Just lots of photos for this Toddler Tuesday. Even though tomorrow is usually the photo laden post. Hope you guys are having a wonderful Tuesday! What do you guys usually do with your toddlers? What has been the most challenging for you and for your toddler? What has surprised you the most? I'll follow up with my answers on the next Toddler Tuesday! Hmm, maybe I'll do a linky thing for the Toddler Tuesday posts? Ha..one day, one day..

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THANKS!

Helping me wash dishes

"I do it myself!"

Redondo Bch Pier, August 2012

Redondo Bch Pier, August 2012

Redondo Bch Pier, August 2012

Making Raima and Mama laugh! - LA trip August 2012

This one's my favorite

I'm going to admit something here, (but maybe I already have?) - I am not a tidy & organized person. I've never been (but people change). Growing up, I hated making my bed (what's the point I would whine to my mom - if I'm going to mess it up again later?) or putting away my clothes (I still hate laundry. I can somehow fold them but putting them away..ugh) or putting anything away back to it's original home when putting it down right where I am was much easier (obviously not easier for my mom). If I could turn back time to undo those bad habits, I would, ok, probably not..but I can undo them by being an example now to my kids, who I hope will not be a pain like I was (who am I kidding? I believe in karma). Because I hate to admit it but - being tidy (not necessarily hospital clean ocd type - which my mom was - or so I thought when I was a kid) is kind of nice. Or rather having a nice, tidy and clean space does wonders..it really does.

Now that I'm a mom, I've realized that being a messy person works against me. So I have tried to, as they say, see the change I want to see. Often I have to remind my husband, I mean, my toddler, where his shoes should go or where his clothes should go (not on the floor, as my mom would say. Oy, so sorry mom!). Sometimes I don't think he quite understands but sometimes, toddlers can surprise you (and, yes, husbands too).

Case in point: Just the other day, I was laying down on the couch and Jax comes over to me..

Jax: Is that where your shoes go? (I'm sorry, what did he just say?) - Jax pointing down to where I can't see anything since I'm laying down (being lazy) -
Me: What?
Jax: Your shoes mama, is that where they go? - (he really did just say that!)
Me: No, you're right, they don't belong there.
Jax laughs and says: Nooo..they go in the cubby.  Silly mama.

I guess the constant asking of - is that where your shoes go? has paid off and it has become standard these days but we all need a little reminding of these things now and then.

Jax has been doing great with potty training. We still put him in diapers overnight only because, well - I don't know.. Most mornings he wakes up dry. He talks so much more these days and to be honest, I can't remember when it was that he didn't talk, it was just harder to understand him, I guess. He's still a funny little entertainer and he has his moments, but so do we.

Modeling the behavior I want to see in my children is often a challenge. I ask him to say please and thank you and excuse me but I know, I often forget to do these things myself. The becoming tidy thing is new to me. I've found that I have become more like my mom in so many ways than I could have ever imagined. On some nights when I can be found in the kitchen, cleaning the counter tops and wiping down the sink, I feel as though my mom is watching me, smiling. When I make my bed in the morning, I think of my mom too. (You were right mom, it does make you feel good!)