Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Mr. Independent


My little boy is not so little anymore.
I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Independent!


So sweet, so intelligent, so playful, so loving.
But, he'll be three in June, right?
So that means that he is in the throws of the "terrible twos."
I know that he is at a point right now where he is in a struggle--
a tug-of-war between his emotions and how to express them.

For instance- last week when I took Ella to the pediatrician,
he of course didn't want to be there and was pouting the whole way.

All the nice women that work there would say to him,
"Aren't you handsome!"
or
"My, what a BIG boy you are!"
or
"What a good brother you are to your sister!"
or
"Hey, I like your sweatshirt!"

And what did my formerly polite and kind boy say?

"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME!"
(pointing his finger meanly and then crossing his arms and huffing.)

I think you could actually hear my chin hit the floor.

This is a trying age.

But, at the same time,
I watch him with Ella.

He hugs her, holds her, kisses her,
brings her binkies, lovies, dollies,
says "'night 'night baby sister. Love you."

Sweet and hard at the same time.
It is a true wonder to see.

I can't believe that he is potty-trained,
that the binkies are almost a thing of the past,
that he can put on his underwear by himself,
that he doesn't want any help to climb up the steps to the house,
that he sits and reads stories to himself,
that he sets the table for me,
that he knows his left and right,
that he counts to 20 in English (and ten in Spanish),
and that he can sing every silly song my Mom ever taught me.

I also can't believe that I am getting ready to register
him for pre-school in the Fall.

I just can't wrap my arms around that yet.

Good thing I have all Spring and Summer
to squeeze him,
hug him,
tease him,
tickle his toes,
play hide-and-seek,
smooch him,
and
just
LOVE
him!

5 comments:

Gini said...

Wow - enrolling in preschool?? I would think you'd might go the homeschooling route. You'd be good at it. Sounds like James is testing the waters, just like all toddlers do - but boy will you see a change in him once he becomes a pre-schooler. His little personality is going to change and you will begin to see what he will be like when he gets older. The social interaction really makes their personalities come through in all its glory!

Liz said...

Gini's comment scares me. I am so excited and so scared of pre-school!!!
Did you decide yet where James will go? We are still undecided, 2 Open Houses to go yet!
Anyway, I loved this post. I know exactly how you feel, I often ponder those same, exact thoughts about Abby.

Allison said...

As much as I love teaching James, I think he needs the social interaction that pre-school can provide. (But hey, don't be surprised if you find me applying to pre-schools after my children have left the nest and I return to work!) Thanks for the compliment!

Stephanie said...

oh my gosh..."don't you talk to me!"

that cracked me up, allison!!

It's such a perfect age...perfectly wonderful sometimes and perfectly awful others. :)

Kim said...

Too funny! The expressions on his face are priceless!