Max and Zach

I have really enjoyed having Melissa and her kids visit. It is nice to have some adult conversation (Eric takes offense to me saying this because he thinks he is an adult.) I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Max and he is so much fun. Zachary has been jealous of the attention I give Max and often thinks that I don't like him when Max is around. So I don't think he'll be crying when his plane takes off for Florida on Tuesday. Zachary is content with me not having any more babies (me too.)

Max is a handful, no doubt. I am trying to remember if my twins were as busy as Max. Unfortunately I don't really remember. I do recall not ever letting them be alone unless they were asleep. They got into too much trouble (like dumping pudding mix on our very light carpet in Illinois.) I recall never wanting to take them to the library or post office. They were completely out of control at those two places. Taking them shopping without a stroller was impossible because they would run in opposite directions. I never knew which one I should chase down first. I remember being so excited when I could finally trust them to be in a different room than me. It wasn't really until we moved to Monterey. So they were almost 4! Our house in Monterey was so small that I could hear what they were doing from whatever room I was in.

Max is much better behaved for me than for his mom. Why are kids like that? He will try to climb out of the grocery cart, stroller, or highchair if Missy is there, but he sits perfectly for me. He loves to tease Zachary because he gets a huge reaction from him. Zachary tattles on him for almost anything and everything Max tries to do.

It makes me sad to think that I probably won't see Max again until he is at least 3. I am sure he will change so much by then. Hopefully by then he will stop giving Missy such a hard time. As a parent, it is hard when your first one is so easy and the younger ones challenge you. Justin is a sweetie pie and doesn't get into much trouble. I often wonder if I was hardest on Eric and that is why he is so well behaved. But most likely it is just that each of them is born with such different personalities. I do think that it is hard to be consistent and I sometimes just give into my twins because it is easier. But the consistency is so important.

I have really enjoyed my time with Max. But it also makes me realize how happy I am to be out of that stage. I love that all my kids will be going back to school in about 5 weeks and I can shop alone, take naps in a completely silent house (with the exception of Buzz barking at random trucks) and most of all, I look forward to lunch dates with Mario.

I have no complaints...Life is good!