2 more months Rylan, 2 more months

That's how long Rylan has to be all terrible two-ish. I thought it was over. We've had some pretty magical weeks for about a month now. Rylan was amazing everyone with his increased talking, a tiny bit of sharing, playing with toys lots and lots, learning to potty, and helping mommy out with tasks like getting a new diaper for Max and such.

And, I'll tell you. I did this silly thing. I thought we'd been lucky enough to skip certain things. Like hitting. He really hasn't been much of a hitter, very occasional hits and they were more overzealous "I like you and I must touch you a little too strongly" type hits. I also thought he'd skipped the picky eater phase. And I really thought we'd said good-bye to the constant "no's" and I thought we'd cut down the whining considerably.

This last week was a real bitch. And I'm not going to apologize for that swearing. Cause, not only did return of the Two-ness come at us, but this weather change set off both boys' wheezy/coughy crap for airway selves. Cue albuterol induced crazy toddler and baby. By Friday, Rylan had bloody lips, I had a bruised toe and missing hair, Max had a bruised eye and a boo boo on his finger and everyone's nerves were frayed. The carpet had new spots on it, the air conditioner vent fell off and I think I gave myself lock jaw from grinding my teeth when I was stressed. Okay maybe not, but I might have been on my way.

On a bright side, our carpets are professionally cleaned and our cocker, Lola, got groomed. Lola tends to look like Alf when she's ready for a trim, and our carpet was starting to beg for a good wash. Both cleanings should help decrease the allergen level in this house and good moods happen naturally when things look cleaner and your cocker isn't bringing leaves and garden gnomes in matted in her hair.

The other good news is that we had a weekend of restarts and refreshment. I've put together some stuff to help use Rylan's energy for good instead of evil. Good boy charts, preschool packets, and some field trips to help the matter.

Before the crazy albuterol/terrible two induced craziness, we marveled in the decrease in temps and met up with our friends Krystal, Harper and Hayes at the zoo.

So excited to see each other

Harper loves her some Rylan

Really, really loves him

Max checking out the elephants

Our first time on the train

A stop for some lunch. Rylan spilled salt and Harper was teaching him to "clean up"

Massive turtle

A shared moment at the penguin tank

So, there are many differences between Max and Ry. Max is a seriously chillaxed baby, but one thing that Rylan has on him is, what I call, he's an "easy transfer". If he falls asleep in the car, I can get him into the house for a good nap *most of the time*. Even now, at almost 3, I carry that extra extra tall toddler in and get him cozy for a good snooze. Max....not so much. Even when he was an infant, I'd tiptoe into the house carrying his carseat, gently place him on the floor, look down, only to see his big eyes staring at me. At first you hope for both kids to nap at the same time, so you can nap or have some peace, but I've come to enjoy our afternoons where its just me and him. With the second, you get so little one on one time.

At first Max crawls around looking for Rylan and tries to break into his room to get to him, but then there is a moment when he realizes he has free reign of all toys. And he quits looking for Rylan and goes to town!

Here's some pics of such a day in our life. I must go now, part of our refreshing restart is getting my booty in shape.