It's been a rocky month or so. Alex is having some issues with being a sibling. I thought this sort of acting out would have happened back 5 months ago. It seems like we've regressed. I think it could be a combination of many things, but he is really struggling to gain independence. I'm more than happy to let him spread his wings, but he gets a little to big for his britches. I try to give him little decisions to make like what to wear, lunch choice, he gets to help with chores and dinner (this might seem nice but it makes these tasks take way longer) and such. Our biggest obstacle has been revenge. He has decided that if he's mad about something like having a time out or not being able to watch tv, for example, then he will pee in the floor. It's by no means an accident....just an "I'll show you!" It's pure craziness! I've tried every solution I can think of. It's slowly getting better, but it's not solved.
Yesterday was another one my worst mom of the year moments. Usually we keep the gates to the fence chained and locked due to them mysteriously opening. We think it's the little neighbor girl. Anyway, we are getting a sprinkler system put in, so we've left the gate unlocked because there are people coming everyday to mark with flags. Well, yesterday afternoon the doorbell was going crazy and the neighbor tells me that the dogs are running around and headed for the main street! I had to think fast. They may be bassets, but I had no idea how long they had been out. So I decided that it would take too long to put Aaron in his seat and Alex in his seat. I chose to put Aaron in the crib and take Alex with me. Also, Alex had no pants on...a totally different story involving chaffing. I barely turned around the block and saw the dogs. I breathed a sigh of relief, got them in the car, and drove back around the block. I wasn't even gone 3 minutes. So I close the gate and unload everyone. I go to open the door to the house...hmm..it's LOCKED! Ok, we've got an extra key...no big deal. Our door knob isn't one I'd suggest on buying. This happens all the time. Well, there's no extra key. Panic is now setting in. So, I go over to the crazy neighbors house with my pant less kiddo and ask to use the phone. I explain that the baby is locked in the house. They start chattering whatever language they speak, and I knew it was in astonishment. I wanted to tell them not to judge me since they let their 4-5 year old drive cars and never have put her in a car seat. I finally get a hold of Paul and he tries to tell me that there is a key and what it looks like...blah, blah, blah....as if I know none of this. I hang up on him and go back thinking maybe I totally over looked this stupid key. Nope! I haul Alex back over to the crazy house and use the phone again. Thankfully Paul was smart enough to get his hind end in the car and head home! Of course, we know what really happened to the gate. It wasn't the wind like the neighbors claimed. It was helluva windy day, but it doesn't lift the gate thingy, swing against that strong of wind, and lower the gate thingy back down.
