The Harbin Holla

"I don't know if we are at the beginning of it, or in the midst of it, but if this isn't a phase, I'm moving out!" - Brent

Over the last few weeks, the twinados have definitely pumped it up to a category 6 and come at us hard with their terrible twos! Normally, I can handle it when they fight over a toy, or jump on the couch, or touch something they aren't supposed to, but wow... I'm at a complete loss when they say, "NO!" after you ask them to do something. It burns my patience faster than anything else.

Kid, I'm sorry that you are confused, but you don't get an option.

Wyatt has always been such a boy and loves running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and kicking. Unfortunately for him, because he can get hurt with all that physical stuff, he spends a fair share of his time in time-out. Lately, since he's a lot less inclined to listen to us (if at all), I feel like the kid is more than willing to spend his entire life in time-out. Punishment doesn't phase him because as soon as he gets out, he's right back at it. It's hard because I hate doing it, but I've also learned that if you turn a blind-eye, it gets worse. I just wonder if we are doing the right things and I've already found myself searching for toddler manuals.

How are these very little people already mentally overpowering us? How is it possible that a two year old is so hard to understand? How do you properly deal with the 'tude?

Callie has always been more interested in emotional and girlie things like characters on tv, coloring, princesses, clothes, dancing, and puzzles. She rarely sits in time-out because she usually listens to us and only one or two warnings for her is sufficient enough. However, she has also been spending more time in time-out for ignoring us or throwing tantrums. Fortunately, I think that she is trying to express her independence more in the direction of what outfits she wants to wear and how she wants to accessorize her look with purses, bows, painted toenails, jackets and shoes.

On new years eve, I put on a dressier shirt since we were having company over. When I walked out of the bedroom, Callie hurried over and stared at me, probably digesting the fact that I wasn't wearing sweatpants. Finally, she stepped back and said, "Shirt, cute!"

It got me giddy I tell you!

And while all of this tantrum throwing is horribly difficult to maintain a calm and clear head through, I am also enjoying watching them become their own people more and more everyday! Wyatt is developing such a funny and unusual sense of humor that I sometimes feel like I'm looking into a mirror! He's wacky to the bone and can get Brent and me rolling on the floor in laughter with his oddities! He is a true character! Callie is becoming such a little girl and I am enjoying having a new girlfriend to hang out with and take shopping.

I'm sure that I will have plenty of days throughout this phase where Brent comes home to find me huddled in the corner in a fetal position and sucking my thumb, but I also realize that I'm so incredibly lucky to be able to watch such unbelievable beauty as they discover who they are.