21 months

Well, hello there, little blog of mine! So nice to see you again! I apologize for the neglect, but the holidays were so crazy, and we were in and out of town for a few weeks, and then we started watching Downton Abbey and I turned into a bit of a fiend, insisting that my husband spend every spare minute watching every single episode with me until we were caught up....

You know how that goes. 

Actually, the biggest thing keeping me away is that little guy up there. If it's possible, I think he needs me more now than he has ever needed me before. At the moment we live in a bewildering transition somewhere between sweet, loving toddler and big, independent toddler. He's bright and curious, but he needs direction and someone to play with him all the time. He's active and full of energy, but pretty resistant to my attempts to direct his focus. He can say almost anything, and he can often tell us exactly what he wants or needs, but sometimes the words leave him and he's just so whiny. I can see him struggling to make his own choices and be more independent, but then he's so clingy he won't let me out of his sight. 

I guess this is what the terrible twos are all about? Teaching independence. 

One way or another, my eyes have been opened: caring for a two year old is so much more difficult than caring for a baby. And to think that we haven't even attempted potty-training or sleeping in a real bed. I just keep trying not to get ahead of myself, and on the tough days I cling tightly to this promise from Isaiah 40:11 - 

"He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young."