Hello terrible twos. Welcome back to our house.

I somehow thought Ike had skipped this phase altogether.  Zeb jumped into it a little earlier when Ike came along at 20 months, so when we passed 24/25 -and even month 26- with pretty rational behavior from Ike, I thought we were safe.  I was wrong.  Irrationality has arrived.  Only he's older and talks and is pretty strong this time around.

Exhibit A.  Arms crossed. foot stomped. "I don't want to play with you" has also been shouted.  Unfortunately these have all been learned from Zeb :)

 Exhibit B. Zeb's soccer games. Ike is inconsolable and just wants to play. He wants to wear Zeb's jersey and he wants to kick the ball into the goal.  He becomes a raving lunatic when each game begins and he comes to the realization that he's not playing.

 And finally- Exhibit C.  Do you see Zeb's nose?  Ike loves to throw things when he gets really mad.  This wound happened to be from a flashlight.  And you can't see the bruise on the other side of his head that came from a huge roll of giant packing tape.

It's a rough phase.  But- then again so is the 'almost four' phase.   We are playing spring soccer this year and it's been a lesson for all us. A lesson in patience, competition, crying, frustration, etc.

Zeb just doesn't get why no one will give him the ball.  Stealing toys has never been an issue for this kid- but for whatever reason he can't grasp the idea of getting in there to 'steal' the ball.








He's getting better, though.  Last night we even got him to run around and try his hardest (without the help from one of us) to get the ball from somebody!  He even got in there a few times :)