minor “last baby” mourn the week before she turned one, I was more than ready for toddlerhood. Toddlers are THE cutest, funniest little buggers on earth, and I had two of them.
Once Pepper started hitting her 18-month milestones (which all seemed to happen at once), I found myself truly loving the two-toddler phase I was in (with the exception of that no sleep business because MAN, WHOA). While the early months meant a lot of refereeing fights, kids still escaping through the cat flap, toilet paper being utterly thrilling to throw around, paint-eating, messy mealtimes, and dual-naptime gymnastics, I felt a total shift halfway through Pepper’s first year, which is also when Abby turned three.
I remember saying in many respects having two toddlers was harder than having a toddler and a newborn. The days ARE long even though the years are short, and toddlers are forever pushing boundaries. And they have terribly short attention spans, so they don’t sit through activities for long. Keeping them entertained, fed, loved, disciplined, and out of trouble every single day is quite the feat. But at this point in my Toddlertown parenthood, I’m thoroughly enjoying it. It does get easier, as they say, and while it’s still a very busy day, it’s punctuated with so much more joy for longer stretches.
It is utterly delightful to have a cup of coffee while watching my children play in the garden warmed by the morning sun. I am probably in the minority, but I love that they can get themselves around and I’m not constantly concerned about what the baby’s crawling on, what she’s putting in her mouth, or that she needs something soft to sit on. Babies are great, and there’s no-one on earth happier than a six-month-old. They love everything. But I’m a fan of the older kid, for sure. I love activities and imagination and experiences, and while it’s totally beneficial for a baby to go to a museum and then paint dinosaur eggs back at home, it’s about a zillion times more fun when they understand and enjoy it. And I am ALL ABOUT dinosaurs and painting.
Like right now, Pepper asked Abby to hold her hand (“An? Abby? An?”) and they just walked off to the kitchen. Probably to steal cookies, just like all toddlers should.
Aaaaand now they’re fighting because one took the other’s Hello Kitty figurine.
I thoroughly enjoyed having babies. And I am beside myself at the thought of preschoolers, which is where my love of glue and glitter will really come into force. But for now, Toddlertown is where it’s at. Double toilet-training and all.
Cherie Anne says
April 22, 2014 at 10:40 amThis is what I want.
I want that picture above, & all of the accompanying words in this post.
Busy? Yep. But … that little bit less ‘baby’, & little bit more ‘toddler’, (which is when I feel like I reign supreme as Mother).
I’m not a great baby Mama (never pretended I even was, ha!), but toddlers? I feel like I nail toddler. Even the tantrums, & hurricane’ness of it all. I just LOVE toddler.
I needed this post today, it makes me excited about what’s around my corner.
Thanking you kindly,
x
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:11 pmI feel that way too! But I think I’m going to nail preschooler. I was born for preschooler! And yes babies are wonderful but I do think life in general is easier to handle when they are a little bit older. Your toddlertown is coming!
Lila Wolff says
April 22, 2014 at 2:14 pmAww that’s beautiful!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:10 pmI’m getting SOFT in my old age. I don’t know what to do about it.
The Plumbette says
April 22, 2014 at 3:29 pmI love watching my three year old and 13 month old interact and sometimes they play together beautifully and other times they fight and scream. It will be interesting adding another bub to my mix. 🙂 you have a beautiful family Stacey!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:10 pmI hear a third really tips the balance! I’m looking forward to seeing how your family adapts. Because man, YOUR babes are beautiful!
Reannon Hope says
April 22, 2014 at 6:12 pmThis is great Stacey! So reassuring for me because I keep telling myslef the next 12 months are going to be haaaaaaard but it’s only going to get easier right? And your post has totally shown it will.
I’m really looking forward to having two little people so cloase in age. My bigs are just under 3 years apart & while at the time is was perfect & I loved it, now it is a lot of the 11 year old saying ” but he can do it why cant I?’ & me explaining that 14 is so very different to 11 blah blah blah
And the cat flap thing? Blake discovered a few weeks ago he could get out the dog door which is totally hilarious until I find him outside eating the dog food!!! GROSS!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:09 pmHaha yep both mine investigated the cat food. And I’ve thought quite often about how they’ll be close in age and ability, so there’s less of that “unfair” bizzo. I really did think two so close would be an absolute shitfight for twelve solid months, but I found it to be easiER than I thought (but not easy). The first year is an interesting one but this shift toward older kids is a blast. Mostly.
That Bettie Thing says
April 22, 2014 at 7:57 pmI’m pretty lucky at the moment I have a 6 year old, 5 year old, 22 month old and a 7 month old. Guess I’ve got one of everything!!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:06 pmHahah one of everything except sleep?!
That Bettie Thing says
April 23, 2014 at 9:17 pmWould it be really awful of me to tell you that all 4 of them are good sleepers? I should also add that 3 of them are chronic asthmatics and that during winter there are a LOT of midnight nebulisers and 4am ambulance rides. So that makes for 0 sleep for 8 months of the year. I get to catch up over summer though!
MotherDownUnder says
April 22, 2014 at 9:28 pmYup. Toddlers are the best things on earth. I am biased of course and think that three year old boys are the most delightful creatures…but your creatures are pretty delightful too!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:07 pmHahah I LOVE three. I could do without the defiance, but oh my word, their IMAGINATION! their funny little games and conversations? GLORIOUS.
Katie Rainbird says
April 22, 2014 at 11:13 pmYour Toddlers are super cute and are very lucky to have you as the President of their town. x
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 12:07 pmThey are way cute, and very loved 🙂
Tania says
April 23, 2014 at 12:59 pmLove this post, and have recently started realising the same revelations…..but would love to know if you have any tips on activities that they can do together? I find that my almost 17 month old still seems like he’s a fair bit apart from his just turned three sister, in the ways of attention span, ability & interest – & still LOVES putting everything in his mouth, arrrgh!
Veggie Mama says
April 23, 2014 at 1:18 pmHahah yep I know how you feel. Pepper is still a ways off from successful activities! I have started to add to the blog the ones we’ve been doing that they can both have a crack at (Playdough seems to be the best one for holding their attention so far!). You can find them by hovering over “kid stuff” in the menu bar and choosing “activities for toddlers”), or go here: http://theveggiemama.com/category/activities-for-kids/
I’m also writing a post as we speak about a couple of other things I’ve found recently! It really is quite difficult to find fun things to do that kiddos that little are capable of 🙂
Tania says
April 23, 2014 at 3:27 pmBrilliant! Thanking you kindly 🙂 Yep I can always find activities for the 3 yr old, or even more ‘baby’ sort of ones for the 17mth old, but activities they can do together is the holy grail!
Lily (A Rhubarb Rhapsody) says
April 23, 2014 at 3:28 pmGahhh, so cute! My kiddo is on the verge of turning 4. He’s a big kid now, no babyhood left and for the first time in forever I’m actually feeling clucky again. I miss having a baby and then of course a toddler. Having said that, the older they get, the funnier and crazier they seem to get, I love the downright bizarre thought processes that swirl about in that little head.