We Are Normal???

Chances are your toddler's negativism — saying "no" all the time, running away, throwing things — has probably been surging lately. He's actively testing his limits, putting his newfound mobility and ability to control his environment to use. It's your job to create and enforce those limits — and to remember that this behavior is a normal part of his development, not a plot to drive you crazy.

Normal. Good to know we are normal. And I should change that sentence about negativism to grunting, crawling away, throwing things (including himself on the floor). That is more descriptive of my little boy.

To illustrate his ability to “test” me, let me tell you a story. Cade crawled into the front room of our house. Crawled right over to the wall and turned to make sure I was watching him. As soon as he was sure he had my undivided attention, he reached up and put his hand on the outlet. Now, the outlets are covered and he is in no real danger, BUT he knows he is not allowed to touch them. I said, “Caden, no!” in a stern voice. He looked me straight in the eye and kept his hand there. I repeated, “Caden, NO!” He stared me down and left his hand there with what I swear was a rebellious smirk on his face. I walked over and took his hand off the outlet and put it in his lap and said, “NO. You know you can’t touch those.” I stepped back. He looked up at me and his lower lip trembled and he broke into tears. Heart wrenching tears that made it sound like I broke his heart. I picked him up and hugged him and said that I wasn’t mad, but he cannot touch the outlets. We snuggled for a minute as he calmed down. The End. I love the little brat!

Gap is having a Casting Call where parents can submit photos of their baby for a chance to win a photo shoot for Gap and Gap clothes. Well, I know I am biased, but since I think my baby is adorable, I am going to enter him in! Have to go pick some pictures that show his true personality. Or maybe I shouldn’t… Ha ha ha! You can put 5 pictures of your child up for the Gap Casting Call. Here are the three I have put up so far: