On Toddlers

I remember a couple years ago during Bible Study we were discussing the Fruits of the Spirit. At the end of our discussion the group leader asked each of us which Fruit we struggle with the most. I was the very last person in the circle and when he turned to ask me, I didn't give him a chance to get the words out before I was answering "PATIENCE!"

Well. Fast forward a few years and that's still the Fruit that I struggle with the most. And Dear Lord, does this little boy test the little bit that I do have.


My sweet, little Patrick. He is so full of life and from the moment he wakes up he wants action, action, action! We try to fill our days with at least one outing to the park and a few good walks around the neighborhood to wear him out a little bit but he's constantly on the go.


Now that Natalie is getting ready to walk, she stands and shuffles from place to place. Well, now we have to be super careful because Patrick will run up to her and say, "Na-ee, let's dance!" It's so sweet but he gets so excited and shakes her. She thinks it's the Best Thing Ever and will giggle and wiggle with him but it's too much.


But for every ounce of wild and crazy little boy, he is full of sweet, heart melting love. There are moments I'll be cleaning or tending to his sister and he'll just come running, "Mommy, Mommy!" and grab my face with his sweet hands, "Hi!" and give me an Eskimo kiss and be gone. He loves and is so protective of his sister, it's amazing to see their relationship change as they grow. He'll sit and play with her and when she tries to put a toy in her mouth watching him scold is just the sweetest, "No, Na-ee, toys are for playing, not eating!"

Days can get difficult, but I love watching the strong willed, determined, athletic little boy my baby is turning into.