Don't Be Fooled

I know I like to post lost of sweet pictures and my lovely kids, and while I do think they are amazing, beautiful, and gifts from God, don't be too fooled into thinking it's all sunshine and rainbows.  I like to document special times for our family and friends, and most importantly for my children to one day reflect on, but amidst all the special occasions, sweet sayings, and tender acts of affection is also temper tantrums, orneriness, pickiness, whining, looooots of questions, etc. etc.  You get the idea!  ;)  So, here's a little post just to keep it real....

So far, for MJ the change from 3 to 4 has been a pretty good one.  So many of our friends told us that 4 was a great age, and you're finally past the really tough stage of 2's and 3's, and for the most part I'd have to say I agree.  MJ is really at a great age where he enjoys all types of experiences, is much more open to trying new things, and is a bit more control of his emotions.  Of course, he's still a wee one though and this from time to time brings major back talk, negotiating, questioning of everything, testing his limits, and experimenting.  And by experimenting I mean with things like baby shampoo.  Like, for example, what happens if I dump the entire bottle of baby shampoo in the tub, while the Jacuzzi jets are running, while my mommy quickly goes to change my sister's diaper.....

 THIS is what happens!  In a matter of a couple minutes, the tub completely overflowed with soapy bubbles.  I probably should have been livid, but all I could do was laugh and take pictures.  He was saying, "Look mommy, I'm a bubble man!"  Every time he would move around, more bubbles would flow over the edge, so I snapped at him so sit down and be still.  Well, he listened but as soon as he sat down, the bubbles were practically over his head and he started sputtering.  So much for that idea.  We began draining the tub, and I made him help clean up the huge mess.  It took quite awhile, and I'm hoping through that, he learned his lesson!  It was a mental image I will NEVER forget!

And then there's this little one.  Look at that sweet little face sporting her "Little Sister" gear.  She now loves to "cheese" for me when I take her picture.  She is learning new things daily, exploring lots, and is full of love and cuddles.

BUT don't let this sweet little mama fool you (by the way, I'm thinking my parents will totally think she looks like me here in this picture pushing her baby around).  This girl is a fearless, emotional, and independent toddler in the making.  Helllllo, "terrible two's", I think you've arrived about 7 months too early.  Mat even semi-joked recently that thank God we got pregnant when we did because if we'd been this exhausted from her as we are now, there wouldn't have been another baby!  Ha!  God love her, she brings us endless laughter and smiles, but she can absolutely wear you out in a matter of moments, too!  She loves to go, go, go.  She is climbing all over the place, can destroy a whole room in a matter of five minutes, went through a quick (and hopefully done with it) biting phase which her poor brother got the brunt of, scratches, screams, throws food, you name it! 

All these new changes meant mommy and daddy began using time-outs.  She's only had a handful so far as she's just begin to learn what consequences are, but this was her first-ever time out for hitting her brother repeatedly.  Since then, we've been reinforcing "soft hands" over, and over and over, and she's getting really good at using them, but occasionally she still gets super rough with us.  She already loves to wrestle her brother and is determined to WIN!  I love seeing her personality develop (well, most of it anyways) and now that I'm getting to really know her better and better I can't ever imagine her being the "baby" of the family.  She totally seems like she needs a little sibling to boss around.  On a serious note, and a positive one, though she is such a little mommy already.  She's really beginning to notice and be fascinated with babies, so I think although it will completely shake her world up when the new addition arrives, I think she's really be mesmerized by a little one to dote on. 

So, that's more like a real glimpse of the nitty gritty day to day life in the Keyes Casa!