Baby Boarding School?

I can't begin to describe the copious amounts of stress I am under right now, that I actually feel like I'm going to break. To add the cherry on top, Davis is none other than a awful, very bad, no good, terrible two year old. Is there a cure for this? Can we hypnotize him? Baby Prozac? Something? Anything? Being around a two year old is like living with someone that is bipolar. One minute, he totally loves me, and the next, he's in the midst of the 100th tantrum. By the way, it's only 9am at this point. (Right now, he's kicking the walls. I just want to fill you in on every aspect right now. Found a cure, yet?)

Take this morning for example. I had finally made it to the gym on time for the first day this week, for a class. (It's been one of those weeks with Davis) To help him with the transition of everything that has been going on, he is beyond attached to his Pooh Bear right now. While this is very cute, it makes things difficult when we are out in public. I was letting him bring the bear into the kids area the first few days, to help him get used to being in there. I noticed that when he has the bear, he wasn't wanting to play with anyone or anything else in there, so I cut that off. Today he decided to show me how upset he was about this. I was talking to someone outside of the kids area, and she was saying how cute Davis is. Ha! If only you knew lady. Cute on the outside, flames on the inside. Out of left field, SMACK! Right across my face. I was so in shock that I had no clue what to do. Put him in time out in the middle of the gym? I didn't feel like making an even bigger scene than we already had. I told him no, had a talk with him, and still didn't know what to do. I'm sure some of you are thinking that I should have spanked him. Me wanting to spank Davis is crossing my mind more and more as the minutes go on. But we don't spank. I have my reasons, but that's another discussion. All I wanted to do was go to the sauna and just cry. I feel defeated. Defeated by a tiny two year old. I'm at a loss and am praying that I can figure out something to do with this child before things get worse. Please say they get better!

Seemingly overnight, my son has transformed from a kid we could take anywhere—WOULD take anywhere thanks to his perfect restaurant behavior—into a child that can’t handle sitting in a shopping cart for five minutes while in Target because all he wants to do is squirm and run around and knock things over.


It’s a tough stage. It’s a stage that makes you doubt yourself as a parent. It pushes you far beyond your patience limit and then back again. It’s a stage where one parent is pitted against the other at times, just desperately trying to find a way to make it through our cheeseburgers on a Friday night out in public.

Time-outs work pretty well, but my husband and I are still frazzled and on-edge after a particularly difficult tantrum session. But, thankfully, we’ve found a way to cope—we laugh. We joke that living with our son is like living with a very tiny, very loud, very destructive drunk person–emotionally unstable, extreme mood swings, wobbly gait, copious amounts of drool, liquids spilled on the carpet and a predilection for running around naked. It’s like living with a college student.

So, here’s hoping that this challenging stage passes soon—although it’s sort of the-devil-you-know-versus-the-devil-you-don’t. Because I’ll probably look back at this post later on in life, after he’s totaled our car or something similar, and wish time-outs still worked.

But, I’d love to hear any other suggestions or comments—even if it’s just to express shared misery!

And remember, you may want to share something fast, or googling baby boarding school is in my near future.

Memories....At The Corners Of My Mind!

I saw these pictures today and had to share them. I am still amazed at how big my little man is getting! It's exciting, yet so sad to me all at the same time. I almost can't remember him being this little anymore and it wasn't even that long ago. Tear, tear. Sniffle, sniffle.





Can we just press pause for a little bit? I just want to keep him just the way he is. I love you, Davis!!

9 Month Update...Serenity Now

Another month has zipped by me and I have never felt like my life has gone by this quickly before. Today Davis is 9 months old. Wow! Really, Wow!! Last week when we had his 9 month checkup, I had to schedule his 12 month checkup. Fine, whatever. But then I realized, holy crap! That's in 3 months! My sweet little baby is growing up and is just the cutest thing in the world. If I could hold him all day, I probably would. Granted if it's a screaming day, I'll gladly pass him off.

I am still making all of Davis' food and actually just bought a cookbook to try out new and different things. I felt like I kept making the same kinds of stuff over and over. I bet the poor little guy was getting quite bored. He looooves meat. I get an extra thick slice of deli meat and mix it in with carrots or squash. I think that boy will eat anything!

He loves saying 'dada' still all the time. He has learned to squeal and scream, and oddly enough I find this very cute. We were out of town last weekend and I said we were going home soon to see daddy. He just looked at me all excited and started saying 'dada' over and over. Of course when I call Michael to share it with him, he stops. Go figure!

Davis is still sleeping amazing. I am crossing my fingers that this continues because it gives me a much needed break. He takes a nap from 10-12 and then again from 2-4. Sometimes he takes a cat nap for about 45 minutes around 5:45. He loves sitting in his highchair while we eat dinner and tries to cram as many Cheerios in his mouth as possible. (Usually spitting most of them out) I feed him his last bottle around 7:30-7:45, read a book and he's off to sleep until 8am. HUBBY TIME!

However, I can't help but worry about my little guy a bit. The doctor said last week that he is slightly behind developmentally and of course I can't help but be a little sad. I asked if there was anything else I needed to be doing with him and he said no, but still! He is still doing the same crawling type of thing. Where is he moving around, but not crawling. He goes around in circles, goes backwards, to the side, not forward! He can't quite figure out how to stay on his knees. I try and do exercises with him, but he just fights me. His doctor said he isn't too worried about the not crawling thing because some babies just don't crawl. Okay, we are fine there. It's the not pulling up thing. Yes, that's right. My 9 month old son is refusing to pull up. If he's holding onto my arms or my hands, he's good to go. Side of the crib, forget about it! So I have been doing exercises with him on this too. I just keep trying to tell myself to be patient, but I am learning the whole patience thing over here. But I am his mom and can't help be worried the slightest bit. His muscle tone and everything is great, I just think my poor son may be stubborn like his mama and he'll do it when he's ready!

Next subject at nine months. Separation anxiety! Dear tiny baby Jesus, help me Lord! If I could just go scream in the backyard, I would. But then cops may show up at my door with the neighbors. If I could put Davis in the backyard to scream, I would. Then that may result in cops, neighbors, and CPS at my door. God forbid I have to use the restroom or take a shower. Some days he doesn't know that I have left the room. Others, I can't step one foot out of the doorway. Frustrating, much?!? I realize this is completely normal and that he will grow out of it. However, he does not mind if his daddy is home or I leave him at the gym nursery. He loves it there! Deep breath! This actually messed up his sleep about a week ago because he did not want me to leave his sight. (He is also getting another tooth in so it has been super duper fun times at our house!)

On another note, 95% of the time, Davis is golden. I have no problems and he is a very happy baby. On the bad days, if anyone asked me when I was having another child, I would tell them they are crazy! But he is my little love bug and I can't get enough of him. As crazy as it sounds, I actually miss him sometimes when he is sleeping! The joys of parenthood!

Davis' Baptism

div>Yesterday, Davis was baptised at our church in Dallas, and I have to say it was beautiful! The priest that married Michael and I was out of town for the weekend...in Italy! The bride and groom actually flew him down there. Must be nice!! But everything was absolutely wonderful. Davis still pees every five minutes it seems like, so of course you know he is going to need a diaper change in the middle of mass. So as Michael and Davis leave, the priest calls all parents and Godparents up to the alter for the baptism. Wait!! My child is missing. The priest is looking at me, asking, 'Aren't you missing some people?' Yes, that's right. Leave it to my family to almost miss our own baptism. So he waited patiently, as Rebecca and I stood at the alter, as everyone stared at us wondering what in the world was going on. Then everything ran smoooothly.

When it was time for his head to be dipped, to my amazement, Davis did not scream, cry, utter a sound. Ahhh. Thank goodness. You weren't THAT child.

See, I sprout wings when I go to church.

Davis' Godparent, Rebecca and Stephen

(My stepsister and brother in law)

Some goodies from Davis' Baptism Reception

Davis is getting help from his cousin with all of his wonderful presents

Thank you, everyone!!