Knee Deep

We have been knee deep in the middle of the two's around here lately.

Bandage was a bad little chipmunk and got put in timeout. He didn't mind his Mommy.

When Shelby Claire was a newborn, I can remember thinking that "this isn't so hard- what does everyone complain about?" in regards to having two kiddos. Well, let me tell you, it ain't no walk in the park. In the beginning it truly was easier than I thought it would be. All Shelby Claire did was eat and sleep, eat and sleep. That left me plenty of time to love on Audrey and give her the attention she needed. Her love language is definitely "quality time" and being that SC was so small, we rarely left the house. I had time then to give to Audrey.

Bandage's Mommy made sure to explain to him why he was put in timeout.

 At around the 10-11 week mark, Shelby Claire "woke up". She no longer spent most of her time sleeping and that's when it became harder to balance being the parent of two. Around that time, Audrey went through a phase where she was a little "off her rocker". She was misbehaving and acting out in ways I had never seen her behave before. It was driving me crazy- I tried every discipline technique I'd ever heard of and none of them worked. NONE.

"I'm going to put the timer on!"

I was at my wits end but I wasn't really thinking about Audrey. I SAID that I was thinking about her and trying to figure out what was going on in her little head but it took me a few weeks to realize what made her tick. I finally figured out that she wasn't getting what she needed from me-- quality time.

"Two minutes!"

 Yes, I stay at home with her and we are together all the time but we weren't really *together*. I was trying (and still am) to learn how to balance both girls needs and wasn't doing that great of a job!

Bandage served his time and is getting lovin' from his Mommy!

 The turning point was a night out with just me and Audrey. I took her to the movies to see "Rio" (don't take your toddlers- not appropriate- we left early) and to have some time for just the two of us. The next day, I took her on a playdate with her friends and left Shelby Claire with Clay. That was a few weeks ago and we've not had nearly the issues with discipline that we were having. Don't get me wrong, she does test us on a daily basis but it is NOTHING in comparison to what it was. A sweet friend of mine told me that it was "just a phase" and I try to repeat that to myself everyday. It will be different tomorrow.

Having said all that-- I don't really know if it was quality time that helped Audrey or if she just adjusted on her own. Either way, I am glad that phase is over and I am enjoying having her back to her super-sweet self. I am going to continue scheduling specific dates with just Audrey from now on (and just SC one day). I know that as Shelby Claire gets older, we will have more and more challenges from the both of them but I am so thankful God chose me to be the Momma of these two girls. I'll pay for their therapists one day if necessary.