A response to Nikki's Nutshell!

I was going to comment on Nikki's blog, but it turned out to be really long so I just made my response a blog of my own! If your confused, read her blog first.

Ohhhh, Nikki - so many things! First - your stories crack me up! You are NOT in the minority, but at the same time toddlers aren't generally difficult 90% of the time. It's only a stage. He WILL move past it, I promise. In my experience, my kids usually feel more comfortable at home, since that is what they are used to, but they also seem to listen to other adults better than they would me or JR. For some reason, my kids seem to behave better for me when we have company. I don't know if they just sense that I will have less patience for them, or if they feel that they need to behave in front of others, but they do. Not always, but for the most part.

Aiden is gaining more independence, which is probably why he is fighting the essentials in life. Before, he brushed his teeth because mommy helped him do so and because he probably didn't realize he had a choice (which he doesn't) but now he thinks he does. He may be thinking, I want to play, not brush my teeth. Try giving him time to adjust to these things..."Aiden you can play for 3 more minutes and then we need to brush your teeth." If you have a little timer that dings, that can be helpful since he doesn't really understand how long three minutes is. Then you can count down, "2 more minutes...1 more minute...ding - okay it's time to brush your teeth!" You can even try singing a song about brushing or cleaning, or bathing...etc. I still do this with Logan, but because he's older we show him the clock and tell him when this number gets to the "8", we are doing this...This method really helped Logan - and now it's helping him to learn time. However, I will say, that singing to Logan just annoys him...singing doesn't work for every kid.

The shyness is also a phase. Landry hasn't hit it yet, I mean - when she was a baby she would only let JR or me hold her, unless she had been around the other person for a while. But Logan was really shy for a long time, even up to starting school..he was usually okay with adults, or cousins, or people he already knew, but when it came to other kids he would usually kind of go off on his own. Now he is warming up, but he still has shy moments. I am not saying Aiden will be shy forever, it may be a short term thing, or it could just his nature for a while. I think Logan's had more to do with the fact that he wasn't really around other people. Landry isn't shy...but she will clam up around other people, it's like she reverts back or something. I know she can talk - ALOT - but when we get around my parents or something she wont talk or answer when you ask questions. Annoying - yes, but she will get passed it as will Aiden.

As for Travis - it truly will change. I know I have said that before, and it hasn't yet, but it really will. I can remember when Logan was an infant, there were times I thought he hated me because he only wanted his Daddy. As he got older, he went back and forth between JR and I. For the past ummmm...2 years (and Landry may have something to do with this) he has been a momma's boy. He still plays with JR and loves on his daddy, BUT I am definitely his favorite. LOL On the other hand Landry is a Daddy's girl. She puts up with me throughout the day, but when daddy gets home she becomes an angel child with him. It's been like this for literally 2 years! Then all of a sudden 2 days ago, all she wanted was me. She wanted to sit with me, read with me, play with ME. I would put her in JR's lap and she would cry for ME...this never happened before. The jealousy between the kids was ridiculous! But still - this is just a phase, it may last for a while, or maybe only a few more days, but it wont last forever. Are you the one that usually picks Aiden up from daycare every day? Maybe you and Travis could work it out to where he could pick him up a couple of days of the week or take him a couple of days??? Or maybe on the weekend they could have a boys day and do something together where mommy isn't an option.

As for Mr. Lion, if it comforts him, I say let him have it. Keep doing what your doing with keeping it at home, but if it makes him happy at home - I don't see a problem with it. He will out grow it, eventually! Landry still wants her blanket with her at all times. I do the same thing...she can have it at home, but it stays at home - we dont take it to the store, or in the car - unless we are going out of town.

Now - separate stories of my own that are not in response to Nikki's blog but do relate!

Landry has an affliction for clothes. She loves them, she likes to pick out what she wants to wear, she likes to take ALL her clothes out of her drawers and play with them, often putting them all on, one outfit after another. HOWEVER, she also HATES wearing the clothes for longer than necessary. She usually starts crying that her clothes are wet..which they aren't...and then takes the clothes off. Normally it wouldn't really bother me. I mean, we are at home - no one can see if she is clothed or not, and if she wants to be naked - whatever, I personally don't have a problem with it. The thing is, #1 her main thing is her shirt...she doesn't mind so much having jeans or shorts on, it's just her shirt, so I am wondering if something is going on there, and #2 she is lying...saying her shirt is wet just so she can take it off. It isn't wet. If you want it off just say, I want it off, but dont tell fibs! Ughh

The weekend before last we went to dinner with my parents, my sister and her boyfriend and my niece and nephew. It was a mini celebration for Landry's birthday because we wanted to be able to celebrate with my niece and nephew. After dinner, Logan ended up going home with my parents to stay the night with Isabella and Isaiah. I went on Sunday afternoon to pick him up. When I got there, I asked how he was. Both my parents said he was great. I asked if he minded, if he argued, if he talked back. They again said he was great...no tantrums, they didn't have to get on to him and that he had a blast. Okay great! I call him downstairs, he is happy to see me. I get big hugs and then things changed. I went to put on his shoes, and he started throwing a fit. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to play in the garage, he wanted candy, he wanted a different pair of shoes, he wanted his sister....blah blah blah. Logan has this thing where if he doesn't want to do something, he just starts naming all kinds of other things that he would rather do. I guess he does this in hopes that out of all the things he says, I will say yes to one which will delay whatever it is he doesn't want to do. My parents were both shocked...they said those were the first tears he shed the whole time he was at their house and that he hadn't acted that way at all. I guess I am just special! :) I should also say that Logan was asleep before we got a mile from the house! I guess he was sleepy! LOL