Random Ramblings

Working full time and running a household is hard work.  Working full time, running a household and parenting a baby is harder work.  Working full time, running a household and parenting a toddler is even harder work.  And MJ has recently decided that going to bed is optional. :(  Bed time has never been hard with him, he has been a great sleeper since the night he came home.  But being in a big boy bed leaves him with freedoms he chooses to exercise.  Lately, it takes me about 45 minutes to get him settled enough to actually stay in his bed (not asleep yet, but staying in his bed.)  And he does not like to hear the word no.  So we have some behavioral issues we are working on and it feels like we aren't making any progress as we are all tired by the time we get home at night and we only have a couple hours together (including the making, eating and clean up of dinner and bath time) before we start the struggle to get him into bed.  But after a few hard nights of little sleep (as he isn't sleeping through the night now either) it is so nice to get the unexpected and unsolicited "Love you Mommy" from the back seat on our way to the sitters, followed by a "so much" and a kissy noise.  :)

Mitchell is a little sponge.  And it is so strange to hear my words coming out of his mouth.  The other morning after getting him settled for breakfast, I went into the kitchen and then the dog promptly started barking.  Before I could react, I hear from the dinning room, "NOAH BEAR! I EATING! HUSH! Goodness...goodness."  That is almost word for word what I would say.  He also answers questions with "umm" a lot, which Gus says he gets from me too. 

And this is just too cute that I have to share.  This morning, we were coming downstairs for breakfast and MJ looks at me with a big smile and says "Mama, I like your pants!" I'm wearing a skirt today. :) I also made rice crispy treats the other day and last night as he was eating one, MJ: "yum...good...yummy...Mama what is this?" Me: "That's a rice crispy treat."  MJ: "Crispy tweet." He is just so much fun!

Okay, I know this is morbid, but I can't look at our dog without thinking that he isn't going to be around much longer and it just makes me sad.  He is such a good dog.  He is my shadow from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed.  He is great with MJ and I think that is why I'm already dreading him not being around.  It is hard enough loosing a pet without having to watch your child's heart break too.  MJ is definitely an animal lover (just like his Mommy), and I have no doubt that he will take it hard when it does happen.  But, I hope that doesn't happen any time soon. I hope Noah Bear is around for years to come and Mitchell has plenty more opportunities to tell him to hush!