That Reminds Me

Despite the fact we have lots of photos of Zeke smiling and laughing, I cannot hide that he is full into throwing toddler tantrums and expressing his displeasure. He now longer really cries when he is unhappy -- he shrieks or whines. He can arch his back and/or go limp and he can throw his weight down on the ground. He scowls frequently, and I am always reminded of this photo when he does.

Sometimes I just have to laugh about my little angry bluebird, though. He is still pretty cute when he has a tantrum and his use of the tantrum as a manipulative tool is so patently obvious, that it is hard not to laugh a little. (That is, if we are not in public, if he isn't covered in snot, and if we have time to let him ride it out.) My mom who has been staying with us for the past two weeks babysat for me so I could go to work yesterday. Kiddo started getting worked up that I was going out without him, building up to a shriek and making a pouty face. I turned on the DVD (there is only one DVD he must have -- it is the DVD that must not be named within Zeke's earshot lest I inspire a pouting session). He stopped mid-shriek, changed faces and said, "Bye-bye!" He also doesn't quite know how to make his expressions of extreme displeasure effective. When he drops to the ground and goes like a rock, he usually waves and says, "Bye-bye." Sometimes he seems so pleased with sitting or lying on the ground that he laughes or smiles a little. Who can take that seriously? I know he has many more years ahead, though, during which he will be working on "Mom, you are ruining my life when I can't have my way" schtick, so I am almost even appreciative of his antics now....almost!