meanwhile, back at the ranch ...

You've heard a lot about Silas recently, and a lot about stuff around the house. How about some Asher stories?

1

He is in the height (let's hope it's the height) of the "No!" phase. Honestly, it is comical the things you could argue about with a two-year-old if you chose to engage the argument. "No! It's MY living room!" "NO! No change my diaper! I'm not your friend anymore!" et cetera, et cetera. It's part of life and development and so long as my frame of mind is in check, it's not that big of a deal.

Also, any of you who know Asher in real life know that he has an unnaturally high-pitched cry. Since birth his cry has sounded more like a squeal. More than one neighbor has commented on occasion that they heard Asher crying from the street. It sounds like a torture chamber in this house sometimes.

All of that is backdrop for what happened yesterday morning.

Yesterday, we were all in the backyard, clearing out some undergrowth. Silas ate grapes in his high chair while Asher played with a measuring tape. Only the measuring tape was starting to rip, and half-ripped metal is a tetanus shot waiting to happen. So I told him it was time to put the measuring tape away, and he would need to find a new toy. Typical two-year-old drama ensued. I didn't pay him any attention (the rule in our house is you get to pitch your fit all by yourself); I put the measuring tape out of his reach and kept unearthing the monkey grass that time forgot. Asher was screeching a few feet away, when a stranger walked over to the back fence and tried to peek through the privacy gate. "Excuse me?" She said. "Is there anybody back there?" "Yes," I said. "How can I help you?" "What's wrong with the baby? Is everything okay?" I laughed a little. "He's fine. He's just mad at me." "Well, okay. I just wanted to make sure."

I swear if I make it through his third birthday without someone reporting us to DHR, I will have accomplished something.


2

But the pendulum swings wide for toddlers, and he can get just as excited as he can angry. Recently, anytime he sees or hears something he likes, he'll sing, "I looove ____." "Cookies! I LOOOOOVE COOKIES!" or "Strawberries! I LOOOOVE STRAWBERRIES!" It's very cute.

He also is really enjoying being back at church. Today he was mesmerized by the drums. He just stood in front of them and watched, for several songs in a row. Anything that captures a toddler's attention enough for him to stand still is impressive.

3

While eating Easter lunch, Asher was just - uncooperative. If he were a baby you'd say he was fussy, so whatever the two-year-old equivalent of fussy is, he was that. He wanted to go outside, I wanted him to eat lunch. At one point, my mom said, "Asher, are you cantankerous today?" Asher nodded and said, "Go be cantakerous outside?"


4

Anything that he doesn't like right now is "too tasty." Last week he ate (what I can only assume was just a bite of) shampoo. I know because he came out of the bathroom, mouth smeared with bubbly gel, and said, "It's Very Tasty. Need a little milk to wash it down."

5

But my efforts to set him up for success with his brother are at least paying off in the moment (whether or not they actually help build a relationship remains to be seen). He has been much less frustrated the past several days, and in general there are fewer time-outs in our day. So there's that.

In all, most of the time two years old is a lot of fun. It's climbing on playgrounds and reading stories and digging for worms. And bless his sweet heart, in many ways Asher is EASY. He eats what is on his plate, he goes to sleep on cue. And for that I am thankful.

Happy Sabbath everyone.