A little late...

But better late than never. Just thought I'd post a picture of me at 29 weeks. I'll actually be 31 weeks this Thursday so I'll try to get some more updated pictures later in the week.

Simple Pleasures

It's amazing the things that can entertain a child. I find myself needing constant stimulation from television, internet, cell phone, etc. But Micah reminds me of what it felt like to really enjoy life & find the fun and humor in everything. Joe has let him help water some of our plants in the front yard recently. Micah finds it so enjoyable because he's helping us (which he loves to do right now) & getting soaked by the water hose at the same time. Micah also loves to go to our local park. It's hard to tear him away. He could run around for hours from swings to slides to steps to ladders & anything else there is to play on.

I've been cleaning out the attic lately, trying to find all Micah's old stuff to put in the nursery. I put some empty boxes in the hallway to throw away. My trash was Micah's treasure. He really makes me appreciate life & reminds me everyday to enjoy every moment and all the small things I've been given.

Micah is Missing

Or at least the "old" Micah...my sweet angel of a child. Not that he's that bad but since he turned 2, he is a different child. All my old tricks aren't working! He's taken to throwing tantrums & testing every limit. His big thing right now is spitting. He does it because he thinks it's funny, & he also likes to do it when he's angry. He also likes to hit when he's angry. Not people, but any objects in his way. He throws anything in sight. Of course I'm not helping matters. I haven't been feeling great the past few weeks because "little brother" is starting to cut off my oxygen & cause indigestion & reflux all the time now. So my fuse has been shorter than normal.

I know all this is pretty normal for his age, but I feel all my "expertise" has flown out the window! I don't work with kids Micah's age normally anyway, but I'm giving myself a hard time because I feel like I, of all people, should know what to do. We attempted time out in the high chair per his pediatrician, but I don't really think he understands the concept yet so it's more torture than anything. So, now we're trying a different kind of time out where he & I take a break together, sit & breathe or recite the ABCs or some other quiet, calming activity. It seems to help redirect him at least. We're also just trying to ignore a lot of the less dangerous behavior, which is difficult for me because his screaming grates on my last nerve! And we're trying to teach him to hit a pillow when he's angry if he needs to hit something.

Last year, right after his first birthday, he transformed as well. He decided he wasn't going to go to sleep easily anymore & would scream for an hour or more before finally giving up. This was while Joe was gone. But I was firm & didn't pick him up, and it only lasted for a week. The worst week of my life but only a week :) So, even though I know he's just being a typical 2 year old & he'll always have his days, I'm hoping if we're consistent we can at least get some of the behavior under control particularly before the baby arrives since that will probably make it worse :) No matter, he's still my little cuddle bug & I can't imagine life any differently, tantrums and all.