"Aw fuckit"

My 2 year old uses potty language appropriately. Oh dear lord. He uses it to express his anger or frustration.

I'll admit, it's kinda cute to witness.

I'll also admit, Jeff and I don't really censor our language around here. In my case, a quick "oh for FUCK sake" releases some of the tension of a situation and allows me to gain some patience.

Trust me, I have learned patience over the years of being a parent and it definitely did NOT come naturally. I'm not patient by nature. Impatience is a key personality trait of mine. Anyone close to me will confirm this truth.

I suspect that in Jeff's case it's much the same, except the explosion would be a little more like this:

My reaction x 1 billion = the world falling of it's axis and getting sucked into a black hole and now the world has come to an end.

...

Okay, perhaps a little dramatic. And I digress.

So we swear here. Some more than others. We've tried policing our language but it's hard and we haven't been too successful.

So here's the new plan. We're just ignoring it until he's a bit older, then soap in the mouth if he hasn't outgrown this phase. If that doesn't work, last resort is duct tape over the mouth. That'll learn 'im.

Liam tested me only once with the soap and never again. Heck, the kid even broke down in tears one time when I asked him to repeat something another child had said, and it turned out the other kid had taken the lord's name in vain.

Seriously Liam? Over that?

Anyway, it's not PC, and that's okay. I'm not trying to win any parenting awards. And I'm pretty okay with admitting to my hypocrisy.

Major eye rolling situation.

I don't understand the mental block most men have against buying feminine products for their spouses. Or maybe it's just mine.

Are they embarrassed about it? Is it because all men are 13 year old girls at heart? That's about the last time I blushed when buying a personal item like TAMPONS. That's right, I said it out loud.

It would have been so easy. He was already at Safeway. The feminine hygiene isle is on the way to the (SELF) checkout. I was on the phone with him and could have walked him through it.

Nope. Now I have to either a) load the kids into the stroller and head to the store myself, or b) wait until tomorrow night when we can load the kids into the truck and make a family adventure out of it.

Welp, it's kind of a situation that's not going to wait till tomorrow night so...

Thanks honey ;)

The fall-out.

Yesterday, 2:00 p.m., via phone:

Me: so how are the boys?
Mom: Great! They're both sleeping right now.
Me: What?! Mom, Nicky doesn't nap anymore.
Mom: Ohhhhh. Okay, he's only been sleeping for an hour. I'll go wake him up.
Me: *head/desk*
---------------------

The consequences of that teeny tiny little nap have been epic. Last night, delayed bedtime, repeated turning on of lights in his room, climbing into his brother's crib as he's sleeping.

Today, more of the same. Whining. Clinging. And a meltdown to rival those of his big brother in his heyday. It was a doozy that lasted approximately 1 hour, topped off with 4 consecutive time outs until he got the message.

**Ironically, during his tantrum I decided to get him dressed since he was already freaking out. That was the only time during the whole hour that he shut up**

Now, I could've sworn that sometime in the past week it has come up in conversation with my mom that we've cut out naps. I mean, we talk daily. I'm sure I've bitched about how hard it is now going the whole day without a break. She played it off pretty well though, that this was the first she'd heard of this 'no-nap' business.

I don't really blame her though. Seriously? I think this is one of those grandparent perks you hear of. You don't have to deal with the fall-out and get to send them back to the parents.

And my kids are a handful. I'd nap them too if I wasn't their parent.

My day in pictures.

Should've known by this face, what direction this day was going to take.



He turns the basket on it's side so he can reach up onto the higher shelves.



They're just wild.



10 minutes on his own in my craft area. Free reign of the house privileges have been rescinded.



What do I even say to this. He's worse than a puppy.



Please, please, PLEASE, let these teeth come through soon.



This should be me at this point, not him. Stick a fork in me.



Thank God not every day is like today.

Pass me the coffee .

We're on day 3 of no naps for Nicky. Let me tell you, I've never been so exhausted in my life. Not even right after Josh was born and I was wrangling a toddler and newborn.

I miss my ME time. It was the time of day that I didn't have to talk to or take care of anyone. My lunch hour, if you will.

It is worth it though. If I can just get through the witching hours of 4-7, of which I count down every.single.minute., then he has gone to sleep like a charm. KNOCK ON WOOD. None of this getting out of bed and playing with his toys or taking off his pj's and diaper and wrapping himself in the blanket and then peeing on his carpet.

Oh, and he's actually slept on his bed the past 2 nights as well. Seems like a no-brainer, except every single night he takes his pillow and blanket and lays down on the floor. And then we have to move him before we go to bed. Which I guess isn't that big of a deal but it's annoying.

No, after 3 months of Nicholas taking on average of an hour and a half to fall asleep, it now takes him 2 minutes.

Next up, training the boys to sleep in the same room. I haven't figured out which one I'm going to put to bed first at night. Josh is pretty good at putting himself to sleep although once he wakes up during the night he will not go back down on his own. Nicky now goes to sleep easily too. We'll see, whichever order I pick I'm sure it will backfire on me and it'll have to go the other way.

In the meantime I'm still pretty damn tired. I suppose I'll get used to it.