sometimes, being a parent to zoey at age 22 months, feels like pushing a cardboard box through a giant puddle of thick mud. EVERYthing is hard, starting in the morning with:
to stop nursing, change diaper, put on clothing and go upstairs every morning..."zoey, want to go upstairs" "no" "want to go upstairs to eat breakfast?" "no" "want to have some cereal upstairs?" "no" "want to go upstairs and see papa?" "have mama milk?" "zoey, we need to get ready to go to the library, want to see your friends?" "okokokokok" (she's started repeating her okay's. it's adorable"
then i have to convince her to let me change her diaper, and not to do the barrel roll like an alligator while i do it, AND put clothing on, and leave the room before she insists on reading stories (because at that point, i REALLY HAVE TO PEE!
and so it goes most of the day; leaving the house, turning off the music, turning off "pbs kids" which she loves to say..."watch, pbs kids?", getting in her chair to eat anything, getting her shoes on to leave the house, getting her into the carseat, getting her out of the carseat.
this is why i'm constantly exhausted. it's exhausting constantly trying to switch gears, make things exciting, and keep a toddler satisfied.
i don't always give in. i tell her no, i tell her "not for zoey", or i tell her she can't play with the toilet. i try to distract her instead of watching her have a meltdown. she tends to get to the heaving stage of crying really quickly. i'm past the worries of spoiling her, because i think i'm just keeping her happy. it's hard to hear, "don't touch that, not for zoey, etc. etc." all the time.
there are a few things that always get an "okokoko". television, helping me cook (or helping me do lots of things), going outside...
of course, this makes the cooperative moments (which i define as "doing what i want her to do") so much sweeter. i know it's the age, and am not worried about it. i'm just, exhausted.
some things i especially love about my precious princess right now:
holding her warm, soft hand when she's sleeping (she won't let me when awake)
kissing her on the lips
how she does something then says she did it, "zoey dancing" "zoey coughing"
how she hides her face when she's shy like this,
she's not acting, she really was afraid of her friend penelope's dad. poor sweet pea. she starts with her head to the side, looking demure, and gradually sinks back into herself until her head is down
and eyes are covered. it's so damn cute!
resting on daddy's shoulder
she has 16 teeth
on the slide at home
daddy-made robot costume!
daredevil would have climbed right off the edge of the top bar if i didn't catch her
easter egg nose
