Milo at 3 1/2

Milo you are now 3 and 1/2.  Three has been our most challenging time with you. You still have all your sweetness in there, but lately it is covered up with a lot of stubbornness, crankiness, and tempers.  I was so sad that I might loose the special bond you and I had before Lucas was born. You were my little baby. You snuggled with me and would only let me do certain tasks with you. Me being away at the hospital for only one day really did you in.  It was just too much for you and you haven't been the same since. However, you are wonderful with Lucas. You adore him and give him little presents. You talk sweetly to him and profess your love.

 I think you feel really displaced right now. You realize I can't hold you all the time now and I can't do everything you want me to the way I used to. I try to give you what you need, but it doesn't seem to help much.

Keely and you have turned on each other in some harsh sibling rivalry. You two fight constantly now and are always in competition with each other. It is a war zone in our house most of the time. Keely also started going to school and you can't stand that either. You don't understand her being gone all day. You take it out on me. You seem very mad at me a lot now. You have some crazy long temper tantrums that are troublesome and exhausting to the whole family. You also are refusing to take naps, so on top of everything you are tired. We've upped your bed time and insist on at least a rest day each day.

I'm trying to set up a new daily routine for us to get reconnected. I hope that works.  I miss my little side kick.  I know you are still there. When things are good in your world you light it up. You are smart and funny and incredibly cute. You love to listen to stories. You pick out our "bed night" books each evening and an "bed night" animal to sleep with. I hold your foot while you fall asleep. You insist that I do.  You will only eat homemade pumpkin muffins for breakfast. You've done this for almost 6 months now. I'm sick of making them, but you love them and they are pretty healthy, soooo?

You love to pick flowers and watch birds. You love when there is a bright full moon to see out of our windows. You're just getting interested in drawing and using scissors. Your language is uniquely you still. You call marshmallows "strawbellows" and you say "tomorrow today" when you mean later. You say "hobo" for horrible. We try not to laugh. "That is a hobo song that you are singing daddy."  You call dandelions "candy lions". "They smell like candy!" You love peacocks and still pretend to be a kitty a lot.

 You love to play with tiny things…marbles, beads, small rocks and every chain is a caterpillar. You like play dough and silly putty. Tiny boxes and jars are also a hot ticket item in your world. Every container is an item you must have! We have to sneak out trash containers like pasta & cereal boxes or you will want to hold on to them forever and stuff them with little toys. They would fill our house.  You stuff beanie animals in bags and boxes because they all need homes. You get very angry when anyone touches your things. Cleaning up is a nightmare because you just go crazy on us. Change is very hard for you right now. I hope we can get through this rough spot and there will be smooth sailing soon.  We all love you so much. You are always our miggity-moo. Your bright eyes and incredible laugh fills our souls.