It's arrived.

Well, it's here.

One of the beasts I've dreaded encountering the most.

The monster that books have been written on and talkshows have been dedicated to.

The legendary horror that I used to shake my head in sympathy at when I'd hear the myths and legends of encounters being whispered from other mothers' mouths.

It started emerging from the shadows every now and then, but its presence has been made known with a deafening roar and a sinister snarl.

The Picky Eater.

Look at the way it carefully analyzes its food offering to determine the worthiness of the sustenance even touching its fingers.

Before flinging it across the room in utter contempt, horrified that one would even allow the foul thing in his presence.  Even if the beast screamed "MORE! MORE! MORE" for the very same food only the day before.

And to make his point all the more clear- EVERYTHING the offending piece of food touched must be BANISHED from its presence!

Don't even think of trying to trick the Picky Eater by telling it a.) enjoyed eating the same food only yesterday b.) the food tastes just like the thing it ate minutes before- the Picky Eater knows better than this c.) something it will truly love if it would PLEASE just take one bite. The Picky Eater scoffs and roars at the word "please".  It's for the weak. 

And lastly, the great and terrible Picky Eater can smell desperation like a shark can smell blood.  All attempts at bribe and trickery will consistently be met with a look of disdain and utter refusal.

However, the Picky Eater will happily accept cupcakes in any flavor.



Expecting the Unexpected

I can't believe I'm writing this.
I am pregnant. 
Again!

I'm terrified, elated, nervous, excited, grateful, hopeful, pessimistic, and humbled.

I am due November 26, 2011.

Here we go...

Thoughts

I was talking with a good friend the other day who is 20 weeks pregnant with her second little girl. She was saying that this baby is her chance to do a lot of things differently. Her comment made me start thinking about Jude. Would I do anything different in regards to raising him? Is there anything I’ve learned these past 21 months that stopped and made me think “Hmm, mental note, if we have a second child don’t do this.” I’ve been trying to come up with anything I feel that I would differently with another baby… and I really can’t think of anything. We’ve just gone with our instincts and what feels natural when it comes to Jude, while still providing boundaries and discipline. He’s happy, well-adjusted, social, and respectful. Of course he has his occasional toddler moments of “NO! MINE!” or back-arching spaz attack when he doesn’t get his way, but not so often that I would call them anything other than being an ordinary toddler. With daylight savings time, there was a night this week that was a little rough and brought me back to the first year when every little creak or crack would wake him up, pretty much hourly. As I was rocking my almost two year old back to sleep, I was transported back to one of the many similar moments over a year ago and couldn’t help but smile. I kissed his sweet blond head and snuggled him a little tighter. I thought of all the “advice” I got during that time period about letting him cry it out because he was “manipulating” me. If ‘manipulating’ meant he needed his mommy to hold him in the dark because he was tired, scared, hungry and couldn’t get back to sleep on his own, so be it. Those moments felt like an eternity when I was in them, but now they feel like a million years ago. And I miss them. I suppose only time will tell if there are certain things I would change. But when I look at Jude right now – with his wild shock of white hair, infectious laugh, million watt smile, and his sheer enthusiasm for EVERYTHING- no, I wouldn’t have done anything differently.