Next thing I know, his muscles will expand and his clothes will rip at the seams

In the past year, my son has gone through his transition from

 ”Best. Baby. Ever”

to

“Reign of Rerror, 2 yr old style”.

I remember the first year with our son. Oliver was a docile, compliant and very pleasant baby. We would often just leave him in the stroller while we ate lunch, shopped and went to church. We’d often marvel at just how sweet a baby he was.

Then he turned one.

End Golden Year.

It started slowly.  He’d start squirming in his stroller. He’d cry in his carseat. He’d stand up in the highchair in restaurants. All age appropriate behaviors, for the most part.  Then age two came around and he suddenly wasn’t my baby anymore. His 2T clothes pants were suddenly like capris, his shirts short and tight like Britney Spears pre-Federline.  His hair long like a pre-teen with the attitude to match.

I look back at pictures mere months ago and can’t believe the chubby baby that looks back at me from the photo. Now he’s grown so tall. He speaks in long sentences and laughs and plays with his sister. He loves to line up all his Thomas the Train characters and dance to Imagination Movers. He loves food, especially french fries. We can’t drive by Mcdonald’s without Oliver howling about how he needs. NEEDS! french fries.  

He’s also become quite aggressive. In frustration, he often tends to lash out physically. He swings his arms in anger, often aimed at his poor sister’s head or someone smaller and younger than him. (He’s smart enough to know not to try to mess with the older, bigger kids at church). I’m at a loss at what to do. I tell him daily that we do not hit. To stop hitting his sister. That it is not ok to be mean to little ones. I admit that I yell more often than I’d like. He pushes me to the brink. I reprimand him over and over. He tells me “ok!” with enthusiasm and then turns around, pushes his sister out of the way and marches into the bonus room to go knock over her tea set. His anger is quick to flare and rears its ugly head often. In a matter of seconds, it’s like he becomes this crazy green monster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know John and I are to blame. We’ve inadvertently created a situation where he’s become “the middle child”. As our first and oldest, Evelyn is responsible and obedient. We find ourselves fawning over everything she does, whether it is a picture she draws or a joke she tells. Wesley is our youngest and last baby. We give him constant hugs and kisses while carrying him around the house. He is always hoisted on my hip . He is our last baby and we’re relishing this time while we can.

Then there is Oliver. Former Golden Child. Now he is the menace of the family, always causing trouble at playdates. Swinging his arms aggressively at anyone who even dares to look at his Thomas the Train. Vying for our attention. I’m quite sad as I type this out because I realize he’s only acting out to get our attention. Like they say, negative attention is still attention, right? I know I need to step back and take the time to nurture Oliver like I do with Evelyn. Like I do with Wesley. With affection and positive reinforcement. I feel guilty towards my older son. He deserves more from us. He deserves more from me.  He wants me to laugh at his jokes, too. All he wants are hugs and kisses. Maybe a happy meal or two. You know, the necessities in life

So yes, all his pants are too short, he’s as tall as a 3 yr old and he has the temper of his 35 yr old dad, but I need to remember that he’s still just a kid. A baby. And that he needs me.

Because even though he has a gigantic head and eats like Kobayashi, he’s still just a baby.

My baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time out –  for what else, hitting his sister

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming with his “Wobble goggles”

Sorry for being boring.

I really. REALLY want a bowl of salted caramel ice cream right now.  However, I worked out today (Billy Blanks – You are my EVEREST) for the first time in, oh…. I don’t know… 7 months?  Wait. Scratch that.  More like, 5 YEARS. I had a brief workout phase after I had Wesley, but I don’t count that because um. I just don’t. It didn’t last more than 3 weeks so it doesn’t count. And besides, I didn’t lose any weight or anything from the workouts so it’s basically nil in my book, mmkay? Anyways, I had a good sweat and a light dinner and some leftover cake.

WHAT. I didn’t want it to go to waste, people. I’m going green, y’all!

Anyhoo, I thought I’d write something instead of going downstairs to help myself to a large bowl of ice cream. So here I am.

Writing about ice cream.

***

The other day, I met Jen and Macalla at The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. While I was out, John decided to cut Wesley’s hair. I happen to like my boys to have long hair. Not Ryder Russel Robinson long, but just longish on the sides and top. John decided he’d just give Wes a little trim on the sides while leaving the top long. I’m assuming he didn’t expect the kid to look like one of the 3 stooges. You know… Moe?

Nyuk nyuk nyuk

 

He looks suspicious. And for good reason.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture today. You can’t see the bowl-i-ness (not a word, I know. Shut it)

Oh, Wesley also developed roseola as a result of his fever over the weekend. Poor guy. It looks worse than it is though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

In other exciting news, John bought Oliver his very own train table. Lately he’s been completely obsessed with trains. I really do not get boys and their obsession with trains and cars. To this day my brother will just surf the internet looking at cars. Even though he’s owned more cars than years driven. His obsession to me is borderline annoying but John decided to indulge his son. Thanks to craigslist, we found this very immaculate train table for 50 bucks. Gotta love craigslist.

Proud dad showing off his find. Remind me next time to tell John to suck it in before I snap the pic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

Randoms!

Oliver and Evelyn both like to dunk themselves in the tub. Evelyn is smart enough to plug her nose when she goes underwater.

 Oliver is not. He does, however, hold  the bridge of his nose…?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Guess who she’s imitating?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. It’s her new way to pose for pictures. FAB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t remember exactly what he did, but he got B.U.S.T.E.D. from John.

Then cried himself to sleep. Heh heh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter sunday before praise. Pointy chin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

* She’s pretending to be Princess Fiona from Shrek. She cracks me up.

***

I just ate a scoop of ice cream. I’m SO WEAK. *SOBS*

Heh

Me: Evelyn, I’m very disappointed in you today. You were not very nice and you did not listen to what I had to say. You need to listen to me and not whine, do you understand?

Evelyn: Yes, I do understand………………………………………I have to poop.

Truth in Advertising

Watching incredulously as Sue attempts to wrangle all three kids into their coats and shoes so they can go home.

Hannah Park: How do you handle three kids?

Me:  *shrugs* I don’t know………………………….

It’s ok… because you just turned… 28!*

My brother texted me this morning with a “Happy 31st birthday!”. Um. Thanks? You must not have been paying attention last year. You know, when I actually did turn 31. Heh. Oh well, at least he remembered it was my birthday.

Anyways, I had a pretty fun pre-birthday weekend. On Saturday, we pigged out at Jen and Drew’s house. I am very thankful for Costco New York strip steaks. $5.89 a pound, yo. On Sunday, my family came over to my house for chinese food and a Coldstone ice cream cake.

This morning I woke up around 8 to nurse the baby. While feeding Wesley, I heard all sorts of commotion in the kitchen and went downstairs to find John and Evelyn preparing me a nice breakfast of omelettes and hashbrowns. Except John forgot to actually cook the hashbrowns. They’re currently tucked away in our freezer to be used for another occasion.

I took pictures, of course. You will notice the absolute insanity going on in the kitchen. Apparently John couldn’t figure out which utensil best suited his omelette needs, so he used four spatulas. Good thing he threw all the dishes in the dishwasher afterwards. He even wiped up the stove after he was done. Man, too bad my birthday isn’t every day.

Here’s the final product. Evelyn’s about to sample the goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John tried to take a picture of me with the omelette, but um. hello. I just woke up. so yeah, NO.

Do you like my gigantic coffee cup? I have at least two of those everyday. No wonder my stomach is jacked up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture gives me the cold sweats. TWO cutting boards, gross misuse of bowls, egg remnants drying on the granite countertops, large knife left in reach of small children, handle turning out towards said small children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• **

On Saturday, Jen ordered a fabulous birthday cake for myself and Andrew. Red Velvet!
Please disregard Andrew’s hairy arm. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group shot! As you can see, a few kids wandered into the picture. They were drawn in by the cake. Of course my kid is front and center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• **

Sunday:

Elliott is sooo cute. Lisa’s alright.

Evelyn likes to tell me “Elliott’s my new cousin”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He’s so cute you get two. Count ‘em. TWO. pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My coldstone ice cream cake. No one had candles so John lit a match and stuck it in the middle. Afterwards, the kitchen smelled like… bathroom. Heh heh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why yes, the cake is Oreo. Why do you ask?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course HE liked the cake. He had two pieces.

HA HA, Oliver just saw this picture and said “He has MUSTACHE!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crap. This kid’s starting to crawl. and yes, he still closes his eyes when I take his picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of, he’s been crying for a while. I should probably go see what’s up. SIGH. Go to sleep, dude! It’s time for mommy to watch some tv you to go to bed!

*Name the quote