Scratching and Pinching and Hitting...Oh My!!

Well we have entered a scratch, pinch, hit phase and all I can say is...AGGHHH!  It has been getting progressively worse over the last 3 weeks.  She went from never doing it to now doing it all the time, she thinks it's funny.  We have an absolute No Tolerance policy for this, she has even done it to friends and family.  The dogs even run from her!!  She can be totally sweet and cuddly one minute then she looks at you, smiles big, and PINCH!  I must say that this is the first time that my patience has been tested to the point of exhaustion.  I guess we are just getting to the point where discipline is going to be a constant and necessary factor, we knew it was coming.  She is almost two, and up until this point everything has been purely exploratory, nothing naughty...now she is just pushing buttons because she knows she can!  Ah, strong will!  It will serve her well one day but now, it is driving me nuts!

On another note, Charlotte began Montessori school last week!  She did great, such a big girl!  Mommy did okay too, that is until I made it out of the parking lot and broke down into tears : (.  Where has the time gone?  I feel as though we just brought her home from the hospital, now she's going to preschool.  She speaks so clearly, and a few days ago, as I was getting dressed, we actually had our first "conversation."  She said "Hi there mommy!" ( I love that).  I say "Hi baby, what are you doing?"  She replied, "teebee" (tv) and I asked, "What are you watching?" and she replied "Street!"  It blows me away!  My baby is growing up, she's a little girl.  She loves dancing (and has natural rhythm, thank god) and she has even learned to pick up after herself without being asked.  That's a big thing at Montessori, idependent play and being tidy, obviously...it's been two weeks and she is doing it at home.  I'm just soaking it all in and enjoying the ride.

Ah, I think the spectrum of this post perfectly encompasses the life of a mommy.  Drive me nuts one minute, melt my heart the next.  What a gift!

Keeping it all on track...

Whew!  Sometimes is seems as though I'm running on a treadmill that I just can't stop!  And I hate treadmills!  Not that I hate my life, I love my life, I am blessed beyond what I deserve that is for sure.  But I do sometimes hate the constant hustle and bustle, sometimes I just want some ease.  But it's kind of hard to stay frustrated when I count my blessings and see all that God has given me.  I just wish I had more time to enjoy it all. 
So, as with everything else in my life, when it gets too confusing, I make a list : ).  Beau and I are literally going to make a list of those things we love, that make us feel fulfilled and give them a prominent place in our weekly routine.  At a time when it seems as though work is running and defining our lives, and really no way to change that...what...with his commitment to the army and my baby business, we really have no choice but to committ a lot of time and effort to our careers.  But no longer at the expense of our family and overall enjoyment of life. 
It seems like such a simple concept, but so many of us miss out on the things we love, the things that remind us just how lucky we are, and what a blessing life is, and we trade it for constant stress and discontentment.  I just don't want to be one of those people that others look at as always miserable and unhappy.  I, much to my chagrin sometimes, wear my feelings all over my face.  There is really no questioning my mood.  So I would really like for that face to be covered with a smile moreso than a frown and worry lines on my forehead. 
We'll see how it goes, but as with any problem, recognizing it and committing to change is the first step to achievement.  Charlotte is growing like a weed and each day brings new and exciting discoveries for her, that's what we don't want to miss, those precious little moments.  I encourage anyone who reads this to do the same.  Priority doesn't always have to deal with time, it can also be your focus, attention, and commitment too.