes I'm nearly consumed by trying to keep him out of trouble and from getting hurt. I am SO happy for his afternoon nap time that I can barely contain my excitement. Aren't busy two-year-old boys fun?

Quarter-pint Mischief...

Quarter-pint has officially entered the "Terrible Twos". Thank goodness it's not generally for screaming tantrums (although he does do that on occasion), but more for all the mischief he gets into. On several occasions recently (especially since his birthday) I find him doing both naughty and funny things. We were having a difficult day (Quarter-pint was whining and into everything, and I was trying to keep my cool) when I thought a little distraction might be a good idea. He likes to help me, especially when I'm doing the laundry and it just so happened that I had a load of laundry to move from the washer to the dryer-perfect for him to help me with! He happily followed me tot he laundry room, pattering his little feet the whole way. I opened the dryer and then turned to open the washer. When I turned back to the dryer (literally just a few seconds) this is what I found...

...and I couldn't get him out. I grabbed his little body, but he grabbed on to anything he could. It was a tug-of-war match for a good minute or two before I emerged triumphant and he was freed from the bowels of the dryer. Thank goodness he's not strong enough to open the dryer door by himself!

A few days later, I was washing dishes in the kitchen sink while the boys enjoyed cartoons on the couch. Half-pint was tired, so I was glad they were sitting quietly (there had already been a lot of crying and whining). All of the sudden Half-pint let out a wail that nearly shook the house. I quickly assessed the situation, while still standing at the kitchen sink. As I moved back from the sink so I could see both boys, I nearly laughed out loud (but I didn't because I knew it would only encourage the situation). There was Half-pint on one couch, holding his hand to the top of his head in pain, and Quarter-pint on the other couch, his slender little index finger pursed to his lips desperately trying to shush his brother. Quarter-pint knew he caused the wailing when he threw a toy that bonked the top of his brother's head.

I'm sure there are many more examples of Quarter-pint's mischief, but for the life of me I can't think of the others! He keeps us on our toes-and I'm sure he always will.

My Boys Like to Be Naked...

On Tuesday I left Quarter-pint in his booster chair eating lunch while I cleaned up another room. When I returned to the kitchen, I was surprised to see that he had taken off his shirt. He quickly told me he was finished and wanted down; as soon as I let him out of his chair he quickly took his shorts off. At nap time he wouldn't let me put even a shirt on his skinny little body. He insisted on staying clothes-free for the afternoon. Shortly before Daddy came home from work, Quarter-pint took off his diaper to attempt potty time. We tried, but with no success (no accidents either...so not all bad); Quarter-pint still wouldn't let me get him dressed. He doesn't usually take his clothes off, so when Daddy came home to find Quarter-pint greeting him at the garage door-completely naked-Daddy was shocked. I thought insisting on wearing his birthday suit on his birthday was more than a little humorous.

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On Thursday we had Half-pint's last swim lesson at the outdoor pool. That evening we went to Grammy's house for a family B-B-Q and swimming (if the weather held). By the time we were finished eating and cleaning up the food it was too late in the evening and getting too chilly to get into the pool. Half-pint took the news HARD. He cried. He whined. He pleaded. He cried some more. Then he tried to reason with me. When that didn't work, he tried to trick me into giving him the car keys so he could retrieve his bathing suit unassisted. After about 10 minutes of persistent pestering; he finally got tired of the consistent rejection; he took matters into his own hands. He quickly ran outside and around the far side of the pool-then began stripping ALL of his clothes off. Daddy spotted him and in an attempt to talk him out of it said "I can't save you-I don't have my swim suit!" Half-pint jumped in anyway and cleverly responded "That's okay Dad, you can come in like me!" Grandpa thought that sounded reasonable and goaded Daddy. In the end, Half-pint got his bathing suit on (there were girls in the pool) and got to swim for a little bit; against Momma's better judgement.

(Sorry, no pictures-but it was quite a sight!)

Quarter-pint Turns TWO...

Wow-my baby is not a baby any more. Quarter-pint is TWO today! I'm amazed at how quickly the time has passed! Quarter-pint seems littler (than Half-pint seemed at two) to me, and I can't quite put my finger on it. I've thought of a few possible reasons, but I'm still not sure where to place the blame: Half-pint is so much bigger (obviously; taller, more mature, etc); Quarter-pint is on the small side for his age; Quarter-pint isn't talking as much as Half-pint did at the same age; because I don't want him to get too big...it's probably a combination of all of those reasons.

Quarter-pint is getting into that very active, busy, naughty stage. I think I blocked it from my memory. The past week or so have been nuts-compounded by Half-pint's antics. It seems every time I turn around Quarter-pint is escaping outside, climbing up the pantry shelves or playing in the garage, flushing the toilet, sitting in the middle of the kitchen table, whacking everything in sight with any long stick-like anything he can get his hands on. When I catch him being naughty, he flashes me the "I know I'm naughty, but I know I'm cute" look. Quarter-pint is definitely his own little person! He's a fun kid, but he's really busy! He makes me crazy and makes me laugh at the same time.

Quarter-pint is a joy to our family. He LOVES his big brother (and is completely convinced that he's able to do everything that Half-pint can-and he's successful at most). They are "best buddies"--with all that entails. They run and play, and laugh and hide, together.

Quarter-pint is simply delightful, sweet, honest, quiet, playful, clever, fun-loving, clumsy, teasing, curious, energetic, observant, a daddy's boy, smart, resilient, and beautiful.

Happy Birthday Quarter-pint!!! We love you!

Half-pint's Teaches Momma to Be Like a Little Child...

Last night I had a difficult time keeping my cool while I was attempting to put Half-pint to bed. After a long day, we went the rounds about going potty and getting into pajamas-all the stuff that makes me absolutely crazy to deal with ALL the time-over and over again. I lost it and Half-pint lost privileges (including reading bedtime books AND the use of his THREE pillows, not to mention the threat of NO computer games all the next day); he even got his little bum swatted (I'm ashamed to admit that I totally lost my cool!). I left him stranded on his bed (with the threat of no computer games if he got off) while I put Quarter-pint down. When I came back into Half-pint's room 30 minutes later I was feeling pretty bad about my behavior. I scooped him into my arms and gave him a big hug. I asked him what he was thinking about and he silently touched the tip of my nose-"you Momma". "What are you thinking about me?" I was almost afraid to ask. With complete sincerity he said: "You are the best Momma in the world! I love you, Momma". I nearly came apart-after the poor treatment he received at my hand just a half-hour before he quickly and completely forgave and loved me anyway. What a shining example for his penitent Momma! What an amazing kid!

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Tonight while I was tucking Half-pint snugly into bed, he said "I want to meet Jesus." I was a little surprised because he's usually too silly to talk about Jesus, but I thought Great, I'll run with this as long as it lasts! We kept going with our bedtime routine, with a little silliness, but not the usual high jinks I expected. The conversation went on about like this:
"Mom, where does Jesus live?"
"At the temple."
"I want to see Jesus!"
Now, I'm getting curious..."Why do you want to see Him?"
"Because I never see him before. I want to see Jesus. Let's go to the temple and be there until it gets dark, then we go home and sleep in our beds, and we see Jesus at the temple."
"You need to be really good to see Jesus."
Groaning, "I can't be really good!"
"Well, you have to always TRY to be really good."
"I can't be really good when Quarter-pint hits me and always cries! ... I know!!! I have a plan! You have a mission-Mister Momma-your mission is to tell Daddy we need lots of wood, and he needs to buy lots of new paint-pink and blue paint, and all the tools-we need ALL of Daddy's tools! Tell Daddy to tell Aunt C6 that I need her help-I need help from everybody."
"Why do you need all that stuff and lots of help?"
"I need to build a booby-trap for Quarter-pint!"
"I'm not going to build a booby-trap for your brother!"
"But I need one for him because a CAN'T be really good to see Jesus when he hits my head and cries all the time."
"You can TRY to be good and not yell at your brother, he's still learning to be good, remember?"
"Oh, I can try to be good when he bugs me, then I see Jesus? I going to tell everybody at school that we can see Jesus if we be really good!"