Austin



Look at that sweet face... so innocent and cute! I wish moment-freezing were possible because this is one of those I would definitely want to freeze in time!

The tantrums, the melt downs, oh Lord help us!!

This is such an interesting time. Austin is trying to find his independence and prove to us that he can do everything we can do. We hear, "Stop!! Austin do it!!" All. Day. Long.... I try hard to swallow my impatience and let him have his way because I know this is an important developmental stage and I don't want to impede his learning. But by night time I am so over it! The other night I tucked him into bed and turned out the light, whispering "I love you" as I quietly closed the door. Instantaneously I was met with screaming, crying, and flailing on the ground. Why, you ask? Because I turned the light off and "Austin do that"....... Grrrrr!! 

I was over it. It was time for the little monster to go to bed, and so help me, I was not going to cave! I showered, got ready for bed, and an hour later he was still screaming. But now it was louder and far more irritating. Oh, and the baby was awake and crying now too! 

I had HAD IT! I barged into his room, pulled him up off the floor, lifted him to the light switch, yelled at him to turn it off, and put him back to bed..... this time without the sweet "I love you" as I slammed the door shut. 

And believe it or not, he went right to sleep! No questions asked! I climbed into bed completely incredulous of what had just happened, on the verge of tears myself.... I wasn't proud of my actions, but everybody snaps sometimes.

When I'm not dealing with Tantrum-Man, I am having the greatest time with the sweetest kid! It's like he's bipolar! For example, we had the greatest morning! I woke up bright and early to Austin standing right by my bed, staring at me two inches away from my face. After getting ready we went to the store to pick out fruit to bring to cooking class because today was fruit pizza day! Austin happily pushed his mini-shopping cart around and picked out a strawberry milk to go along with his blackberries and then we headed over to Starbucks to get Mom a drink as well. Austin was so proud of himself as he ran into class with his blackberries, telling Ms. Tawanda he picked them out all by himself! He laughed and sang, and had himself TWO helpings of fruit pizza! We were having such a great day and topped it off with a car wash because Austin LOOOVES the car wash! 

In awe as we were getting our car washed!

 

I remember the days when the car wash scared the living daylights out of him! Now it is one of his most favorite things to do!

Then, just in time for naps, Tantrum-Man reared his ugly head, but this time I really have no idea why. This one lasted about 45 minutes before he finally passed out next to the door he had been screaming under....

Let's all take a moment of silence to feel bad for poor Evelyne during all this! The poor girl has been sleeping terribly because of all the noise! :(

Basically it has been an emotional roller coaster around here. We have to keep reminding ourselves that they don't call it the terrible two's for nothing. It kinda makes you feel better when you know the insanity is normal....