Parents "Get It"

People with kids share a common understanding that it takes a lot of energy to be a parent and at times we're just plain exhausted. We can't always take breaks when we need them because somehow children have a heightened sense of relaxation and will repel it immediately upon detection. That's just the way it goes sometimes but the smiles, giggles, and joy those vitality sucking youngsters gift us somehow makes it all worth it. Yesterday night was my reward.

Dylan has been a crab for the majority of the week on account of the teething monster. He is fussy, impatient and downright needy. I've tended to him the best I can but gum discomfort is all part of the baby game and there's only so much I can do to lift his spirits and ease the suffering. So yesterday night after a frustrating and long day, my little big boy crawled onto my lap, pulled himself up to my chest and rested. Dad tried coaxing Dylan into crawling over to him but for once in his life all he wanted was mommy, and all I wanted was to preserve the moment forever. 

And though child rearing can be draining, the loving involved is insurmountable and paramount to all the work it takes to get the job done. Yup, it's totally worth it. Other parents understand.

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Gif Through Thursday

Slap Happy

Don't kids do the darnedest things? Now that Dylan is officially 9 months old he is celebrating by using the palm of his hand to slap himself upside the head. Though I appreciate his enthusiasm, it is a bit hard to watch. "Don't be mean to my baby!" I tell him, but he doesn't care. He is determined to play knock-knock with his noggin. Dizbaby wants to play with your head too. Yesterday when I leaned in to give him a kissy he put both his hands around my face and began slapping my cheeks repeatedly. Sorry bucko but mommy doesn't play that. Okay- yes I do....because as soon as he was done clapping my face he pulled me in for a kiss and I melted. But in the future, do not slap my face kid. 

Have you ever seen a small child hit their parents in a restaurant and  then laugh about it? That's my fear. I'm constantly considering  what impact "the now" will have on the future and my hyper-paranoia and overactive imagination envisions a giant, strong toddler wheeling blows to my head then giggling as I fall to the ground all because I didn't teach him not to hit. A kid hitting their parent just because it's funny is wildly inappropriate and embarrassing even if all parties think it's a big ole joke. So you can only imagine what was going through my head yesterday when Dylan bit my butt. Oy vey.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my $50 Lace & Arrows credit giveaway featured here!  

Recruiting for Team Mommy

I have a little bit of a bone to pick with my son. Namely, he's a jerk. For whatever reason the doting, the feeding, the playing and the attention I provide is miniscule in comparison to whatever his dad does. Though I may be his loving mother who does nothing but treat him like the golden child I believe him to be, if his dad is around I am merely chopped liver that stinks up the room and he would prefer that I take a hike and let boys club commence. REALLY? 

I've always known dad was the favorite but I didn't realize just how much he was ahead in the polls until the last few days when Dylan had both of us to himself. My husband thinks Dylan's parental preference is hilarious and eats it up like Thanksgiving dinner. He will pick up Dizbaby and insist I put my hands out and say, "let's go!" And each time I do Dylan holds my husband tight and rests his head on his shoulder while giving me his back, uninterested in going anywhere with Mommy. But when the roles are reversed and I have Dylan in my arms and dad puts his hands out and utters "let's go," Dizbaby jumps at the opportunity and literally pushes off my body to lunge toward dad. Uhm...REALLY? It is quite possible that I have the meanest baby in the world, who repeatedly demonstrates that he favors dad over mom. 

The bone that I have to pick with Dylan is apparently the same bone he throws me when Dad isn't around. Because when there are no other options I am option number 1. And though I am boiling with jealousy...I will happily take Dad's sloppy seconds. Dylan might not be Team Mommy but I am definitely Team Dizbaby. 

P.S. Don't forget to enter my $50 Lace & Arrows credit giveaway featured here! 

Packing Up Halloween

After weeks of Halloween hype the day finally came and Dizbaby wasn't having it. By the time trick-or-treating arrived Dylan was fast asleep and uninterested in partaking in the festivities. We ended up buying two giant bags of chocolate and staying in to pass out candy, but that too was an epic fail. Despite having truckloads of kids in our neighborhood who frequently stop by to sell us cookies, wrapping paper and nuts, we didn't receive a single trick or treater. NOT ONE! I don't understand what was responsible for the mass abduction of our local children but at least I have a gazillion goodies to eat during my investigation.  

The Halloween decorations have been taken down and the jingle jangle of the holiday season is rattling in my head. So here's to our next round of firsts with Dizbaby and to the final months of 2013. I'm ready!