Lots of Talk, Lots of Mean

Both of the boys are talking so much lately. Cole speaks in full sentences, albeit indeterminable by me and most others. But he sure knows what he's saying, and gets really frustrated when I can't interpret and answer. Jesse is saying everything -- much more than I ever remember Cole saying at this age. He'll repeat anything we ask him to. Some of his words are dog, ball, no-no, Cole, down, milk, baby, diaper. He'll even moo when he sees a cow and roar when he sees a lion. Super cute.

Now if only they could get along. Jesse's always stealing toys from Cole just to frustrate him. Cole is always intentionally being mean to Jesse (pushing, hitting, slapping, throwing toys at him). It's kinda scary. Really hoping it's just a phase for Cole. I can see the anger and meanness in his face when he treats Jesse like that. Don't know what to do about it, but doing our best!

My Tiny Dancer

Jesse has had a lot of names since coming into this world -- Pteradactyl for the way he screamed, Tiger for the way he would rear back on his legs and put his arms in the air when he was crawling -- now it's Tiny Dancer. He loves to dance whenever music comes on. It's adorable. My absolute favorite is picking him up and dancing with him in the kitchen when the radio is on. He gets this cute smile on his face and we dance and spin. Now when I turn the radio on in the kitchen, he comes up to my feet and lifts his arms up and looks at me to pick him up and dance. I love it!

Why Reluctant?

I was so excited to have a baby. No one had ever told me motherhood would be the most difficult thing I had ever attempted. I distinctly remember a conversation my husband and I had when I was pregnant about how we'd just take our little one with us along in everything we did in life; it would be our current life, just with a child beside us. HA!

The only thing that's the same about my life today, two-and-a-half years later, is my name and my address. That sweet child (and the 2nd one who followed soon after) have turned life as we knew it completely upside down. My body's not the same (bigger hips, grayer hair, more wrinkles); my house is not the same (carpets, walls, and couches especially); my concept of a "full night's sleep" and a "meal" have been redefined; and -- most importantly -- my priorities have been rearranged.

Where I used to be the center of the universe, my children are quickly teaching me that I am not. Kids have a knack for hitting all the right buttons. Ever asked God to change something about you? Guaranteed if you have kids, they're the ones he'll use to change you. It's amazing.

So here I am, finally learning what it truly means to love being a mom. Finding joy in the disappointments, laughing at the mishaps, and cherishing all of the special moments that happen every day -- if I have the perspective to see them.