The Story on Morning Glory

There have been a few days recently that can only be summed up as "2 year old days."  Days when Jack throws fits for no reason, won't do things just because, acts like a hormonal teenager.  I honestly liken days like this to days when he can tell me he hates me and slam his door.  That's how crazy and irrational they are.

I know he's testing his limits.  Seeing what happens if....if he really bangs his fork and spoon together one more time, will he REALLY have to do to time out?  Some of this whole, "I want Mommy to hold me and only Mommy to hold me and if anyone else holds me I will scream and shout and throw a fit like you're never seen and nothing, no nothing, will distract me from my desire to have Mommy hold me."

There's been a lot of that.

And then there's this too adorable for words little boy, eating his ice cream, saying hi to everyone who passes by.

And then there's this same little boy who kept licking the table.  And when Mommy said, please quit licking the table said, "OK, Mamma."  And would lick his ice cream, and then lick the table.  And when Mommy said, "Please quit licking the table.  We lick ice cream, not tables because tables are dirty.  If you lick the table, we're going to have to throw your ice cream away and go bye-bye."  And when asked what what would happen if he licked the table would say, "Throw ice cream away.  Go bye-bye." And would sing, lick his ice cream look at Mommy and lick the table.  

And then there were tears and gnashing of teeth.

And when asked why we had to throw the ice cream away, would say, "Licked table.  Mamma said no lick table, or throw away ice cream."

You know that place where your toddler has the will of a dictator?

When he looks like this because you asked him to eat one.......bite.......of a homemade pumpkin muffin?

And then after he finally eats ONE BITE, he gets up and proceeds to eat 3 muffins 5 minutes later?

And that place where since you took a picture on the first day of school, you now have to take a picture on every day you go to school?

And that place where all you ask him to do is say "Please" and you'll help.............and he won't?  And he knows what that means, but doesn't want to do it, so he just cries for 10 minutes instead?

And that place where you tell him you'll put him in the swing when you finish snarfing down your breakfast while you try to talk to a friend, only you can't talk because said toddler is screaming in the background because he wants to swing NOW, and not play with the 20,000 other toys in the backyard that you've suggested?

And that place where he gives you straight up hugs and kisses while he pats your back?

I was a little uncertain about what Jack's reaction to such a place would be.  He can be timid on the playground when there are other kids around, and I was pretty sure there would be other kids there.  

With toddlers, I'm learning, that things learned are not always things un-tested.  Learned things are tested, and re-tested, and re-tested, and re-tested.  And this week, we're in a re-testing week.

We know to go to time out when Mommy and Daddy say, "Go to time out."  But this week, we like to laugh, giggle, smile slyly, and run away.  We know not to hit Vincent.  But this week, we hit him and just try to straight up aggravate him.  We know not to jump on the furniture.  But this week, we jump on the couch and laugh.  We jump on the chair and  scream.  We know when Mommy and Daddy say, "Come here," we come here.  This week, we run in the complete opposite direction, laughing like a mad man.

Oy.  Friday, Jeff came home and I said I felt like I had little patience with Jack today.  I felt bad.  Staying at home with a toddler is not easy, and Friday about did me in.  Saturday, was the same....but Jeff was there and together we witnessed the crazy little tornado that was our son.  And I realized why I felt like I'd had little patience on Friday!  He was a crazy little banshee!  

This past weekend, Jeff had a work event at North Park Center, so all 3 of us jumped in the car and headed to the Big D.  We figured Jeff could do his thing, and Jack and I could do some shopping!  Win, win, right?  We walked in the mall and Jeff and I immediately spotted the Disney store....and knew that would HAVE to be the last stop on our mall trip!  

Jack is completely, totally, with out a doubt, in love with a few Disney things.  What kid isn't?  We wake up each morning and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while he eats breakfast.  He LOVES Mickey!  When you ask him about Mickey, he says, "And Donald?  And Daisy?  And A-Pluto?  And Minnie?  And Goofy?"  He rattles off the clubhouse gang like it's his job.  

When we went to Florida this summer, Jeff and I decided we should pick out a tollerable kids movie that we could watch 9,000 times with out dieing, and that Jack would love.  We picked Toy Story.  I'm not a big fan of kids movies because I feel like there's always one character that's scary and evil in it, and I don't necessarily like that.  I don't think my almost 2 year old needs to be scared of someone on TV!  Call me crazy.  Toy Story does have a crazy kid who tries to blow up toys, but that's about it, and he's not a big part of the plot.  It's mostly about a relationship growing and changing between Woody and Buzz.  Did I just write that?  Yes.  So anyways, Jack loves Toy Story.  Wakes up from his nap saying, "Cowboy?  Cowboy?" wanting to watch the movie!  This summer, I'm sad to say, we've spent more than a few late afternoons watching part of the Cowboy movie.  Eh, it is what it is, I'm pregnant and it's 107 outside.  

So, Jack and I shopped at all the kids clothing stores (one of which was actually playing Toy Story on their if-you-have-a-TV-to-distract-the-kids-the-moms-will-shop-longer TV's!  Jeff did his thing, we at at Chick Fil A in the food court, and were heading to the car before we stopped at the Disney Story.  It was like heaven came down.  We walked in and their front display is for Toy Story 3.  I wish you could have seen Jack's face!  It's the same look he gets when someone starts singing a song he knows....how in the world do you know that song???  How in the world did Cowboy and Buzz get here??  He would grab a Woody doll and drop it to grab a Buzz doll, and drop it to grab a Woody hat....hilarious.  He couldn't get enough!  They also had a Jessie doll.  Jessie's not in the first Toy Story, but we have a Toy Story 3 tent that we pop up in the living room and Jessie's picture is front and center.  Seeing the Jessie doll was like finding a long lost friend!  He was soooooooooo excited to see her.  He wanted to open the packs of the Toy Story action figures, wear the Buzz costume...it was so great.  I couldn't even get a good picture because he would NOT look at the camera!  Too many fun things to look at! But you can see the excitement in his adorable little face!

Next we headed to the back of the store where they had the classic Disney characters.  He basically cleared the table, grabbing one of each of his favorites.  Donald, Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy....they were all there and he was loving it.  Once again, couldn't believe it!!  

Jeff and I decided we could EASILY spend hundreds of dollars in a mere 10 minute walk through the store....but we felt like we were very rational toddler parents, letting him take home a small Woody doll and a small Donald doll, and then two Mickey cups.