Terrible 2's?

We're all familiar with the Terrible 2's, and for good reason. Some days, this phrase could not ring more true in our house. But, sometimes, the terrible 2's are terribly sweet.

These days, Reid is learning about feelings... love, empathy, sadness. He is starting to understand how his actions can make someone else sad, like not sharing toys with his friends. (We haven't quite mastered how our actions can also make someone happy, like listening to mommy on the first try, but I digress.) He's learning to say "I'm sorry." When I tell him I love him these days, sometimes he tells me he loves me, too, and it's so sweet because I can tell he understands the "feeling" of it. Sometimes, he even says it without me saying it first - he is such a momma's boy. He gives lots of hugs and kisses these days, as well, which is a relatively new thing since he's never really been a snuggler. Also, a few days ago, I said something about having a tummy ache, and he came over to rub my belly telling me that I would feel better soon. Precious.

His manners are also starting to kick in. He is getting very good at saying "please" and "thank you" without any prompting. I just love this. I have never been one for saying "ma'am" and "sir" all the time, so I only make him call me ma'am when he is being reprimanded. But the please's and thank you's are just too cute. We stopped at CVS on the way home from school today and he insisted on taking in a little pumpkin he painted at school. He said hello to the cashier and asked her to look at his pumpkin, whom he has dubbed "Scooter." (???) Of course, she thought he was precious (how could she not?) and asked if he could have a lollipop. So she asked him if he would like one and he said, "Oh yes, please!" and "Thank you so much!"

I can see that he often is the most mannerly when he knows it will benefit him directly, like asking super-politely for a treat, but hopefully he's seeing that treating people nicely always ends up better than the alternative (though sometimes we adults have trouble remembering this one, too). Hopefully this phase will last for a little while...

(I'm making a point to get all this cuteness in writing so next time I want to strangle him, I can look at this and see the silver lining... which will probably be in the next few hours!)

"Why?"

No, really, "Why?" Because I said so, that's why.

Reid has learned the word "why" and how to use it repeatedly. He's 2 1/2. Shouldn't this little phase, which I realize was inevitable, come later - like when he's 3 or 4... or 5?!?!?! His teachers at school have also noticed. He questions everything. Not just why something works (or doesn't work - like our TV last week), but now he has started questioning when he is asked to do something. Granted, Reid has never been one to exist in silent obedience - this is where I curse myself for having the personality I have, since now he has it as well - but he could always be appeased with a little effort. Formerly, I could explain a situation to him, even if in 2-year-old logic, and it would almost always work. Or, you could distract him with something. Not so easy these days.

As I write this, Reid is on the couch. Yes, watching TV - and exhausted. He should be taking a nap, this being naptime and all. I mean, the 3-year-old boy next door and the other one down the street are napping right now... why not my 2 1/2-year-old boy? For the past few months naps are becoming fewer and fewer and the ones he does have are under extreme protest. I try to let him cry himself out but generally that just riles him up even more until he is hysterical, which doesn't help either one of us. The good news is that he will likely be in bed asleep by 7:45. The bad news is that it is only 2:51 right now.

Well, that's enough for now. Apparently Caillou is having pancakes on TV and now Reid wants some, too. I get to explain why we don't eat pancakes at 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. I can just hear the "Why's" now...

Here are some recent photos of our little inquisitor... enjoy!

Reid at Granna's, so proud of his backpack.

Playing in the fountains at Bridge Street in Huntsville.

Yes. we brought a change of clothes...

Apparently, the proper way to do it is to roll around on the ground...

Our Little Litigator & Muddy Fun

Reid has learned the art of the argument. Granted, his "art" is on a 2-year-old level. Some people might call it negotiation. Whatever the request, the answer these days is frequently.... "no." Maybe he's holding out for a better deal, or maybe he's trying to see if he can wear me down. Sometimes he does, which is a foreign concept to me because I am very used to winning in a battle of wills. (Those of you who know me know that much is true.)

I would be unfair of me not to note that he is also using his polite words with increased frequency. Please and Thank You, and even I'm Sorry are sometimes offered without prompting, which is the cutest thing ever. However, when he decides that he does not want to do whatever you are asking he is persistent. His "no" repertoire has expanded recently to include oldies but goodies such as, That's not fair (accompanied by crossed arms and a squinched up face) or I don't have to. Likewise, my retorts have been leveled to things like "Yeah, well tough" and "Too bad, so sad." I know, seriously, it's no wonder he sometimes wins these arguments.

Of course, having a two-year-old has its fun points, too. We managed to have some outside fun a few days ago in the midst of our recent rain, courtesy of Tropical Storm Fay. It has been raining in some form almost nonstop for three days. Fortunately we just got some new rain boots - still a little too big - so we got to play in the rain with Reid's best buddy, Joshua. Not much to say, other than it was very fun, very messy, and required an immediate bath afterward - South Carolina red mud stains the skin on contact for those of you that don't know. The pictures will tell the story... good times!

Reid, sitting in the muddy puddle, sans boots.

Why walk in it, when you can sit in it. Right?

Joshua, showing off his mad mud-stomping skills.

Ah, yes. Reid, who always manages to fall down or run into something. In his defense, the rain boots are WAY too big. So glad I got this pic in mid-air. :)

The grand finale. They played in the red mud for about half an hour after the puddle jumping. I had intended just to hose Reid down in the front yard (hey, you can take the girl out of Bama...), but the red mud had stained the majority of his body. So dinner was put on hold while he had an emergency bath.

We are off to Alabama this weekend for a spur of the moment trip. The bonus is that I get to to be in Bama for the kickoff game against Clemson... seeing as how I live surrounded by Clemson fans, I'm glad to come home to my people. Roll Tide!