Two Year Olds

This is my second round at having a two year old. What have I learned thus far? That I really don't like having a two year old!!! I like him and I love being a mom, and yes, there are some cute things about this age, but overall, toddlerhood is so not my favorite stage!!! While Ali is gradually getting less strong-willed and more fun to be around in her zeal to learn and to do things for herself, Jer is becoming our most difficult child for a season. Now, there is a MAJOR difference in the way they have been/are at age two. It is HARD to have a 2 year old, it is INFINITELY hard to have the strongest-willed kid in the world be two years old!!! Yet, Jeremiah is still a challenge.

Just when I thought we were done potty training we went to Billings and let Jer use a diaper for the car trips. Then he came home with a horrible cold and started having accidents because he didn't feel well. So, though I was very frustrated with the messes, knowing that we had once been past that, we persevered through getting him back to going all the time in the potty. And yet, he'll go through spurts of having accidents and then being really diligent about taking himself to the potty. I know boys are harder to train and that potty-training takes a while, but the whole potty-training stuff is one small part of why toddlerhood is rough on me.

Jer doesn't explore or get into as much as Ali did but he's always moving, always making messes, and always talking. And sometimes Mommy just needs a break. Which is why I'm thankful he's an awesome napper and usually naps 3 hours in the afternoon. If I have the option to leave one kid home on the weekend when going somewhere, I try to leave Jer home since he is the hardest to keep track of these days!

Overall, Jer is still an incredibly tenderhearted little guy. He cries over every reprimand and scolding and lately even if Ali just blows in his face or says, "RAAA!" Of course she can't resist doing this over and over since his reaction is terror and tears. I'm forever telling her to be kind and telling him to toughen up. He cries when Justus cries and when Ali gets disciplined or scolded too. It just dawned on me the other day that he is very appropriately named after the weeping prophet in the Bible since he cries over everything and has always been the sensitive, emotional type.

Jer is fascinated with snakes and bugs and racecars and lions and frontloaders and tractors and fourwheelers. He loves to play outside and do all the typical "boy" things. He is thrilled over the trip we are planning to go to the Denver zoo this summer and talks about it all the time.

Recent cute comments from Jer-Bear:

"Mommy, look at my butt! It's a really big butt!" (Everything needs to be BIG when you are two.)

"Mommy, you are my fwend. I love you!"

"I love you too!" (Even before you say it to him, he will say this to everyone.)

Nowadays he usually says "I don't want that" only to say "I want that" a second later. So, I just roll with it and try not to make everything a fight. Even when he says he doesn't want juice, I start filling his sippy knowing that by the time the top is on, he'll change his mind. And for all the hard stuff that comes with this age, at least my Jerby is always good for a hug and a long cuddle session and he is the most repentant child I've ever seen when he needs to be corrected.

May God give us grace and strength to deal with our toddlers!!!