This is harder than I thought...

Life without Caleb's plug has definitely been interesting.... To say that it's been a roller coaster for us all, would be the understatement of the year. I really thought that since he was soooo excited about getting Mack and becoming a big boy, that he'd give up his plug without that much of a fight. How out of touch with reality am I????

Up until Caleb got rid of his plug, nap time was a breeze. So easy, it was comical. When it got close to nap time, I'd ask, "Who wants to be the nap leader?" and they'd both go running for the stairs yelling "MEEEEEEE" and race to their rooms. Without the plug, TOTALLY different story. Day number one without the plug was a disaster. He screamed and cried for well over an hour, and he *never* cries at bedtime. I knew he had to be exhausted because this was the same day he got up an hour and a half earlier than normal. My poor little man was so tuckered out that we had to pry him out of bed at 6:15. He was totally cashed out!

Despite his sheer exhaustion, once again he was up before the sun, ready to play! (Clearly I'm NO expert, but I'm wondering if he's now getting up earlier than normal because he can't soothe himself back to sleep). But the real test came right before Katherine had to be to school.... Caleb decided it was a fine time to have an absolute meltdown and DEMAND his plug.

Katherine and I went out to the garage, and while she was buckling herself into her car seat, I went back in to pick up Caleb. He went into panic mode... screaming, crying, and trying to wiggle away from me. I finally wrestled him outside, but getting into his car seat was out of the question. He was having NONE of it! I tried with all my might to get him into his car seat, and physically I just couldn't... Yes, my two year old is stronger than me! LOL. I tell ya, it was terrible. The chaos went on for about 15 minutes, and by that time I was running late in getting Katherine to school. I was begging and pleading with him to get in, trying to remain calm. Katherine was trying to distract him by showing him imaginary birds, squirrels, and airplanes. Out of frustration, she finally offered up candy. Nothing would persuade him. There was NO WAY he was getting in that car seat without that plug.

So there I stand, reduced to tears and calling Matt. I felt so helpless. There was no way I could get him in that car seat. If I didn't have to get Katherine to school, we would have just gone back in the house and forgotten it, but we had to leave 5 minutes ago, and unfortunately I couldn't leave him home alone -- although the thought did cross my mind!! LOL. So yea -- I gave in. As soon as he saw the plug, he immediately quit crying, turned around and sat down. So now I'm stewing... My two year old got the best of me. Kim -- I so needed your pencils! Not sure if they would have helped the tears, but holy cow was I frustrated!

Thankfully that was the last time he's had the plug. I went to hospice last night to spend some time with my Grandma, so Matt put little man to bed. Matt said he cried a little, but not more than 10 minutes or so... Nap time today was much easier as well, and he's gone back to telling everyone that he's a "biiiig boy" and his plug is in the garbage. Now here's to hoping that he starts sleeping a little later in the morning. I don't know about you, but I like to sleep past 5:45 am!