A battle of wills: Mommy vs. Alex

When I was pregnant with Alex, he was very active in my belly. I felt a lot more movement with him at all different hours than I did with Jacob. It often felt like he was doing aerobics or some kind of kick boxing. I joked with the nurses & Dr.'s during my OB visits that if his in utero antics were any indication, this little guy was going to be my wild man. I think I was right. While it's amazing to watch how easily mobile he has become, it can also be quite tiring. It didn't take long for Jacob to learn that Alex can get into pretty much everything...including Jacob's toys. Today I found a big toy truck in my hamper. I asked Jacob what it was doing in there. His response: "I put it in dere cuz Alex cannot reach it." Smart guy and can't say I blame him.
Alex is very ambitious, and has several goals he strives to meet daily:
1) Get toilet paper, tissue, or any paper product and put it in his mouth.
2) Get Hailey's dog food & put it in his mouth.
3) See if he can hit and get away with it.
4) Try to get into the kitchen cabinets & play with wine bottles.
5) Put as much as possible into his mouth.

Currently, Alex is going through a very physical phase. At least, I'm hoping it's a phase. He's a hitter. And when he hits, it's not one playful tap on the leg. It's a barrage of about 12 slaps in a row. If you're unfortunate enough to be holding him when the assault occurs, then you get slapped repeatedly in the face. Heaven help you if he's holding an object that can be used as a weapon. Jeff had to confiscate a plastic toy hammer from him yesterday. We never experienced this issue with Jacob, so I've been uncertain how to address it. He thinks of it as a game, probably because everyone (myself included) would say, "Stop hitting me, you silly boy!" or something to that effect with a big ol' grin on their face. Because he's a baby. Pretty much everything they do is cute, even hitting. So you can't really blame him for thinking it's funny when we've all responded by laughing, smiling, or tickling him. At his 9 month check up (which went perfectly, by the way!), I asked the pediatrician about the behavior. She suggested that after he hits, sit him on the floor, move away from him and look down with a mean, stern look on your face, saying, "No hit!" very firmly. The first couple of times I tried it, I had a hard time keeping a straight face. Looking down at those big blue eyes and smile as I dramatically crossed my arms, tried to frown & furrow my brows, and firmly tell him not to hit in a fake angry voice. It was funny. Was, being the key word.
So Jeff & I have been working on it. Even Jacob has learned what to do. Yesterday, Alex smacked him on the leg, and Jacob scooted away from him, crossed his arms, and said, "No hit me, Alex!"
Today, Alex & I are having a battle of wills. A little while ago, Jacob & I were sitting on the couch together while he snacked. I was watching Alex play with some toys on the floor. Alex came over to me, pulled himself up to standing, and started hitting my leg. So I followed the pediatrician's suggestion to discipline him, and after standing up, crossing my arms, and telling him not to hit, I sat back down beside Jacob. Alex looked at me, wide-eyed, then came right back over and started hitting me again. Repeat disciplinary action. He approaches again, and resumes the slapping of my leg. Again, I stand up and tell him "No hit!" I swear, he came over to me a total of 10 times, and after every session of hitting I endured, I had to repeat the discipline. Oh, the stubbornness! Why did he have to inherit that from me? :) As he was hitting my leg over & over, he's looking at me as if to say, "What are you going to do about it? How bad can a 9 month old's slap hurt, anyway, ya wimp?" I'm not sure if a 9 month old knows how to talk trash, but that's what it looked like he was thinking, anyway.
Finally, after 10 times of the same scenario, I think he realized that I was going to keep putting him on the floor and scolding him every time he hit me. I sat back down beside Jacob, and saw Alex making his way back over to me. Really? Was he going to try for #11? He stood up and started hitting the couch right beside my leg, and looks at me as if to ask, "Is this OK?" I just smiled at him because he's so darn cute & sweet. And because I won that battle. :) Now let's see if I can get him to start sleeping in his crib instead of our bed. So far, he's winning that one.

Here are a few examples of my wild child's daily adventures:

I can play in this toy basket AND the drawer at the same time! Good time management.

Surely there's something in here I'm not supposed to have. This thing only has toys in it?

Really? Only toys in here, too? Where do we keep all of the fun stuff?


I get to chew on this plastic hot dog and look cute at the same time. I know I look cute because Mommy's pulling that camera out again.

You're lucky the apartment doesn't have a staircase, Mommy. Just wait until we move to the new house! You think I'm everywhere now, but at least I can be confined to one floor!

What am I doing in your room? Um, nothing. I will say that it doesn't involve a tissue.


I love my little wild child. I knew that's who he would be before I even met him. And I wouldn't change a thing about him. Well...maybe sleeping through the night would be nice. :)