Parenting and Patience.

The past few days Nikolas has been quite the little tyrant. 
I feel like the only word coming out of my mouth is 'no'.

He demands everything and pitches the biggest tantrum when he doesn't get it. Arms flailing, legs kicking and everything.
He is also learning how to completely ignore us when we call for him. Seriously, when I call his name when he's doing something he shouldn't be, he just acts like he can't hear me and goes about his business. When I sit him down and try to talk to him, he completely refuses to look at me! 

It's like he woke up and thought to himself, "Today I'm going to do absolutely everything I'm not supposed to".

Kids are a lot smarter then we think they are. They figure us out before we even do. They revel in our reactions, good or bad.
Besides a few little spurts here and there, he has always been a really laid back kid.
He's never been one for tantrums or not listening. When we're out in public everyone always praises on how good he is.

I think he's finally coming around to the 'terrible twos'. It's been a wake up call for us. He's getting very bold and assertive, and we know he is just trying to establish his independence, but that doesn't make it any easier. I've been researching on effective ways to discipline a toddler and I have a few things I'm going to be trying out in the next few days.
I find the hardest part to be consistent because, I myself tend to take a more relaxed approach to parenting. 

Being a parent is so interesting because even when you've prepared yourself as much as you could, even when you thought that you read every book there was, you can't prepare for these kind of things when it actually happens. Kind of like pregnancy.

I've always had an idea for what I wanted to shape Nikolas into. What I have started to realize is that although I can guide him and set an example for him, I can't mold him into what I want to. He has his own personality and an entire world to explore. He will learn through his choices and through our examples and I want to always try to set the best examples.

I've never been a very patient person, and he is teaching me to be patient. To take a deep breath and see life through his little eyes. To see everything as an exploration and adventure. I teach him and he teaches me. 

Please excuse the bruise under his eye. My little daredevil literally ran into a table during an intense game of 'I'm gonna get you'. Don't worry, he was tough and didn't even cry. He just looked at me and said and I quote, "Ouchies".

Little People.

Today has been a day of reminiscing. 
Everyone around me is having little babies and I am really excited and happy and slightly jealous?

I miss having a little newborn.
There's nothing quite like it in the entire world.
That little newborn smell.

With that being said, at this point I would rather reminisce then have another child. I've always thought I wanted at least three children. I think I only want Nikolas because I can't imagine having to share my love with another child. That sounds selfish but it's the truth.

I also know deep down that if I were to have another one, I would love that little baby just as much. 

I'm a walking contradiction, I know.

I mean look at that little squishy newborn face. 

I totally know that they should always sleep on their backs but he was just too darn cute to move. He was having tummy time and then he literally just laid his head down and passed out. Being a little baby is just so exhausting.

& Although newborns are like the best thing EVER, so is watching them grow. Watching their little personalities take shape. My absolute favorite memory of Nikolas is the time when he laughed for the first time. That deep belly laugh where they think whatever you're doing is like, the coolest, most funniest thing ever. It can seriously warm even the coldest heart. Baby laughs are a mixture of fairy dust and clouds, and love and and and...

To all the new mommies, Congratulations. Enjoy and hold on to every second. It goes by quicker then you could ever imagine. 

Fall Festivities.

Fall is finally upon us and we've thankfully got a break from our usual hot and humid weather. Fall is probably my favorite time of year, I love everything from making hot chocolate to all the warm neutral colors that start being displayed in everyone's homes. 
This year, Nikolas is finally getting to enjoy everything the Holidays have to offer. He is a totally outdoorsy type of kid, a polar opposite from his hermit mother, and with this weather he couldn't be more excited about going outside.
We've already done so many fun things, from picking pumpkins to spending the day at our local Fall Festival. I think it's safe to say that he's absolutely loving this time of year too.
I can't believe he's already 19 months old. I feel like every day he wakes up a little taller, a little smarter and totally spunkier. Not that I'm biased or anything, but he is probably the coolest kid ever.
He is also a total handful. I know every mom likes to think their kid is borderline genius but he really is very smart and incredibly tech savvy. He knows how to work an iPad and an iPhone better then most adults and he learned everything just by watching us! It's really crazy to watch him pull up his favorite shows. We've been challenging him lately by hiding his favorite apps in different folders, which he finds in record time. I'm not sure if I should be really excited or scared!
On a totally different note, I've already started Christmas shopping. Too soon?
This year I plan on having an outrageous Christmas and I'm so excited that Nikolas will get to really take part in all the festivities. 
Anyway, I plan on having a lot of changes happen to this blog in the next few months. Different Layout, lots of construction. Hopefully, by January (if I ever stop procrastinating), I would like to finally have hooked up with BlogHer. Crossing my fingers, and getting my blogging priorities straight. 
And now, for some awesome pictures!

He never sat down long enough for me to get a really good picture. He was all about running in between pumpkins.

& Last, his Halloween costume which he was not thrilled about at all. Don't let that face fool you. Not only was he not happy about it, but this is the only full picture I have of him wearing his costume because he refused to look at the camera or stay still. Oh, little boys.