A Prayer from the Mom of a 2 Year Old

Dear God, 

Please send help fast. 

No, it's not your average emergency, and I know that you have plenty of bigger things going on in the world that I normally pray for, but this two year old is testing me at every turn. My Mother constantly told me that "patience is a virtue" when I was growing up. I'm reminding myself of that more times than I can count these days.

The struggle between learning, communicating, independence and you know your standard #2yearoldproblems is caving in on Cameron.  There's an on/off switch that seems to follow in his shadow.  If only I could see it, then at least I'd be warned about what I was getting into before I got into it.

Between bath times, getting dressed, going to sleep, being inside or outside, going to school, saying thank you, choosing socks, putting the socks on himself -- I can go on. and on.  Literally you name it and we've had a struggle with it. 

Don't get me wrong Lord, I love this little boy to the moon and back, he's a joy and so full of personality. Watching him learn how to voice his worries, how to express his emotions, how to grow from here, has Tim and I - to put it simply - whooped.

Can I make you a deal, I'll pony up to the temper tantrums and try every last method I know of to better these struggles to help Cameron grow into the man that I know he can be, if you'll help me keep him asleep until it's time for him to wake up?  FOUR THIRTY in the morning is just not healthy for this family.  FOUR THIRTY is no good.  He used to be such a great sleeper, and now all of a sudden we've hit a huge pot hole. We're so close to putting baby in his crib and sleeping in his own bed, which will get us that much closer to him sleeping through the night. I'm terrified of doing this though knowing that Cameron's sleep patterns are not at their strongest.

Ok forget the deal. Just help us all to remember that, yes, patience is a virtue. Keep us united and as always supporting each other - Team Benton Forever!  Above all else though, remind us of the love more than the tantrums, smiles more than sadness and laughter more than tears.

Don't worry God, I'll be saying my "normal" prayers tonight too. You know the ones that are truly important. This little prayer is starting to sound like a pity party.  Thanks for letting me vent a little. I don't believe in white-picket-fence perfect; I know better than that.  Besides, I believe that chaotic beauty is much brighter than anything that resembles a white picket fence anyway. Chaotic beauty creates the best kind of laughter and memories.  Ok just that rant right there helped; see I just needed to let it out. I now realize that I sound exactly like the crazy, sleep deprived mother of a 2 year old and an infant -- but I need to remember that I'm not the first one in this category. Life will progress.

Thank you for listening,

Amen

Mama Said

Mama said there'd be days like this:

Like this too -- 

And even some like this!

Days that start out with temper tantrums, but finish with this kind of magic - I'll take those anytime!

Looks pretty good, doesn't it?

The Birth Day!

We didn't plan a big party, we didn't plan any party really. We had some family dinners and some quality time.  The weather was awesome and I was emotional. My boy is 2! We've survived through two years of this world with Cameron and I'm so thankful and blessed for each and every moment, even the ones where I question what the heck I'm doing.

A day celebrating Cameron in pictures:

the best corn dog he's ever tasted!

We played, we explored, we had hot dogs (Cameron's favorite).  There were cupcakes without frosting - a must - and a new yellow bike!  A tent for hiding and telling stories and a picnic table just his size. 

He may be the President of the Terrible Twos, but he looks good and he makes a great leader! :)

He's 2!

Dear Cameron,

Happy 2nd Bithday! 

It's here! You're two! We've been practicing singing the birthday song, you can say how old you are (even though you say everyone is 2 now), and you're better at opening presents. 

You have grown so much and have become such a handsome, determined, smart, particular, little man with the best sense of humor!

You LOVE:

Wrestling and playing with your Dad

Blowing bubbles

Putting things in order

Driving with the window down

Dancing

Riding bikes

Tacos, hot dogs and fruit

Mixing eggs, or anything really where you get to sit on the counter and help (watch) Mama cook

You DON'T love:

Veggies

Doing something you aren't ready to do

Frosting

Finger painting

Getting a haircut

Straying from your very specific routine

You are putting so many words together, and sometimes you say them so fast that I don't always catch what you are trying to say.  

You are really starting to voice your opinion and you want so badly to figure out how to dress yourself.

You are super observant, it makes me nervous at times. What will you pick up on next?

Right now you love telling us what is next to what.  ("Cameron's water next to Cameron milk.")

We "cheers" all sorts of things at dinner!

You are a handful of joy, a ball full of love and bushel of silly. You are just the right amount of all the pieces we love in each of our loved ones, mixed with the perfect amount of you!

Even though right now we may consider you the President of the Terrible Tows Club, we love you more than you'll ever know!

I can't wait to see the surprises and adventures you have in store for us!

To the moon & back,

Mama

Going from 1 to 2!

There's life, there's life with a kid and then there's life with 2!

It's been an adjustment, a challenge, an adventure -- and it's all just beginning! I'm not sure who planned the timing here, but welcoming an infant and the terrible two's may have been a really dumb idea!

I have been told that if you can keep your cool through the first few months, the good stuff will come and you'll be thankful for the close age range.  Let's just say I'm waiting (im)patiently for those first few months to rally and for us to find our well-oiled machine! 

Top Findings so Far:

* the term multi-tasking has a whole new meaning

This is a picture of Cameron sitting in my lap while I feed Payton, all while sitting on the floor and playing after school!

* you have to commit and be flexible in equal properties

* with Cameron I was nervous to leave the house for at least the first month - I was a hermit! Payton though? We were hitting Target by day 3!

*  toddler sometimes trumps infant and infant sometimes trumps brain cells or cooking, or cleaning - but I refuse to let infant trump my shower!  It's important to feel clean and somewhat put together!

* it is still important to find individual time and moments for each of my boys, Tim included!

* let these Brothers find their way on their own time - I need to remember this as they get older too!

We do a lot of verbalizing who's turn it is and who does what first. This seems to help Cameron see that he gets time, and that things don't come as a surprise. When we get in or out of the car, it's "who's getting out first?". When we leave in the morning, it's: "baby, time to take Cameron to school".  We talk about how Payton, aka "Baby" is getting dressed or getting a bath and that Cameron's next. Cameron likes to show baby how he does things, which is really nice because we're getting things done.

Sharing will forever be a challenge, it still is for me sometimes, but if we can find ways to tweak how they learn to share maybe it will make it a little easier.

For the first time last night Cameron wanted to sit and hold Payton with me while we fed him! We are making progress and I'm starting to see a glimpse of that well-oiled machine! You can't help but smile when you see these two figuring out the first steps to brotherhood!

Dear Nugget

Dear Nugget,

You go with the flow.

You like the sound of water running and the feeling of the breeze. Just wait until your first trip to the beach - it's heavenly!

Your big brother finds you so interesting and so difficult all at the same time.

You have received the raised eye-brow gift from my side of the family, your Dad hates it.

There's a small dimple right below your left eye that appears when you cry.  Will it be there when you laugh too?

You may or may not have inherited chicken legs; from who?

Your Dad is keeping his fingers crossed that you keep his blue eyes.

You are really long.

You have blended into our family beautifully. I keep reminding myself of the best advice that I got when Cameron first arrived on the scene. Everything takes time and just when you start to question whether or not you're ever going to figure it out, that it changes. There will always be something to focus on.  You're growing and learning, everything is an adjustment - for us too.  It's funny how I expect you to like things just the way that Cameron did and yet you are already your own person, choosing things yourself and in your own way. I promise I'll always let you be yourself. I may try what Cameron liked first, since it's what I know, but ultimately you will be you Nugget and we are thrilled with that.

I pray that you find some comfort in your sleep schedule (hint, hint) and that your body figures out how to digest everything better because we all really hate spit-up! Most of all though we are thankful for you and for the love that continue to grows for this sweet, little family of ours. 

I love you to the moon and back Nugget!

Mom