The Twos Are Here

Happy April Fool's Day! Two years ago I wrote about the prank Joe's mom had me pull on him (that post is here). This morning she called with another: lock the garage so that Joe wouldn't be able to get in when he got home from work!

Joe used his key in the front door, of course, but he walks in and was like, "Is the power off?" I'd actually forgotten what I'd done because it was hours earlier so dumbly I'm like, "No, why?" He says, "I couldn't get into the garage." Me: "Oh yeah, something's wrong with it." But apparently I'm not a good actress because he's like, "What did you do?" I said, "Why do you think I did something to it? Does that sound like something I would do?" He's like, "No, but you're acting suspicious." So then I laughed and said, "I have no idea why you'd think I'm being suspicious." He paused and then shook his head. "It's April Fools." Got him again :-)

The title today is because - yes - it is official, Logan is showing signs that he is turning two in seventeen days. Until now he has never had an attitude. He's thrown temper tantrums off and on for the past year, but for the most part has always really wanted to obey (doing what I ask 99% of the time), tries to make me happy, and has the sweetest disposition. In the past Joe and I have both mentioned to each other that "stubborn" is one of the last words we'd ever use to describe Logan. I always thought "the terrible twos" meant "temper tantrum city," but a lot of people have told me that you can tell by now whether that's going to be the case, and Logan has never been much of a big temper tantrum thrower. (I've made sure to record them all here, haha) They are quick, most all have happened at home in private, and we can go for weeks between them. (Last fall there were even months in a row without any.) Instead, the sudden change in him has been an attitude - what I would have expected had I had a girl! :p

For example, we went to the zoo on Tuesday. He was excellent for 3 hrs, sat in his stroller like an angel. We had gone to everything except The Butterfly Exhibit: no strollers allowed. So I took him out and he followed me through the building, sweetly holding my hand. Then we got outside and he gave me a mischievous grin, pulled his hand away, and clasped both hands behind him. It was crowded so I said, "Logan can you please hold Mommy's hand?" He strutted in front of me with his hands still clasped behind him and his nose up in the air saying "no no no" real quick and smug!

Other people who walked by smiled, and I have to admit it was a funny sight (his little 23 month old body prancing around) -- until he saw a hill surrounded by stones in front (so it's not an area for people) and he ran up it!

I was like, "Logan, come on" and he just took a seat and smiled mischievously like ha, you can't catch me. Every time I tried to reach him, he'd move farther, laughing. So, I told him I was leaving and pretended to go; he got close enough where I could turn back around quickly and snatch him. I put him back in the stroller and that's when we left.

But that morning had been similar. We were an hour late arriving to the zoo to meet Brooke & Kaelyn for "stay at home mom day" (so we only were able to spend an hour with them) because first Logan wouldn't eat breakfast (saying "yuck" to everything), then he wouldn't let me put his clothes on, wash his face, or brush his teeth - so now I'm worried he's going to have cavities because for the entire past month, for the first time ever, he won't let me brush them nor will he brush them himself. [And gone are the days of him only having sweets twice a week - he eats them every day now because once a day is a small amount compared to how often he begs (several times an hour).]

Then, when I finally had a chance to get into the shower he kept opening the doors, spraying water everywhere. When I was putting my make up on, he kept grabbing everything I needed and was throwing it across the room or running with it to make me catch him. Not a fun game when you're in a hurry already!

Through all of this he was just happy as can be - but I was not! So I really hope he doesn't show this side of him every day for the rest of the year :( I can easily count how many times I've had to discipline (use time out) in his life, but I had to put him in time-out twice on Tuesday (we now do the chair for two minutes rather than the past year I'd been closing him in his bedroom for one minute) - and today once as well because he kept closing the windows/doors after I kept telling him I wanted them open so as not to use air conditioning. Also, it didn't matter what I asked of him his answer was always "no."

On the bright side, at the same time that I saw this attitude appear, his insecure phase from the past couple of months completely disappeared. Since my last update (It's A New Season) on March 23rd, we went to The Amazing Pizza Machine that Friday evening, March 26th. It had been two months since we were there, but he remembered because he walked around the place like he owned it :p It was crowded that night and so kids were knocking him down but it didn't phase him, he jumped back up with a smile on his face and kept doing whatever he wanted and went wherever he wanted (but still acted respectfully to the other children, he has never pushed or shoved or hit other kids). He didn't even have to observe first, no matter how many kids were playing already (rare).When a six year old-ish boy yelled "Go!" and tried to push him down the slide, he didn't act offended, he just smiled, slid, and ran back up for more, glancing behind him the next time - and when he saw that the boy was coming up behind him again he slid down the slide extra fast before the boy could say/do anything, still with a huge grin on his face.

We were there for our final playdate with Chris, her husband Kent, and their 13.5 month old son Gregory. She has now started her new job in Washington D.C. and loves it as well as the area so I am happy for her even though I hate losing a true friend. I'm glad that something positive came from my blog - if it wasn't for this site, she & I may never have met. I mentioned here before that when she was pregnant Joe caught her reading pregnancy blogs at work and told her I had one as well. She asked for the address, liked it, and after three and a half months said she wanted to meet me which we did on November 1, 2008. (I have yet to meet any other women he works with or wives of his friends there.)

Gregory was still a little young for The Amazing Pizza Machine (we went the first time with Logan when he was 16 months old and have only been twice since then because it's more for those who are two and up) but there is a crawling area that Gregory enjoyed. We were all glad they had a chance to see the cool (amazing-haha) place before they moved; we all had a great time!

Another example of Logan giving up the shy/clingy/fearful side he'd been showing the past couple of months was on Monday, March 29th he went right over to the neighbor's house all on his own to ask if he could play with them! It was a beautiful day and so we spent it outside. Jenn (my next door neighbor) must have been gone because there were two teenage girls watching 3 of her kids as well 8 other kids! Logan saw them throwing around a soccer ball, basketball, and softball and yelled "hi!" But they didn't hear him so he played by himself and then later yelled "hi!" again. When they didn't respond he yelled it louder. And again. And again. And again. He kept playing by himself for awhile and then would yell "hi" and wave to them again.

If it had been Jenn outside we would have just gone over there but I didn't know the teenagers or the other kids and they weren't paying attention to Logan so I told him we'd go over some other time. But he ignored me, went to the fence, pressed his head between the openings and yelled to them, "Can baby please play ball?" I couldn't believe he said that! Poor guy, they still didn't pay him any attention, so I tried to explain to him the situation and he said "okay" and we just played with our own balls in our yard.

Now every time we see children, no matter where we are, Logan yells "hi!" and waves. Right now he thinks all kids are his friends.

Back to last Tuesday, March 23rd (that day we put out Easter decorations as you saw from last week's Wordless Wednesday) - Bella wanted outside for, like, the 100th time and so I told her "no." Logan crouched down beside her, looked up at me, and said, "Please?"

SIGH. Of course I had to let her out!

Bella and Logan have been the best of friends the past few months - unlike last summer when she bit him twice, she adores him now! She lets him kiss her, pet her, and even grab her and she just kisses him right back or wags her tail like she does with adults. She's definitely not jealous or dominant over him at all anymore. I don't know what changed -- whether she understood that I actually considered giving her away last fall or maybe it's because Logan started feeding her a lot :p But, knock on wood, I haven't had any problems with either of my dogs since the fall when Cosmo bit the little girl. Another funny thing: Whenever Logan sees the TV in our bedroom that stopped working shortly after we moved it up there (the one that used to be in our family room), he points and says, "Trash." It always makes Joe & I crack up because I had just mumbled once that we'll have to throw the TV away since it's beyond repair. The way he says it is like someone who is stuck up!

For the past couple of months he has said "bye" to nearly everything. Whether that be a car that drives by or a rock he sees on the street. . .the silliest things!

On Wednesday, March 24th I had my massage and eyebrow wax (and got them tinted a little for the first time).

On Friday, March 26th I tried to find Logan a pillow because he keeps trying to steal Joe's or mine! :p We've never given him a pillow (as of February he's finally been wearing a blanket over him to sleep every night for the very first time, rather than throwing it out of his crib!); I was hoping I could find a toddler pillow because that's what I had for years when I was a little girl (it's a mini version of a regular pillow) - but there weren't any at any store near where I live! I don't understand, I thought they'd be popular since they seem safer than regular pillows. I did see on the Toys R Us website (pictured here) that at least sounds good for the neck. Otherwise, we'll just give him a regular, really flat pillow when we do the whole "big boy bed" transition probably this July!

Joe had to work over the weekend (March 27th & 28th) because even though his 70 hrs are over, he's still having to work 50 (the extra 10 unpaid). Things are also still crazy busy and stressful for him there this year for the first time so I hope it changes soon.

On Monday, March 29th, aside from Logan & I watching our neighbors from our backyard, we also played in the front yard and took a walk.

Tuesday, March 30th was another gorgeous day, and as I said earlier we went to the zoo. Usually I pack Logan & my lunch but end up leaving before we eat it, however this time I didn't bring it but since we got there later we were still there at lunch time, so Logan & I split a cheeseburger from the concession stand and had our own picnic.

On the way there we passed the building where Joe works. Logan coincidentally said "Dadda!" (I don't think he could possibly have recognized it, however he does know on our walks when we get to our street - because no matter what he always says, "More?" so that we'll walk longer).

I said, "Yes, that's where Daddy works! You've been there before, do you remember when we've gone to Daddy's work?"

Logan said, "Yes, Baby goes to Papa and KayKay's!"

I was like OMG he knows what he's talking about - we always pick up Joe whenever we meet my parents halfway for Logan's weekend visits. (Papa and KayKay are what he calls my stepdad and mom.)

Later on the drive I said, "Do you know who we're going to see today?"

He hopefully asked, "Papa and KayKay?"

I said, "No, Brooke & Kaelyn!"

He whined, "Baby go to Papa and KayKay!"

I laughed and told him some other time, or we could call them on the phone. I said, "You like Brooke & Kaelyn" and then Logan smiled and said, "Yeah! The mama and the baby!"

It's so fun to be having conversations with him now! When I pick him up from Babysitter's I can ask him about his day and he tells me he played with balls, cars, etc. (By the way, she had him by himself last Friday and so she took him shopping and she said he sang in the car on the way back to her house!)

He also told me this week that he wanted to watch the slideshow of his first year pictures that I made for his birthday last year. He was so glued to the TV during it, pointing out everything he recognized (Bella, Cosmo, Papa, KayKay, Mama, Dadda, Grandma Sandi, etc) - that when he saw pictures of his bouncer and swing, he insisted that we go to the basement so that he could see them again.

He made Joe's mom's day when he called her on his own earlier this week. He's done that with my parents a couple of times as well when playing with Joe or my phone! (But as far as I know has never called anyone else except Joe!) My mom and stepdad also liked hearing how earlier this week Logan was at our front door and suddenly pointed to the screws and shouted, "Baby and Papa!" At first I was like, "What do you mean?" Then he ran and got his drill and started putting it in the screws, which is what he had done back in January when my stepdad came over and fixed our front door. He kept pointing and saying, "Baby helped Papa!" I love how he is reminding me of memories nowadays!

Wednesday, March 31st I was Stacy's "model" for a class she taught at her salon. It was fun - I got a free updo :-) Too bad I didn't have anywhere to go - and my dogs got groomed, too! I did go shopping for myself, though (something I only do once a season) and bought a new spring outfit. I wore my Uggs for the last time (til next winter). . .that's the only bad part about winter being over!Last night on American Idol Didi left as I had sadly predicted last week. Last week Paige left but I wasn't disappointed because she was never on my list. Lee (who I said last week is who I'm going for the win) rocked the house :-)

Today April got off to an excellent start - it was EIGHTY FIVE DEGREES outside! As soon as we woke up Logan wanted outside. That's another difference from this year compared to last year - I am no longer making our plans :p Logan tells me what he wants to do every hour! Most of the time it is something outside. Last night he told me wanted me to push him in the stroller on a walk and then we went to the playground at the school (he asks, "Can baby go weeeee?" that means "Can I go to the park?") This morning we played outside in our backyard (thankfully I remembered to put sunscreen on us - on Tuesday at the zoo I completely forgot. . .just not in that mindset yet! I also didn't know until I googled it today that you're supposed to re-apply sunscreen every two hours if you're spending all day outside so we were both all lathered up! I wrote about the organic brand we use in my post last summer titled All Caught Up). After awhile I drove us to the park until lunch - Logan and I came back to the house and had sandwiches on our deck (I put up the umbrella and cushions on our furniture). After his nap we went for a walk and stopped at the school so he could play on the playground. When Joe got home from work he took Logan again! Needless to say, I'm considering the idea of a swingset. . .

Some other things that Logan can do now that I'm not crazy about:

*He can open the gate to our fence in our backyard. So far this spring while we've been playing outside I do the same thing I did last yr since it's cool enough there aren't bugs yet - I just leave our back door open and then we can both go in and out (as well as the dogs), that way I can grab a book or do the dishes since I can see him from the sink. But now I'm afraid to go inside even for a second because today he just opened the fence and started heading to the front yard all on his own!

*I keep catching him unlocking the front door and opening it. This has always been one of my fears - you hear stories about toddlers ending up half way down their block. UGH! But for now it's just an annoyance because he keeps going outside even when I don't want him to! I had also never realized that my office door doesn't have a lock so now I have to barricade it when I'm on the computer (I still can only be on the computer when Joe is home, from the time Logan was a newborn he hasn't let me on the computer without screaming).

*He has also opened the door from our house to our garage and then, standing on his tip toes, opens the real garage door.

*He knows how to unlock the doors in the car and open those doors as well (one day I was letting him play in the car while I was putting groceries in the back of the SUV at the store, and gasped when he just stepped right out of the car in the parking lot)!

*The biggest gasp happened yesterday: we'd returned from the grocery store so I was unloading groceries from the car and he was playing in there because that always seemed safer to me than letting him play around me (if I'm unloading groceries then I can't stop him from making a mad dash to the street or me losing sight of him, nor do I want to just leave him in the house where neither of us can hear or see each other). But the next thing I knew he was sitting in the driver's seat and turned the car on! Yes, he found my keys in my purse, put them in the ignition and turned! He's channeling my dad who at 6 yrs old backed his parents car out of their driveway and into their neighbor's garden! :p

Today when he was outside he exclaimed, "Mamma look - balls!"
I looked.
He was grinning from ear to ear, holding a handful of rabbit poop.