Tolerating My Toddler

So, we're almost a month in with new baby, Nolan, and so far so good. Before I forget them, I just wanted to share some of the funniest and cutest moments from the past month, as well as some things that have helped us cope with an active toddler. Avery is growing up and maturing so quickly. Some of the things she is able to apply (at not even 2 1/2 years old) is amazing. Last night, when Nathan was putting Avery to bed, she said, "Daddy. I'm sick. I have fever. Need medicine." Not only does she understand how being sick relates to having a fever and also getting medicine, but she knows this is a good stall tactic if she doesn't want to go to sleep. She's curious about Nolan's penis, asking "His tail's dirty?" while I was changing a diaper. She'll also tell me "Mom, your baby's crying." I'm amazed that she is so attentive to him, and observant of all the changes around her. I am glad that she's able to articulate her thoughts and feelings to let her dad and I know that she's okay (and also when she needs more time to herself). Last week, when Grammy was staying with us, Avery saw me drop something (I think), and said something incomprehensible followed by "Oh Man!" After listening to her repeat it, we realized that she was saying something hilariously inappropriate..."Fuck-Oh Man" (all ran together). We couldn't stop laughing; the more we laughed, the more (and louder) she would say it. I covered my face with the blanket to hide laughter, and she asked me what was wrong. I told her I was crying because I didn't like her saying that. That made Grammy laugh to the point she had to use the restroom, and Daddy had to leave the room. We've really eliminated almost all cussing in our house, so I'm surprised that she remembers this vocabulary from probably as much as a year ago. Unfortunately, the F-word was one of her first 200 words, and she's always used it in the appropriate setting (which is scary, but impressive). Either way, Avery seems to be adjusting well. She is having more tantrums, and has had 2-3 potty accidents, but overall she seems to love her baby brother. Following are some things that have helped me cope with double the trouble: 1. Recycle Toys - At least twice a year, I go through all of Avery's toys - storing some and giving away others. This keeps our playroom from getting overcrowded, and also allows me to pull out toys that she used to play with every once in a while. It's as if she's getting all new toys, and she gets so excited to see her old toys again. For at least a couple of days, she is more capable of entertaining herself, since she already knows how to use all these toys. 2. Baking Activities - Like me, Avery has a sweet tooth. This makes baking cakes or cookies especially fun. It's an activity that holds her interest (even though I do most of the work), and ends in a sweet reward. 3. Art Activities - Two days ago, Avery and I made bath paints. Toy told me about these paints, so I looked up the recipe online. Making the paints completely held her attention (mix 1 cup of clear soap with 1 tbsp of corn starch, and add food coloring). Afterwards, Avery was so eager to test her paints, that I let her play with them in the bath after we were finished. All together, this activity kept her attention for almost two hours. That means, I had two hours without any tantrums. 4. Time Outs and Going to Her Room - Avery has always done time-outs. Now that we have a baby that might be sleeping, if she throws screaming tantrums that last more than a few minutes, I take her to her room. So far, she just sits on her bed, or goes to the corner and pouts. Each time I've gone back to get her (generally two minutes after I left her), she runs up to me and says "sorry" before I even ask her to. I think this gives her a "safe" place where she can calm down. It also (hopefully) keeps the baby from being woken up. That's all for now. It's almost time for Nolan to eat and I'm trying to keep him on a schedule.