Naughty

Over the past week or two Ladd has turned from an angel child into the opposite.  As a mother I really strive to not say "no" to everything.  That way I figured when I really needed to use "NO" he would no I mean it.  So in my efforts I have tried not to notice when he empties every non-safety-proofed cupboard in the kitchen countless times in an hour.  I just smile and laugh as he splashes pools of water onto the bathroom floor during bathtime.  I patiently allow him to feed himself even the messiest of meals even though it is going to take 20 minutes to clean him up.  I usually let him walk everywhere we go because he loves to be free from the stroller and from being carried and I try to chase after him even though it takes forever to get to where we are going. I let him play with almost any button to his hearts content even if it is the most annoying thing trying to watch tv while he turns it on and off.  

Up until these last couple weeks I was feeling pretty good about my newly-learned patience, but something just turned Ladd's naughty button on and I can't figure out how to turn it off.  I've resorted to saying "NO, no" and "That's naughty!" about 100 times a day and he just smiles at me and does the same thing over and over again. 

He climbs on top of the kitchen table all day long to stand and dance on it.  He climbs on the toilet and then on the water tank in order to get up on the bathroom counters.  Last week he managed to find my prenatal vitamins (which he can only reach if he's on the bathroom counter) and stuff them into his mouth and then spit them out all over the bathroom floor. While dusting in the loft I put some glass candle things on the ground for about 5 seconds and within those 5 seconds Ladd devised a plan to pick them up and run full force through by bedroom, into the bathroom and toss them in the toilet.  He empties all his clothes drawers several times a day, no toilet paper roll is safe.  Changing diapers has turned into a wrestling match where I practically have to sit on him to make him stay still (and yes I've tried everything- food, toys and distractions use to work, but not anymore).  Oh yes, and he has started throwing tantrums and hitting.  

On the opposite side of the spectrum he has been especially sweet when it comes to giving hugs and kisses.  He comes running with open-arms to give me hugs at least 20 times each day and these are no ordinary hugs, he holds on to my neck as hard as he can and doesn't let go for a minute or two and nuzzles his face next to mine while saying "mommy, mommy, mommy...."

Thank heaven for these moments or I wouldn't be nearly as excited for Ladd to have a LITTLE BROTHER!  We just found out this morning and I honestly was hoping for another little boy because Ladd has brought us so much joy.  Besides hopefully they can run around like little hooligans all day and tire each other out.  I'm just hoping this naughty faze doesn't last too long, I'm kinda tuckered-out.