Hardly an angel....

I realized that most of my posts recently have been about how awesome and sensational Nicky is (of course!)But I also want to make it clear, he is no Angel. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. Our little Angel is really a high need monster! When we do get those golden nuggets of awesomeness from Nicholas, they are worth posting. However its the REST OF THE TIME that is making me question how in the world we will survive this PHASE. I highlight PHASE because this PHASE has been going on since he was 6 months, 10 months, maybe 16 months - depending on which "need" needs attention. He's now 22 months! We will get a break soon right?



Here are some "highlights":

• Since 6 months we have not been able to change him without screaming, twisting, arching, crying. Poo-poo diapers are the worst. Its usually a two man job, someone holding him while the other does the cleaning/changing. or we resort to bribes. sometimes he surprises us and will lay down all by himself. that's when we pat ourselves on the back :)
• Same for getting in the Car. people stare at us, like we are hurting him. Dans been late to meetings, etc because Nicky REFUSES to leave the store, park, ice cream...
• He never played independently. We were always involved 24/7
• He NEVER let us put him down as a baby. He'd go UP UP UP, then Down Down Down! we couldn't win. He never sat in our lap. never stopped struggling when we held him
• He STILL screams almost every time we put him to bed. we are BEYOND "cry-it-out". We had some good months, but the last 3 have been terrible.
• He will not stick to a routine because he knows that its time for bed. We can't get his diaper on, pjs on, no more reading books, wont lay down in bed. We have to let him scream for 20 - 30 minutes or we have to lay there until he stops crying.
• Nap times on the weekend are the same. We are lucky if he falls asleep after 10 - 15 minutes. Some days we don't nap because who wants their baby to CRY HYSTERICALLY EVERY DAY?
• Sometimes, even after a 2 hour nap he will just scream for no reason. Scream. And bang his head on the floor. Get rug burns on his forehead
• and I haven't even started about the separation anxiety and jealousy. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous of Brandon. He loves him. and thinks its fun to play peek-a-boo, but Daddy CAN NOT hold Brandon in front of Nicky. Not only is it terrible for Dan to do anything, its hard for me to actually leave the 2 of them with Dan. We dread mornings because Nicky hangs on Dan's arms, legs. And he isn't quiet about it. He's loud and whiny. and he makes our ears hurt. Dan can't cook dinner with out Nicky in his arms. Nicky begs for Daddy to hold him. We ignore him. We don't talk to him. He doesn't seem to listen. Or care. He is stubborn. Like me. But he's better at it than me.
• did I mention how much I LOVE him, yet? :)
• and then there are the Tantrums. enough said.

Ok, so I know that a lot of this is probably just a phase, but he isn't even TWO yet and he is so challenging already. I read this article and was like, Wow, they are talking about Nicky. Anyways, the point is that Nicholas is difficult and we are evaluating a Child Behavior Specialist. Maybe we can channel this energy and create a more happy (and less draining) environment for Nicholas and us