Playing it By Ear: Kids are Crazy.

So, what I've learned over the past five years as a mom can really be wrapped up in that one statement. Kids are crazy. I mean yes, I've learned a lot about love, joy, and how to bribe my way through the day...but seriously, these kids (all kids really) are nuts. I understand they are all just trying to figure out the world and how to act and what to say and not to say, and a lot of the time I can even find patience for them, knowing that this is the cause for their actions, but oh my gosh...

As Nathan approaches his third birthday, his crazy level is rising. Thankfully we are pretty much out of the hitting phase that plagued us for almost all of his twos, but with his threes, we are finding his need for independence coupled with his need for help to really turn him into a beast at times. I remember these days with Leila (in fact she is still this way sometimes), so I know whats happening and try best to jump into whatever role is required (helper or stay out of the way), but he still loses it at least a couple times a day. In addition, he is becoming more and more attached to me (which is sweet, but annoying at times); I'm pretty sure it is stemming from his new experience of going to "school" once a week. He started out happy as can be on his first day and has slowly declined to having to be peeled off Matt's leg at drop-off. Anyhow, he has plenty of adorable moments, and I love all the things he says these days (Me: "Did you hear what I said Bubba?" Nathan: "I hear you loud and clear Mommy."), but he is also crazy.

Leila. Well, since my last post, she started Kindergarten and it went really well. She loves it and loves her teacher. BUT (of course there is a but!) after the first two days, she started getting nervous in the mornings, weepy at goodbyes, and even upset during her day (feeling a little overwhelmed I think.) Long story short, she is doing much better now, but is still tired after a long day at school and often comes home with a total attitude. She is also something of a perfectionist, which has been causing some tantrums that would win hands down in a tantrum contest if there was such a thing. It's funny because she can seem grown up to me one moment and then I am reminded so quickly that she is still so little. So what I'm saying is that she is adorable, sweet, and delightful most of the time, but she too is crazy.

And then there is little baby Zoe. Possibly the craziest of all. I call her my little spicy meatball if that is any indication of her personality. She will be heard; she will get what she wants; she will not wait. Unbelievably, she is just past 9 months old already, about the size of a one year old, and now crawling, feeding herself, clapping, and waving bye bye. I love this age so much because she is interacting so much and so full of laughs and smiles. But, along with being crazy cute...she is also a member of crazy town.

So, there you go...that is the update from the cuckoo's nest!

In love