can we sleep now?

OMG. December has been overwhelming. Between all the shopping, wrapping and various festivities, I think our little family is drained. We have been on the go every weekend since Thanksgiving I think - a lot of this has to do with an obsession we have with getting Paudie to see and do as much as possible. All stems from losing Cian at such a young age. It's like we are blasting the child with Christmas spirit from a fire hose. He doesn't seem to mind really, loves to take it all in with wonderment, but I think he is as overtired as we are. Every morning he just lays on the couch staring at the TV with a blank look on his face, clutching his milk. We are pressed to get out of the house by 7:45 each day so we try the old 'okay then we're leaving now, bye' routine to get him up and going and most days he's like, whatev.

So things are winding down this weekend. We tried to do the Santa Claus thing last week. He wasn't having it. Wouldn't even get close to him - we settled for a high five. My iphone barely captured the moment. Sigh. This weekend we are catching up with some friends tomorrow and then Sunday... nothing! I am not leaving the house. I am wearing my PJs all day. I am not showering. I am going to epitomize a lazy slob.

We leave for an extended visit with my family on Thursday AM. This is the first time we have ever made the trip on Christmas Eve. Paudie is verrrry excited about going. Every day he asks to see his Uncle Doug. This morning he had a meltdown because we were going to daycare and not to see Doug. Paudie clearly is Doug's #1 fan. As is our dog Banjo. Anyhoo we will be in upstate NY for over a week. Santa is bringing Pau a sled so I am hoping for some snow - but not too much of course. You have to be careful what you wish for there in terms of winter weather. We really have no plans for when we are there. I am thinking lots of food, as much sleep as possible, a little shopping (we need some new ornaments!) and maybe the museum. For my husband it will be watching like 200 channels of cable, i.e., Fox Soccer Channel, and having late night snacks of pie, beer and shrimp.

So there you have it. The year is winding down and I feel completely burned out. But it's been a great year and I am really looking forward to seeing Paudie open all of his presents, as mostly boring as they are (whoo, underpants!). He has added 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' to his singing repertoire (was previously limited to only Jingle Balls) and it's just the cutest thing. I will so miss all the light displays when they are taken down because he loves to admire them so much and point out all of the various santas and deer in our neighborhood. He is just content to drive around and look at them. Stuff like that makes me wish that '2' would last forever. That is until he smacks me in the face and tries to kick me in the stomach.

wahhhhh

Today's title refers to whining. Mine and/or Paudie's. In the last ten days or so, we have officially arrived at the terrible twos. I have to admit, for the last few months I've been thinking... this isn't so bad. Where is all the boundary pushing and general rottenness that I've heard so much about. Well it's here! OMG. How can someone who can be so loving and cute and awesome much of the time be so mean and obnxious... now much of the time! We get it in the mornings - refusing to get up, refusing to get dressed, tantrums at daycare dropoff - and we get it in the evenings with all the brilliant stalling techniques to avoid bedtime. And the little weasel has found his way back into my bed. Brutal!

We had a very busy weekend. Saturday AM was Paudie's cousin's 3rd birthday party, complete with music teacher. I thought he would be all over this since he loves music, but no, he wanted to hang in the playroom alone. My sis in law got him out, but he basically stood in the corner reading a book while most of the other kids sang and danced. Sigh. Then on several occasions I caught him taking toys off of the two younger kids that were there. My son, being a bully. Broke my heart. I know, it's his age and pretty normal, but still, it's disappointing to see.

Yesterday we hit the Polar Express train ride. Man we talked this up all week and he was super pumped for it. In return, Paudie would talk about the choo choo and the circus - not sure where that piece came from. Once we got on the train, he was all wide eyed and excited. Then he started to shove John away any time he would touch him. Wow did that annoy John. It's like Paudie was a teenager and John was parked outside the highschool honking his horn or something. Then we broke the giant cookie in half he got on the train as a treat. Well my god. This apparently ruined the cookie. Jaysus. The ride home was misery. We got in the car just in time to hear the Patriots lose, and then when I forced Purell onto Paudie's hands... mayjah dramaz. It's like, really Paudie? Really?? It has to be this way?

So there you have it. Just in time for the holidays, lots of tears and time outs at our house. Don't get me wrong, there are still bright spots. Last night John heard Paudie on his toy cell phone - he ordered a pizza with broccoli. An act that is both sad and encouraging all at the same time. I just want there to be more of those moments and less of the boundary pushing shiz, but I guess this is going to be how it is for the next 18 years or so. Sigh. It was nice while it lasted.

One last thing - about the photo. I have no idea whay Paudie's arm is all wet. I suppose it might have something to do with an act that preceded him pretending to cut Banjo's leg off.