This is hard work!

I have a couple of different things to write about tonight. First off, let's talk about how hard & trying this parenting thing is. So, Grayson only wants his pacifier when he is sleepy. He never thinks about it otherwise. But today was the first day back to Nanny's(daycare) after the long weekend and I'm sure he was a little extra tired today. We walked in the house about 6 or so and he threw a fit b/c his paci fell out in the car and I wouldn't get it for him. We are trying to slowly wean him from this habit - starting with only letting him have it when he is about to go to sleep. He proceeded to throw a 20 minute screaming fit - very few tears might I add - and nothing we did suited him. So let's move on to dinner. We had hamburger helper - not that exciting I know, but a staple in a house with an 18 month old. Grayson would NOT sit in his highchair. He wanted to sit in my lap and eat his dinner and play in mine. So he did! Let's move on to after dinner - wouldn't let him play with my fork that he threw on the ground - another 10 minute crying, screaming fit. And I should tell you that he knows how to throw a fit! If he throws himself down and hits something (let's say the ottoman, for example) he will get up and move to an open area on the floor and do it again, so we get the full effect of the fit! This is pretty much what my evening consisted of - fit after fit. Nothing Casey and I did tonight was the right thing. And let me tell you (mostly you parents who aren't quite to this stage yet) this is absolutely exhausting!!! You want to ignore the fit b/c that is what you're supposed to do but you also just want to give in to make them stop screaming. And then to top it off - at the end of it all, you feel bad b/c you think you have been too hard on them. So in a nutshell - I'm tired and I hope all of this is just b/c he is tired too!!
The other thing I have to say is a small vent and I will keep it short. I try very hard to be a good long distance relative/friend and I do not think it is too much to ask for that simple courtesy in return!

Hello!

Hey everybody! I am new at this so you will have to be patient with me. I decided I needed a way to remember all the cute stories and funny things that are going on in our life right now. They pretty much happen daily and I always say to myself, " I need to write that down somewhere". And for the first year you have a baby book to keep it all in, but what about after that? Anyways, I'm not sure I will be able to keep it up like I think I will but I am going to try. Grayson is almost 18 months now and growing up so fast. His new favorite thing is to tell you to "stop" and he points his finger. I have absolutely no idea where he inheritated this trait of finger pointing and being bossy! He is also big into doing everything himself. The picture with the fudgescicle is a perfect example. I thought we might could share one - but no! He wanted the whole thing himself and he wanted to hold it, but he ate every last bite if it (except what melted and dripped off while he was carrying it around). He is a huge fan of being outside, doesn't matter what he's doing, as long as he's outside doing it. Playing in the sand, swinging, riding the lawnmower with daddy or pappa, planting(stomping plants) with mommy and grammy, playing bubbles - doesn't matter - if it's outside, he LOVES it. And has a meltdown every time you make him come inside. But he loves bath time - so that usually gets him calmed down pretty quickly. Well that pretty much sums it up for now. I hope to be able to post short little stories and any milestones we hit weekly. So keep checking in - he is a very active, smart, loveable little boy who is sure to make this an interesting blog!