he cut me like a knife

wow.  Harrison just rocked my world, and not in a good way.  I was busy picking up the bowling pins after I had played bowling with him on our kitchen floor and he looked up at me and said, "I don't like you Mommy.   I don't love you."  Seriously, out of nowhere.  I wasn't even scolding him or anything!  I sat down with him and asked him why he had said that and he said, "I don't want to be your friend.  I just want Daddy."  I actually got a tear in my eye.  Now, I know I said hateful things to my parents, SEVERAL times, and if I have not apologized enough before now then I am so sorry.  I know he didn't mean it (I think??) but it hurt all the same.  I guess the days of him being a mama's boy are officially over! Oh well, at least my skin will be tough by the time those teenage years roll around.

Here's hoping for a better parenting day tomorrow!!

Groundhog Hour

This is something that we've been dealing with for a while, but it is REALLY starting to get to us!  I feel like we have the same 20 conversations over and over with Harrison, and nothing ever changes.  I'm starting to feel like its a toddler version of groundhog day but instead of waking up to the same day each morning, the conversation repeats itself each hour.  Here is an example:

Harrison:  Can I watch tv when we get home?
Me:  No, but you can watch some after nap time if you take a good nap.
Harrison:  Can I watch tv please?
Me:  Harrison, what did I just say to you?
Harrison:  Can I watch tv please?
Me:  The answer is No, don't ask me again.
Harrison:  (Now in a VERY whiny voice) Can I watch tv???I just want to watch tv??Only for 5 minutes??I WANT TO WATCH TV!!!
Me:  You may eat your strawberries first and then it is straight to nap time.
Harrison:  Can I watch tv while I eat strawberries?
Me:  No, get it through your head that you may only watch tv after your nap time, IF you take a good nap.
Harrison:  BUT, I WANT TO WATCH TV BEFORE (crying hysterically by now)
Me:  (silence - because I'm counting in my head how long until it is 5 o'clock and I can have a glass of wine.)
Harrison:  (I've tuned him out by this point but it involves lots of whining and crying and the word tv.)
Me:  ok, I've had enough.  you need to learn that No, means No!  and he went kicking and screaming to bed.

We repeat this style of conversation several times a day.  It isn't always about tv.  Just this afternoon, we were trying to get into the car to go to the pool and he refused to climb in his car seat through his car door and instead wanted to climb in through the trunk door.  I provided a very reasonable explanation that the double stroller and pool toys were blocking the way and that he needed to climb in the car the normal way.  And, thus started the above cited style of conversation with me saying lots of Nos, and him whining, screaming, and pleading.

I'm at my wits end with this behavior!!  Is there an age where kids will miraculously started saying "ok, I see your point."  Or, even, "darn it mom, I really wanted to see that show but I won't throw a fit about it."  I think I may actually faint if I ever hear those words come out of his mouth.  I refuse to give in just to avoid a scene.  We did that enough when he was much younger but now he's at the age where he should be learning that his actions have consequences and that we won't change our mind if he asks us something 122 times in a row.

whew, any advice on how to handle this stage??

bless his little happy halloween heart

This will be the fourth Halloween that Harrison will have participated in, and the child is just as clueless about the whole process this year as he when he was ten months old and learning to crawl in that adorable bear costume.  Somehow during story time tonight, the conversation turned into what he should dress up as for Halloween this year.  I reminded him earlier that he had been a cow last year and Annie had been a ladybug.  So, he naturally said that was what he would be again.  Then, I had to explain how he could choose to dress as anything that he wanted, within reason.  As an example, I said he could be a different animal than he was last year or he could be a character off a show or movie.  He seemed confused by this, so I gave the Fresh Beat Band as an example that he could dress up as one of the band members and this idea took off like a rocket ship.  He loved it!!  The problem I foresee with this costume is that (a) unless you are a preschooler or a parent of a preschool who watches too much tv, you won't know who he is, and (b) you have to find 3 other bandmates, which would likely be mommy, daddy, and annie.  So, I then tried to get he and Annie to be the minions for Jamie, as Gru, and me, and Vector, from Despicable me, but now he's stuck on Fresh Beat.  That poor child takes after me in the sense that he lacks any creative bone in his body.  Anyway, for those of you lucky enough to be unfamiliar with this cast of characters, the Fresh Beat Band is a show about four high school band members; one wears yellow, one pink, one blue, and one orange.  Harrison immediately knew that he wanted to be Shout, one of the male members, and that he wanted me one of the girl members (not Marina, who would naturally be played by Annie with her red hair).  So, I asked him which male member would daddy be.  He didn't know the other name so I asked him whether Daddy would be the black one or white one?   He thought for a second and then said, I don't think the shirts are white or black but maybe yellow and blue.  I can't articulate why I loved his answer but it really struck a chord with me in that it seems that race has not yet really entered into his consciousness yet.  Maybe he had never heard anyone being described by their race before, but he really seemed to have been thoroughly confused by the idea of one guy being black and one white.  Anyway, I'm probably reading more into than what was there but it was a nice realization that at least for these first several years, he more identifies people by the color of their shirt then by the color of their skin.  What a wonderful thought!

five year anniversary trip

It has been a long time since I posted anything, due in part to the constant demands of my new bosses (see prior post) but mostly due to fun, summer travels!!  Since I had already requested vacation leave prior to my new job, Jamie and I were able to travel to Costa Rica in early June for our five year anniversary!  What a wonderful vacation that was!  I had planned to sleep and read a lot, but we didn't end up doing much of either.  We were too busy!  I used to wonder why vacation resorts had gyms, but that was before we had kids.  Now I know!  We took advantage of our free time to take a yoga class and go on several hikes,

go on a vigorous kayaking adventure and go snorkeling, and try out zip lining, which was awesome.

Of course, we also made time to go to the spa, takes lots of walks on the beach, and watch gorgeous sunsets.

We capped off our vacation with a private dinner on the beach on our actual anniversary, June 10.

All in all, it was a perfect vacation and we loved every single second of it!

the world's oldest profession

well, I am officially a member of the world's oldest profession.  No, not THAT one.  I'm now a SAHM, or a stay at home mom.  Although it wasn't exactly my choice to stop my part time position, I couldn't be more excited and more nervous.  I have not stayed at home, other than my maternity leaves, since Harrison was born and I am definitely a little nervous about how I will establish my routine and keep things straight. I guess that it is like everything else in parenthood, you figure it out as you go!

Here is a photo of my new bosses.

They have told me that despite working 24 hours a day, I get no days off and will not be paid.  Any vacation leave is at the mercy of the grandparents.  It is a good thing that they are pretty cute!