Yus, Mama

Miss Peaches just turned seven months old a few days ago. I have to say, I think this is my favorite age. Well, between birth and 3 years, that is. Beyond that I have no children so I can't say what may lie ahead as my chronological favorite.

I love this age because she is just learning to sit on her own, munch a little bit of small bits of food on her own, she has not yet learned to be offended when we take something away from her, and mostly because she smiles at us all the time. Is there anything better than a toothless grin?

We've come a long way from her being permanently latched onto me, that's for sure. At first she wouldn't sleep in her crib at all. Hated it. Hated the thought of it. Hated the smell of it. But over time we worked our way up to naps in the crib, and then sleeping in the crib at night for a little while, and now finally to sleeping in it most of the night. (We're still working on not doing any night time feedings... Not quite there yet.)

She's been sick more times than I can count... Not fair for someone so little to have to be sick, I know, but that's how it goes this time of year. We've lost sleep. We've lost A LOT of sleep. Never to be returned, those lost hours of sleep.

But now they're being paid back in toothless smiles, so I say we're calling it even.

Little Blue Eyes is just over the two-year mark now. He's an ever constant source of fun and entertainment, what with all the new words and phrases he's coming out with on a daily basis, but I will tell you, this is not my favorite age. Because with all those new words and phrases comes one ugly little word and new and ingenious ways to say it: NO.

There's the quiet, blunt, "No," which is accompanied by a seemingly innocent little head shake. Then theres the whining, "NooooooOoo," which is usually accompanied by lying on the floor and some sort of squirming. Next there's the one that gets my hackles up, the, "NA-OH!!!" It's loud, it's bold, it's defiant. I really don't like that one.

So, there's a lot of time-outs and (dare I say it?) spankings these days. And we're working on so-wee (sorry) and yus, mama (yes, mama) and hugging it out. Let me tell you, and you may well already know, it takes some fortitude and dedication to discipline children. But that's what us mamas and daddies do.

The reason I bring this up is because we all go through phases with our children and I think it's good to talk about it. It's good to admit we struggle sometimes. I'm no expert (ha, ha, ha ha ha ha ha, snort) but I will share with you what I am going through, what I feel, what I do, if it works, if I sprout two more gray hairs from the experience or if we come out triumphant on the other side.

But it's also good to revel in all the good, and since I feel guilty for bad-mouthing Little Blue Eyes and posting some not-so-flattering pictures of him, here's one more set, because he does smile quite a bit too, and he says lots of other words, like, "Snuggle baby," (snuggle with me) and, "I want some wotion," (lotion) and, "Bwess you," and, "I wuv you, mom."