Defiance: Thy name is toddler

Toddler tendencies have been cropping up in Ben's behavior for a couple months now. The most infuriating one (so far) is with his sippy cup. It sits on his highchair tray during meals and he is apparently physically incapable of putting it back when he's done drinking. His DNA compels him to drop it onto the floor (I think it's the Y chromosome). At first he just dropped or threw it to see what happened, but now he knows it makes me mad. Sometimes he grabs it, doesn't even take a drink, and holds it over the side of the chair. Then he gives me this smirk like, "Give me all the cookies, or the cup gets it!" If I say no he laughs. I'm sure I have many, many parenting trials ahead of me, but him laughing when I say no strains my patience to the breaking point.

As Heath said, Ben's fortune was probably meant for us instead.

*sigh*

Things Ben Will Put Into His Mouth:

Every single book and toy he owns
My keys
My cell phone
My iPod
Kleenex
Grass
His wading pool
The coffee table
Magnets
A folding chair
The diaper bag
Minnie's tail
The remote control
My finger
My nose
My chin
The chain on swings
The grocery cart
Towels
An ottoman
Kitchen utensils
My sunglasses
Grandma's reading glasses
The straps on his car seat/stroller/highchair


Things Ben Won't Put Into His Mouth:

Food

Rant

If I never have to hear someone say, "That is one under-fed baby!" in jest again, it will be too soon.

We went to my parents' church yesterday for Easter and they got to parade Ben around for all to see. Everybody loved him, but I don't think one single person passed up the chance to comment on his size. Yes, he's a large baby. We know. Trust me, my aching back and knees know.

I realize people are just joking and being a chubby baby isn't the same as being an overweight child or adult. But it makes me feel like they're judging me. I swear, we're feeding him what the doctor recommended. He's just a big kid and always has been.

Oh, and while we're talking about it: Yes, Ben has red hair. No, neither Heath nor I have red hair. Heath has red in his beard and I have some relatives with red hair. Okay? Now we all know.

Maybe I'm just being sensitive, but over seven months of responding to these comments is starting to get on my nerves.