Lately, eClaire throws a colossal fit when she wants to be held, but you refuse. Which she wants continually, and I refuse often.

BC, on the other hand, has been oh so much better. I hope you caught my sarcasm. He has been unusually aggressive, and hostile this week. He growls when angry, which isn’t terribly unusual, but always lands him straight to time out. This growling thing, that has earned him the nickname Ebay, has now morphed into a growl–phpppbh. Oh, lets talk about disrespect!

Today in Costco, BC took my cell phone, the sole item keeping eClaire from melting down completely, away from eClaire, and when I asked him to give it back to her, he turned the opposite direction and chucked it out of the cart.

If anyone turned and saw my reaction, but not his warranting action, they must have thought I was one of those moms who should be shopping at Walmart. You know the ones! They scream at their kids, call them bad names and make very public scenes? Well, all I did was grab BC, sit him in the cart very firmly, and leaned close to his face, telling him that his actions were not acceptable and he was not to disrespect his sister, or me that way.

Oh, you should have heard the wails! “And the award for best Dramatic Moment goes to… BC.”

When we got home neither one of them would eat the dinner I made, baked chicken with feta and red bell peppers on top. It was pretty good! But alas, my sweet darlings wanted to go to bed hungry instead.

eClaire, for the past two nights, has taken to screaming, hysterically, on the top of her lungs. She, who is the easiest baby to get to go to sleep, now refuses to go to sleep. She usually goes down early, like 6:30 p.m. early. But now won;t to go to sleep until her brother is in the room with her. Tonight she screamed for just under an hour before I finally caved and took her out of her room. When I put her back in twenty minutes later, with BC, she cried for maybe 30 seconds, and went to sleep. Grr.

Like in the movie, Bad Boys 2, I rubbed my earlobes with my fingertips and chanted, “Woosaw, Woosaw”

So when is that national give back day again?

National Give Back Day?

BC and Scooter

BC, Dad and Scooter

Today we spent a good portion of our day at our friend’s son’s first birthday party. Actually it was titled, “Mikey’s Day”. He turned 1 mid February, but today we celebrated his one year of health. Mikey was born as a 9 pound-er. It turned out, however, that he somehow got pneumonia in utero. His first few weeks of life were spent in the NICU, and all parties were unclear of Mikey’s future due to this difficult beginning.

Mikey, by the grace of God (and some good medicine) and very strong family members, pulled through and was sent home from the hospital as a healthy baby one year ago. As a result we celebrated his life today.

We live on the other side of the bay from our dear friends, so we don’t get to see them nearly enough. Each time is a treat!

Mom to Mikey, and Mikey

Dad to Mikey, funny as usual!

Hubby’s sister, brother-in-law, and our nieces also were at the party. BC and JADO got their faces painted. It’s crazy how similar these cousins look. I often am asked if they are brother and sister. The family resemblance runs deep!

BC, or should we call him by his Superhero name…Tiger

Tiger and Butterfly (aka BC & JADO)

Shortly following BC and JADO, ARDO and eClaire (cousins 4 months apart in age) got butterflies painted on their faces as well.

ARDO, eClaire, and Aunt L
ARDO feeding eClaire-so sweet!

“No sweety, I don’t think Daddy would like for you to flash the world…”

You can’t beat good friends and family!

Now the video.…“presenting BC on the scooter for the very first time, preforming what most other 2.5 year olds only dream of!” Ok, seriously, here’s the video.

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Fun, Fun, Fun!

eClaire generally is quite clingy in new situations. I always, now that I’ve figured out her personality, hold onto her for at least 10 minutes or so before passing her off to anyone else. She generally warms up if I respect her timetable. Well, Sunday was a different story. eClaire threw a tantrum that lasted 20 minutes or so, arched back, head flinging backwards, screams like I was attempting to abduct her… It was awful! She didn’t want up, she didn’t want down, she didn’t want her blanket. I was tempted to reinstate the “nursing game” right there on the spot! The looks I got from the parents who didn’t know me or eClaire were priceless.

Overall, I think I tried to do too much with eClaire on Sunday. She, when feeling down, simply does not like large loud settings. Now I know.

After getting the kids to bed, I sat down with shaking extremities overwhelmed and glad the day was over. How do I manage two kids 18 months apart? I pray to God that one of them is obeying while the other one melts down. Sunday I was lucky. BC was being a great helper through this whole ordeal. Today was a new day!

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Tantrums

The title of this post just about says it all. Today is my and eClaire’s first day without nursing. It’s bitter sweet. We’re loosing our special time together, yet gaining independence. My last baby, my last time nursing. It was a wonderful experience, but on many levels, I’m glad it’s over. I have to continue to remind my heart that my head believes, strongly, in allowing my children to grow up and not have them tread water in a certain stage that I am so fond of. Next steps: talking, eating with little adult help, and standing up to her big brother BC (formally Bro). who loves to play rough with her and take her toys.

eClaire is a walking, talking machine. Well, almost. She mimics all the sounds she hears these days. She whispers the first letter of most everything I say to her so it’s only a matter of time now before I have two toddlers telling me what to do, and how to do it.

The most exciting thing that BC and eClaire are doing this week that is new from last, is their interaction. BC still gets frustrated if eClaire crowds his space, he is two and a half, you know. The mood of our day is often determined by how well BC woke up that morning, and whether of not he took a nap. Two is exciting, but that’s for another post.

eClaire and BC have been playing behind Hubby’s hanging clothes in the closet. They tickle, do peek-a-boo and laugh continually. It is so much fun to see them finally playing, really playing. These are the moments when you know why it is so good for children to have siblings!

BC and eClaire playing at ChristmaseClaire today at dinner. Check out those blue eyes!! Isn’t she beautiful?

Nonnie (visiting from San Diego) and BC working on a sticker book.

Nonnie and the kids. More on her visit tomorrow.

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Bye Bye Boobie