Andy lately

As I have said in the past, I try to keep it very REAL on my blog.  There are a ton of wonderful things to write about, but to be honest, there are a ton of hard things too.  Right now, Andy is HARD.  Well, not all the time.  Sometimes he can be just as sweet as can be.  He loooooves his momma and loves to run around and play!

He also loooooves to scream as loudly as he possibly can when we are in the car...or in a store...or any other point of the day...

We are in the midst of the TERRIBLE TWOS.  And they are, my friends, quite terrible. 

He isn't always awful.  But when he is, it's like he is trying to win an award for the loudest, most poorly-behaved child in America.  And, I would, hands-down, grant him this award. 

He has a mind of his own and if he doesn't get what he wants exactly when he wants it, a melt down follows.  I think a huge part of this is the language barrier.  He is figuring out how to express himself and when I am not fully understanding what it is that he wants, he just loses it! He also loses it any time he is strapped down-- in the car, in a restaurant, in a stroller, in a shopping cart.... the kid will let you know how unhappy he is with you. 

I try to keep a sense of humor about it all-- because honestly, what else can you do? (although I did break down and cry on Tuesday because he seriously screamed at the top of his lungs-- not exaggerating-- for five hours straight. My mom called at 9 and heard him and then we talked again around 1 and he was still screaming....she was in shock).  So, in order to help with the sense of humor, I have been taking pictures of him.  You can see in these pictures what a strong-willed little boy he is. 

As both of my parents have pointed out (with smiles), he is soooo me.  Apparently, I acted similarly to this when I was little.  Whatev.  I don't believe it.  I was an angel. I never cried, much less screamed. 

I guess, as they say, karma is a bitch..... here's evidence....

 he insisted on pulling this suitcase through the airport.  he looks so big here...and SO SO determined. 

 andy makes going through security interesting.  this was on the way to texas.  on the way home, right as we were about to walk through the screeners, he took off in a dead sprint away from me.  i was barefoot and my pants were falling down since i took off my belt.  andy felt like these security bins were the perfect seat for him.  and he refused to get out of them.

 once we landed in texas, we were in the baggage area.  he threw baby on the carousel and then went after him.  i must have pulled him off of this thing 50 times.  he thought it was awesome.  of course it is dangerous...that's why he loved it, i am sure.

 there are tons of awesome walking trails by eddie's parents house.  i asked andy if he wanted to walk and see the waterfall one afternoon after naps (he woke up on the wrong side of the pack n play).  we got about 20 yards down the trail and he stopped and said screamed NO! So I said, okay, let's go back the other way. again, he screamed NO! so, i offered to go back towards the waterfall.  he then threw himself on the ground in a pretty intense tantrum.  there were people walking by and bikers passing.  i just smiled and waved and said, "he'll be two in may." since that seems to explain it all.  i could have attempted to pick him up, but i knew it wouldn't be pretty.  there would be kicking and flailing, so i let him wear that part out a little. 

 in texas, andy would walk into patty's pantry every single morning.  he would find the fruit snacks or raisins and squat down to try to eat them.  he always took some of this animals in there with him.  if we didn't open the food for him right away, he would become furious with us.  the boy likes this food. 

In the DFW airport, there was a person taking a snooze.  Andy did not want to leave this person alone.  Not sure what he was thinking, but I was afraid he was going to go try to wake the person...or tackle him.  

Again, the boy looooves his momma.... so i think i get the brunt of most of his temper. plus i am around him all the time, so i am the one dealing with him 99% of the time. 

This picture of him eating his happy meal just makes me so happy.  he was so worn out, but so content to munch on those apples.

speaking of eating. yesterday, i ran into a restaurant to pick up lunch. andy spied the lemon slices cut for iced tea.  he started demanding one.  i explained to him that he wouldn't like it and it is very sour.  he didn't care.  he took one and put the ENTIRE thing in his mouth.  rind included.  he chewed it all up-- and was about to swallow when I stuck my finger in his mouth and got it all out.  he didn't even flinch or make a funny face.

 This little guy can be SO SO happy one minute...and then falling on the ground screaming the next. 

 today, one of his classmates brought in their baby sister for pick up.  andy was enamored.  he could NOT leave her alone.  he wanted to stare at her and rock her and touch her.  little does he know, his CRAZY behavior is not much incentive to have another! HAHA!

Andy, finally.... proof what an angel he is in the car.... good thing this doesn't have volume, right???

As my sweet mom says, this too shall pass.  Holy smokes, y'all.  Here's hoping to it passing soon!

Happy Friday!