Naughty, Naughty, Naughty

For the last month Hunter has been possessed with the terrible twos! He is quite independent and wants to do everything himself, which leads to his frustration and anger when he can't do it.

This is not limited to home, he has been very naughty at daycare as well, being sent to time out every other day (sometimes every day) for the past 2 weeks. His infractions include: biting (twice), hitting, throwing crayons (after being told not to), chewing on a marker (after being told not to.)

Each morning we go over the ways to be a good boy, no biting, throwing, hitting, the latest, chewing on markers. He repeats them and says no timeouts, no office (where timeout is held). But it seems every evening when we pick him up and I ask were you a good boy and look at the teacher she shakes her head no. When will we have a good boy again????

Our Controlling Boy

Hunter has exhibited the need for control for some time now. For example, he needs to know what we are doing the next day. It has become part of our night routine. He will ask a series of questions, “Go to school tomorrow?” “See Eli, Aiden?” “Go in mommy’s car?” With each answer comes another question. If I tell him that the garbage truck is coming tomorrow, he will ask, “The white one or the red one?” (white is garbage, red is recycling.) Then he will repeat everything throughout the night process. Like he is trying to sort out all the details in his head.

He has also started asking us to wait at the top/bottom of the stairs so he can go up first. Then when he is at the top/bottom he will say, ok mommy your turn! Kerry thinks this is giving Hunter just too much power so he will make Hunter wait until he is up/down the stairs.

This morning we were all getting dressed. I have known for some time that Hunter doesn’t like button down shirts, so we no longer even attempt to get him to wear them. (He is actually quite particular about what he wears, and we have found it easier to just let him pick out his shirt in the morning.) Well this morning Kerry was getting dressed for work and put on a button down, Hunter told him to take it off. Kerry said this is what I am wearing to work. Hunter let it go. When I put my button down on this morning, Hunter lost it. Started crying, saying take it off, take it off, mommy! Hilarious. Finally I convinced him that this was all I had clean and I wouldn’t wear one tomorrow.

Our Trip to Erie

We went to Erie, PA this weekend for the McKay family reunion. 7 hours in the car with a 2 year old is a very ambitious task! Hunter did as well as can be expected for such an active boy. Both ways he took 2 one hour naps, not as long as we would have hoped. We brought the dvd player but that only worked when he was willing to sit in the seat, once he wanted out there wasn't any distracting we could do.

(We thought this picture was funny since he was sleeping with his leg crossed.)

Saturday we went with Aunt Patty and Joyce to see the boats along the water and play at the park. In the evening we had a picnic dinner with the family and went to another park with his new friend Aiden, (Dave's grandson.)

Sunday was the reunion at the Presque Isle State Park where Hunter was able to go to the beach and go fishing. He had a great time.

Newfoundland

We vacationed in Newfoundland, Canada this year to celebrate my friend Judy's wedding (where she is from) and see the sites. This is the perfect type of vacation for Hunter, activities center around being outside. He did as well as can be expected on both plane rides and really enjoyed the taxi trips to and from the airport. He kept pointing out the water to the taxi driver on our way to the hotel. Most importantly he slept through the night every night we were there and only fell out of the bed twice (didn't even seem to notice)!

The hotel was centrally located in town so we were able to walk to breakfast/coffee and most sites. There was a pond right outside our hotel with swans and lots of rock throwing. Newfoundland did have the hottest temperatures on record, around 90, so the days did get hot!

Judy's wedding was beautiful, right on the docks of her parents lake house and so much fun!