Missing Those Toddler Years

I may be the only person in the whole wide world that loves the toddler years. I actually miss the time when Client One was two. I miss her being 18 months old. I loved those crazy times. Yes, Client One went through the so-called "terrible twos," but now that she's going through the treacherous threes (I don't if that's a real thing, but it should be) I appreciate those toddlers years even more. I mean, look at how adorable she was!

Granted, she's still this adorable, but there's just something extra special about those first couple of years. One thing I love is how toddlers are still learning about their world. There's still that bit of curiosity and every little thing is amazing. I loved watching Client One's eyes light up with every new discovery. I also loved the fact that while toddlers are growing up and becoming more independent and assertive they still have that baby-like quality about them. Client One could speak fairly distinctly by age two but she still had cutesy little terms for many things. She stumbled over words in the most adorable little ways. Now that she's a preschooler, a lot of that babyness is gone. She seems all grown up now. That perfect mix of innocence and independence is gone in favor of independence. Now, she has to do everything herself, even if it takes ten extra minutes. Leaving the house in a timely fashion is nigh unto impossible. She has to climb up into the car all on her own and buckle herself all on her own and if she can't get it done on her own, we have a breakdown on our hands. Let me tell you, breakdowns at age three are no where near as cute as they were when she was a toddler.

Yes, the toddler years can be frustrating, but the preschooler years are proving to be more of a challenge. Client One definitely knows how to test my patience. Toddlers might disobey a little bit and push the limits but preschoolers deliberately go out of their way to be as bad as possible. Client One is an expert at finding new ways to make me go crazy. She's really good at it. And she can run a lot faster than she could a year or so ago. This brings a new challenge to wrangling her for anything. And we won't even discuss the ever changing palette of a three-year-old. I would love to know what made her decide that cheese on pizza is gross but the cheese stick in her friend's lunch is a must-have. I now am beginning to understand why some animals eat their young, Preschoolers are exhausting. Truly exhausting. But I love her.

I really sit back and marvel at how grown-up Client One seems now. She's potty trained (hallelujah!) and that makes my life a lot easier, but now she's even able to go to the bathroom with little or no help. She also used to insist on snuggles every night at bedtime and would not go to sleep without me lying next to her. Yes, at the time I found it exasperating, but now, I kind of miss those snuggles. She doesn't feel the need to hold my hand as often and while she enjoys the occasional snuggle, she's more content to play and sit on her own. She has opinions on everything and it is getting harder and harder to influence her every decision. She can even order her own frappuccino at Starbucks. Every day she needs me a little less. In many ways, I miss my little girl, though I'm equally proud of the bigger girl she's becoming.

And now, Client Two is on the brink of becoming a toddler. He has yet to utter a real word, but it's coming. And he's crawling like a pro and even standing a bit. Soon he will be walking. Soon he will be a full-blown toddler. I feel as if his babyhood is almost at an end and that makes me a little sad as well. You know, it's been said that the years are short but the days are long and it's so true. Time passes too quickly. My babies are growing up faster than I can keep track and I love and hate it all at the same time.

My Parenting Pet Peeve

Okay, it's time for a mini rant about one of those things that does not really matter. It's just one of those parenting pet peeves that drives me crazy even though it probably shouldn't. In fact, probably a good half of the people reading this are guilty. I hate it when parents refer to their kids' age by months after about the first year.

For that first year of life your child has nothing but days, weeks and months adding up his age. You start the super fun countdowns keeping track of how long you've kept the sweet bundle alive. Days turn to weeks and weeks into months. You post those happy pictures like this:

And that's all well and good. And thanks to Pinterest and other social media networks you probably get caught up in taking the sweet monthly picture like these to keep track of your baby's development:

But then your little darling turns a year old. You did it! You survived that first year! Congratulations are in order! Now stop referring to your child's age by the month. Okay, I'll maybe give you a break on a three-month breakdown at first. At that early age many things are divided up developmentally by three months. I'll grit my teeth and let you call your baby 15 months old. (I'm pretty sure I had pictures taken of Client One at 15 months, but I still thought I was being ridiculous.) I'll give you a full pass on 18 months. After all, there is a clothing size labeled 18 months and a bunch of milestones broken down at 18 months. I'll even let you squeak by labeling major milestones by the exact month (like first words or steps). But that's all you get. And once your child hits two, your month to month countdown is officially over. Your child is not 24 months old. He is two. If you really need more of a breakdown go by half years. Your child is two-and-a-half. I have referred to Client One as being "almost three" or saying "she will be four in May" to help give people a more exact idea of her age when necessary. And. let's face it, using months after age three is just obnoxious. Why say your child is 36 months old? That's just asking people to do math and everyone knows that unnecessary math is just pure evil. Your child is three or three-and-a-half or almost four. Any further monthly breakdown is ridiculous! Ridiculous I say!

Okay, I know if you do the month by month age you have your excuses. Some of them may even be valid. I guess, in medical situations an exact age might be needed, but in general, everyday circumstances I don't care. Nobody cares. Half the time when people ask your kid's age they're just making small talk and attempting to feign a basic level of interest in you and your child. You give them a month breakdown and they've just stopped listening to you. But, I know my words are wasted. You're  probably going to keep saying your three-year-old is 39 months old and it's still going to drive me crazy. But please, no matter the legitimacy behind your reasoning, just stop. No, I said stop. Well, at least stop around me. Thanks.

My Christmas Stash

Only 81 days until Christmas!!!!

I know. I know. It's barely October and here I am talking about Christmas. Hold your snowballs. Trust me, we don't start celebrating Christmas until after Thanksgiving. That's the rule in our house. (But once Thanksgiving comes, all bets are off and we go all out!) Whenever I walk into a store and see a massive Christmas section, I start off on my "It's not even Halloween yet" rant. But I do start my Christmas shopping early to get as many great deals as I can. I'm aware that the idea of Christmas shopping is something that makes most people want to hide in a deep, dark corner until Christmas has passed. I, however, look forward to everything Christmas and that includes shopping. Of course, by the time Christmas actually arrives my shopping has been done for weeks. I know, you hate me, right?

When I say my Christmas shopping starts early, I mean I am almost done. Well, I'm almost done shopping for my clients, anyhow. I'll need to pick up presents for other family members closer to Christmas since for some of them we actually draw names. I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to replace all the old, moldy bath toys at Christmas. Most of those toys have been hanging around since Client One was a baby! I've recently discovered Boon bath toys and I love them. I've been accumulating these toys little by little and adding them to my stash. Since I now own just about every toy may by Boon (including the Frog Pod to store the toys in) I think we're good.

In addition to all the awesome bath toys, I've also managed to stash away a few other small gifts that will mostly be used as stocking stuffers. These include Ouchies, books, crayons, coloring books and fun little things like that. I also managed to snag a cute pink tool set by Green Toys for Client One as one of her main gifts. Now, I just need a main gift for Client Two and maybe a couple more stocking stuffers. The best part of my collection is that I barely paid anything. Most of these items came from deals with Citrus Lane and many were free with credits and codes. A few other things I've picked up at clearance sales at Barnes and Noble and Target. Of course, when all the big Christmas sales start up I'll be tempted to add an item or two to their Christmas lists. 

I also have a few little gifts stashed away for other people. Not big gifts, but those kinds of gifts that you give away to teachers and friends. I stocked up on many of these things at the after Christmas sales last year. I have a decent supply of candles and candle holders, all with a Christmas theme, and some little candy tins to fill with homemade goodies. I always keep my eye out for good deals on great little gift items throughout the year as well and add them to my stash. Pretty much any time I am in any store I check out the clearance sections and start buying up little things to store away for gifts. My stash closet is practically overflowing. It drives Hubby crazy! But I like the fact that I can give people decent gifts without going broke.

Christmas is coming, ready or not! I can't wait! Honestly, it needs to come quickly or I will find more and more things to buy! My poor closet can't hold much more! I've planned ahead and it's going to be great!