Life with the Liggetts: The Terrible Twos

So it seems as though Jackson has officially hit the terrible twos, and it's as if it happened over night. I'm not sure if it's because he was sick...or if it's because Ben was sick {and therefore less attentive}...or if it's because he has finally realized that Dean is here to stay, but the past few days have been rough.

From the moment that Jackson woke up last Thursday {the morning that Audrey came over to visit}, I could tell that he was in some type of funk, but it wasn't until I took the boys to a birthday party this past Sunday that I knew something was terribly off. While all of the other kids were having a blast at Rolly Pollies {a place that could best be described as kid heaven}, Jackson spent most of the party crying over everything and nothing all at the same time. Never before have I seen a kid throw a fit in the middle of a bounce house, but it happened that morning...and more than once. I kept thinking that we should probably just go, but considering it had taken just about everything I had in me to get both boys ready and out the door in time for a party that was over 30 minutes away, we stuck it out till the end and thankfully did have some fun.

On the way home, Jackson fell asleep {apparently fit-throwing really takes it out of a guy}, and I spent the quiet ride home coming up with a game plan. The more I thought about it, the more I realized just how lax we had become in our parenting with the addition of Dean, and the fit-throwing was definitely a sign that it was time to crank it up a notch. As the saying goes, negative attention is better than none at all, and it was time to fix that.

During Jackson's nap, Ben and I decided that it was in everyone's best interest to really focus on two things: (1.) giving him as much undivided and positive attention as possible and (2.) clearly defining the limits and following through with the consequences. We decided to hit it hard as soon as Jackson woke up, and I left a well-fed Dean at home with Ben {with instructions to call a neighbor if he woke up since Ben still wasn't feeling well} and took Jackson swimming at Westenfield Pool for some one-on-one attention. Unfortunately, I still couldn't get in the water because of my incision, but I was able to walk around in the kiddie pool, and Jackson and I had a great time, just the two of us. And because he was getting my full attention, there were no fits either.

I wish I could say that was the end of the fit-throwing all together, but obviously, it wasn't that easy. In the past few days, he's had to go inside after crossing the street without us, leave a play date early after throwing toys, and go to bed without lunch after throwing his food on the floor, but the good news is -- things are getting better. Both my mom and a few of my friends told me that we would notice a difference in his behavior if we followed through with the consequences, and fingers crossed -- I think they're right.

We also did our best to keep busy with lots of fun this week -- because who has time to throw a fit when you're having fun, right?

Dean and I tagged along on a scooter ride and did our best to keep up, but Jackson was obviously a lot less interested in documenting Dean's first walk around the neighborhood than I was.

One morning, we headed over to Kaycee's house so that Jackson could play with Caroline and Violet. Apparently Caroline had been wanting to build a rocket ship just like Daniel Tiger, so while we discussed mission work ideas for our Sunday School class {we're the current co-chairs} and sipped our Starbucks, the kids colored their boxes...I mean rocket ships and put all sorts of stickers and colored tape on them. Unfortunately, this is the play date that we had to leave early, but considering I had to listen to a very sad "I want to play at Care-line's house" on repeat the whole way home, I can only hope that Jackson learned his lesson.

Another morning, Megan came over to play with Jackson for a little while, and then we crashed a Stroller Strides pool party. Even though I couldn't get in the pool, I knew that Jackson would be fine in his puddle jumper and with so many other moms around. Jackson enjoyed swimming and jumping in, and I enjoyed the adult conversation and seeing so many faces that I hadn't seen in awhile and some new ones, too.

Because we had had such a wonderful day {i.e. no fits!}, we celebrated by making chocolate pudding when he got up from his nap.

You can never have too many utensils...or maybe you can.

The boys also took their first bath together, which was the silver lining of a diaper blowout. I decided to fill the tub with just the tiniest bit of water and bathe Dean like that, and of course, Jackson wanted in, too.

Watching the two of them in the tub together was so sweet -- that is until Jackson picked up one of his water guns and sprayed Dean with cold water. Poor baby brother.

We also went to the Thinkery this week with Lori, Charlie, and Lucy, and I invited Megan to join us. With two newborns AND two toddlers, I figured another pair of hands couldn't hurt, and of course, Jackson loved having her there and showing her all of his favorite things.

And after she helped him put his shoes back on, he was nice enough to help her, too.

Proof that Dean and I were there, too.

Speaking of Dean, he continues to be my easy one. Aside from mostly just eating and sleeping this week, he also rolled over for the first time during tummy time. I've heard that there is often a correlation between rolling over early and walking early, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that isn't true because then there's a chance he will no longer be my easy one.