"This too shall pass."

So I know I'm just a typical first-time mother, but I struggle so much with Blaine's hard phases! I am definitely getting better, though. Last January he got really sick and there were all sorts of nutrition concerns--refusal to nurse (or eat anything)made me so worried about dehydration, etc. But I would get so upset about it that it was paralyzing. It was ridiculous. The most recent phase has been two-fold. First, Blaine's been sick again. Second, he's turning the corner into that "terrible two" stage. He wants to be the boss of everything. Everything. Mr. Independent. Those two things combined have been ugly. Grumpy in the mornings ugly. All I will eat is milk and fishies ugly. Cough myself awake from my nap ugly. Throw a hideous tantrum in the Target foodcourt ugly. Forget that I know any words other than "nooooooo!" ugly. And, true to form, I've been convinced that he'll never be a nice boy again. And he'll never eat again. Surely he'll die of scurvy! (And how would I possibly deal with this new Blaine and an infant at the same time?!)

Thankfully, I have grown as a parent. I have been much more calm and patient and rational than I ever thought I could be. I have reminded myself (and Taylor) that this learning of identity and autonomy--though horribly frustrating at times-- is critical to Blaine's development. I have remembered last January and reminded us that Blaine will eat again. Even things with vitamins and fiber.

And when I have needed support and validation, it has come. It has come in the form of my dear, dear friends with children just months older than Blaine who have promised me that his behavior is normal and will pass. It has come in the form of a sister who is years ahead of me in this whole mothering gig.

Anne: I mean, how long can a child live on crackers and milk?!"

Liz: Oh, indefinitely! Sometimes we forget to feed Mary (child #4). She just brings me a plate and says, "Sandwich."

And it has come in the form of a mother who has always been able to calm my troubled heart.

Anne: We're just so worried that he'll get into bad eating habits and always be like this.

Mom: Oh, you'll go through that over and over as a mom. Once when your brother was in Kindergarten the teacher said if any kids didn't have lunch money they should tell her and she would give them a quarter. Your brother fibbed that he didn't have any so that he could pocket the quarter! I was devastated. Oh no! My son is dishonest!

And, just as her son turned out to be an honest, upstanding citizen, lo and behold, Blaine has been his cheerful self two whole days in a row. And he started eating bagels. And yogurt. And pancakes. And tonight he slurped down to bowls of miso soup, and even looooved the tofu and seaweed. (Yeah, he turns down bananas but loves seaweed. That makes sense.) He's still enjoying his right to exert his opinion and say "no." He still wants to hold the yogurt spoon. But he's smiling and hugging and playing and laughing and I feel like my boy is back!

Well now I'm bored with this post. I guess I just wanted to say that if you are going through one of those pull-your-hair-out parenting phases, remember that it won't last forever! And thanks to all of you who helped me remember that while I was going through it so I didn't have a total nervous breakdown this time.


p.s. Those 3 pics are the ones we sent to GAP for their babe contest. Can you even believe that Blaine wasn't a finalist? We can't either. Ridiculous. (wink.)