Ok, So Now What???

Having just turned 2, Owen is becoming more and more opinionated, testing limits, exerting his free will, and developing a temper. All of this is part of being 2, and all part of the fun of having a 2-year-old. Actually, I really do enjoy seeing him grow and change and become his own little person. The "Being 2" doesn't really bother me like I had anticipated.

So what do you do when your child is in full-on-two-ness mode? Well for us, time out~or shall I say the threat of time-out~works fabulously! Has has only gone to time-out a few times and it breaks his heart so much, that the threat is usually all it takes. We ask him to do whatever...he screams "NO!!"...and we then start the count down. Now the boy waits until we say "three", but then he says "yep!" and happily goes off to do whatever was asked of him. It's a great little system, that until this morning, has worked everytime.

But now let me give you a little example of how it went this morning (all before 7am, of course!)

Mommy: "Owen, it's time to get dressed for school."

Owen: "No Mommy hessed...no cool...bye bye soon." (That would be "no dressed, and no school" for all you readers) ;-)

Mommy: "Owen, let's get dressed or we'll go to time out. One, get dressed or time out...two, get dressed or time out...three, dressed or time out?"

Owen: (No response...pause...) "Owie go out!" (He then walks over to the time out mat and sits down.) "Owie in out!"

Mommy (to Daddy): "Oh great. Well that worked well. Now what?"

I told Owen that he could sit in time out, but then he had to get dressed. He said no and yelled for "Owie in out"...that went back and forth for a minute but then we decided for him...it's time to get dressed. In the end, we picked him up and got him dressed tag-team wrestling style. And then he was fine. Off to "cool" he went.

I love my 2-year-old kid!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

Sunday we took Owen to his first ever baseball game. The Frisco Rough Riders were in town playing the Arkansas Travelers. It was the only game that started early enough to take the little one to, so we packed up the blanket and headed to our lawn seats. It was a perfect day-great weather, Owen was in a great mood, and the ball park is just plain fun! Hubby and I had many of our first dates at that ballpark. Our first kiss there. Even got engaged there in the parking lot one drizzly January day 6 years ago, so we were both excited to take Owen there for a family outing. We found a great piece of grass to park ourselves and spend the afternoon. We ate nachos...you know the kind...chips and some sorts of orange artery-clogging "cheese" slathered all over the top. Owen loved them! A few beers for the adults, and Owen even had some Cracker Jacks. My friend from way back and her kiddos met up with us for a while, and overall it was a great afternoon!

One thing I did discover...boys are born with a special gene that most girls don't have. It's the "1,000 ways to get dirty" gene. I mean really, Owen has never been that dirty. Ever. Now I know, some girls are pretty good at getting dirty too, but I myself, was not one of those girls. I was never exceptionally girlie, but I didn't play sports, get dirty, get sweaty, ick...none of that!! So I didn't know the extent of the dirtiness that little boys could bring into my world. Sunday, I learned. He didn't watch one minute of the game...how could he when we were surrounded by dirt? Sandy, dusty, must be played in, rolled in, thrown around, cover everything, DIRT. But he loved it, so whatchya gonna do? A little, or in this case, a lot, of dirt never hurt anyone. Least of all boys, apparently.







So that was my Sunday. And I loved it.

And I love that kid.

My New Gig...

That's right ladies and gentlemen(or if no one is reading this)internet abyss...I got a new gig! Now of course I am still at the same place I have been for almost 11 years now, I mean really, where else am I gonna go? It's in my blood, and I can't fight it. But this new gig...it's working out pretty well! I get to work at home, which I am QUICKLY growing to love! I miss my friends, and lunches, and walks, but this is good too. I have regained 2+ hours of commute time each day! The job is interesting, which I really wasn't expecting. And is kinda the best of both worlds~I get to work (which lets face it-I gotta!) but also allows me to be at home to take better care of my family. Owen still goes to school-he LOVES his school and his friends, and in my opinion, 2yo need the socialization. At home all the time with mom isn't in his best interst~he needs to get out, make friends, learn the ways of the world...ok, maybe that's a little too far, but he certainly doesn't need to be stuck inside with me all day long either! But the new gig does allow me to get stuff done so weekends are more free for family time. I already feel more relaxed and patient. It was a decision I really struggled with for many reasons, yet now it seems so clear. This is what was meant to be. And for the opportunity, I am thankful.

EE!!!

...Is what Owen's exclaims everytime he sees my BFF of 20+ years. Owen LOVES his Aunt EE. No one knows where "EE" came from, only the mind of a 2yo can come up with that I suppose. Every time someone knocks on our door he shouts "EE HOOMMEEE!!" and runs to the door. Now, 9 times out of 10, it is EE-we don't get many visitors way out here-but occasionally he is disappointed to find it's just the UPS guy. When EE came over the other day, he didn't hear her knock, so when he came around the corner and saw her standing in the living room, it was pure love and joy. He threw his beloved snack on the floor, screamed "EE!!" and took off running to her. Thank goodness she knew to drop her stuff cause she would have been bowled over by 25 pounds of excitement. He gets excited to see me when I pick him up from school, but I never get that kind of reception! The rest of the night it's "EE 'mon", "EE walk", "EE running"...yes, he's very bossy these days. But she humors him and plays along. Really, I don't know who love who more as I think she now comes over to see me only about 50% of the time. The rest of the time is for the boy. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Hopefully, someday (soon) I will get to be an EE ~ cause your own kid will never love you the way they love the fun, cool, aunt.

We love you EE!

And yes, I love that kid!