Growing up is so hard....on ME!!

Well. Yesterday was an adventurous day for Owen. He did quite a bit of growing up, and I was completely unprepared.

First order of business on the yucky, overcast & rainy day was a haircut. Normally, we go to one of the cheapie places (Have a hard time justifying $20 plus on haircuts!) and we have had nothing but great luck with all the terrific stylists. He sits on my lap, we are both draped in a cape, and he sits still and doesn't move a muscle. He wanted none of that yesterday. He wanted to sit "all by myself" in the chair. He was animated, funny, and on best behavior. I was so proud!! It was probably the only time I didn't have my camera with me and I regretted it.

Next we come to nap time. For the past 2 solid weeks, he has been taking 2 1/4 to 3 hour naps. It is like clockwork between 1-2 pm. Yesterday, we weren't so lucky. It was probably because we were stuck inside most of the day due to the weather, and he isn't used to that. So, I made many attempts in vain to get him to go down for a nap. As a last straw, I put him in the crib. Not even 2 minutes later, he silently had wandered downstairs and said "Hi Mommy". It took a minute to process this ! He NEVER has climbed out of his crib! He's been tall enough to do it for a long time, but never actually done it! His beloved "cwib"! So, spur of the moment, John and I decided to get a Big Boy Bed. He had slept in one before up in New Hampshire and had marginal success. So, we were very optimistic. Got a lovely pine Shaker mission style twin, comfy mattress, and waterproof mattress pad. He passed out at 5:30pm in the back of the car.

Got him home, laid him on our bed for a little while, set up his new bed, then figured the best way to wake him up would be move him into his new bed. Right? Wrong. He woke up of course, but rolled right over and went back to sleep. He inherits his sleeping from me, I think..he can sleep anywhere. Finally, he woke up and wanted to know every detail about his crib..where is it? Is it at the store? Is it hiding? Is it coming back?

The first night started off fine..he went to bed and stayed in bed til around 3:30am. He ended up downstairs with us and slept in on this still rainy Sunday.

This was his first time checking out his crib, way back when..



And this was last night:



It was hilarious, my parents, S&D, came over to visit, and Owen was very excited to show them his new bed! To the point that when they made it upstairs, he shouted "TA DA!". Now, that was funny.

He did so much growing up yesterday. Now if I could just keep pace with him!

The best comfort of all

So, been a bit upset lately that my cousin J, is leaving to go to Switzerland again. This has been an endless drama for a while now..quick background: her and husband M have lived in Switzerland for 12 years, J had a horribly traumitizing pregnancy and birth, and had many, many physical and psycological problems as a result.

For several months, it has been a constantly changing and evolving storyline..is she going? Is he coming? how long is she going to be gone? Will their son adapt well? etc etc.

She is leaving tomorrow. We had a playdate with Owen and her son all day on Friday,and I just didn't want it to end. Even when Owen was in the midst of his 3 hour nap. But, it did. They needed to get going. J and I were going to see each other on Saturday to have a pedicure and go shopping and just hang out. Each time after she departed, I became very upset, crying, sniffling, and shaking. At one point, Owen "patted" my head, and asked me if I was sad. I told him yes, because I am going to miss J. He put his finger to his lips, said "Hmmmm", patted me on the head again and said "We go to the playground and swing"-he paused- "Swinging makes you happy".

It was great. Trying to be positive, know she is coming back in a really short amount of time, but still...going to miss her, but trying not to be sad!!

Love Me Not So Tender

The Boy is brutal. Ruthless. A savage.
he hates me.

He has been coming out with such little gems such as "Don't want you for a mommy", "don't like you", "don't want you", "go away", "bad mommy", "You're NOT my mommy".
Most of these were in the course of one day. And up until that point? We had had a blast. I wonder what he'll say to me when we have a bad day??!!

I honestly try not to take it personally..he also does it to his beloved Nana. Trying to remember he is clinging to his male role models (and I am SO thankful to have 2 great men around, day by day trying to teach him to be a good person, and a strong, good man some day). But still. I try not to react, I try to say "I love you, even tho you don't like me", all that crap. But it still really hurts. Oh! And the best part? He furrows his brows together, and points a single tiny finger in my direction when he is saying it.

Now I know why people want another baby once their first one hits 2 years old..a little helpless creature that can't talk back and hurt you so badly.
Maybe we'll look into getting a puppy.