The Toddler

Prior to having a child, I was wary of toddlers. It seemed like they always had runny noses, were throwing tantrums, and were incomprehensible. Now that I have a toddler, my initial opinion of them has not changed much. It seems like Marshall has had a snotty nose for most of the latter half of the year. He throws some fantastic tantrums (laying face down, flailing on the sidewalk was a recent gem). I am "that" mom in the grocery store. I liken changing diapers and getting him dressed to wrestling a shrieking octopus. My patience is tested daily with the whining and lack of logic/empathy. The other night during an especially rambunctious moment, Marshall kicked me in the face and split my lip. He looked at me with a defiant smirk and said, "cry mom, cry." Who knew I was raising a sadist?

Stereotypical awful toddler moments aside, Marshall is one of the sweetest, most mellow toddlers I have ever encountered. He sleeps great at night and still takes decent naps every day. He is quick to smile and laugh. He plays well on his own and plays exceptionally well with his friends. He indulges me with kisses and hugs more often than not. Marshall is a super conversationalist and we often get comments from surprised strangers at the quantity/quality of his vocabulary. He is very observant and is always saying, "mom, look where I pointing." Some of our funnier recent moments:

• As I was doing dishes, Marshall asked me to come play with him. I told him I'd join him when I finished. He replied, "mom, I going to count to three. Don't make me count again."
• "I need to cover my eyes because the blender is too loud."
• He asked for a cookie for breakfast. When I told him no he replied, "ok, I want a lunch cookie."
• At a stop light he asked, "mom, what that man doing in his car?" Keeping my eyes on the road, I replied I did not know and asked him what he thought the man was doing. He said, "that man picking his nose. " I looked over and sure enough, that is exactly what the man was doing. Marshall then said, "I pick my nose in the car too."

I echo the sentiments of a close friend who recently wrote, "I continue to be overworked and underpaid in my job as stay-at-home mom, which is the best job I've ever had."