Hi, everyone. Welcome back to No Manual Momcast,
where this is a place for us to just be. real
about the realities of motherhood, the hard,
the good, the bad, the ugly. But this is a place
for you to connect and hopefully you can relate
to a little bit of what our motherhood journey
looks like two years in. So today... Whenever
we plan this one, which we didn't plan it really
until today. By plan this one, you mean like
three hours ago? Yeah, like three hours ago.
But I was like, oh, this one's going to be a
funny one. So today we're going to chat all about
reasons our toddler cried this week, which I've
seen. I don't know if you've seen like the reels
on Instagram about it. and they just like make
me laugh so much so when we like three hours
ago planned this we I just started like jotting
down all the reasons my toddler cried this week
and they're pretty funny so yeah we had a couple
come up this weekend so I had it in the back
of my mind and then when we needed We kind of
had a last minute change and needed to record
this today. So I was like, this is perfect. It's
an easy one to come up with. Yes. Yes. Well,
let's start with our mom moments of the week
first. Okay. I can start. So this weekend we
had like kind of a crazy weekend. We did a bunch
of stuff. We went to the zoo on Saturday and
then Sunday we were going to go up to the mountains.
We're going to go to Estes Park. Nice. And we
knew that that would. mess with nap time like
nap time just wasn't gonna look normal which
we were fine with yep um but we were kind of
like you know the drive to estes is like an hour
and a half ish from our house so if lloyd sleeps
for like the majority of that yeah then even
if he doesn't sleep at home it's gonna be a short
nap but it's doable yeah like it's fine yep so
we get in the car he conks like immediately so
fast But Zeta doesn't. I think her ears were
like popping and she like wouldn't use her pacifier.
So she was like screaming for probably 45 minutes
straight. He's sleeping through it until she
gets like one of those and lets out like the
biggest scream in the world and wakes him up.
Then she falls asleep and he was awake for the
rest of the ride home and did not sleep for the
rest of the day. Dang it. So it's like a short
nap. Like half hour, 45 minute nap tops. Yeah.
And we had this like as planned out as you can
because we're like, we're going to get in the
car. He's going to fall asleep. He'll sleep that
whole time. Maybe he'll have a little downtime
in his crib when we get home. So, you know. Nope.
We did put him in his crib when we got home.
He did not sleep. No. And we had. We had a good
rest of the day. Yeah. I'm sure. Yeah. I think
we were like, you know what? It's, it's a movie
night. Yeah. Early bedtime. I think we did a
movie and a long bath and an early bedtime, but
yes, just one of those, like we had it planned
in and it, that's not good. You know, you could
plan it. Like we literally did the same thing.
My mom moment actually has to do. kind of with
the same thing. So my husband was up at summer
camp in Estes Park this last week with his youth
group. There was still color on the grass because
we went to the - Oh, really? We went to the Y.
We had to run around and there was still color
on the grass from camp. Mass chaos. And so we
actually went up to go visit Michael at camp
on Wednesday of this last week and we stayed
the night. But my mom moment, so - same thing
we went up to camp and I planned it with nap
time so hoping like both boys would sleep for
the majority of the time Colt conked out right
away slept for like 50 minutes um Cruz slept
for probably like a nap a little over an hour
which was great but yeah then a 50 minute nap
is like not good enough for, especially cause
it was like kind of an early ish nap. And so
then we had the rest of the day at camp and they
start their evening sessions at like seven o
'clock at night. And we went to go to go watch
cause we knew Michael was going to be on stage
and we were like, wanted to go support him. And
that wasn't until like eight 30 at night. And
so before we went to session, I could tell that
Colt was just getting so tired. And I was like,
I was determined. Because then that's bedtime.
Yeah, it was like normal bedtime. I was determined
though. I was like, we're going to get to session.
But Colt would not put his tennis shoes on for
the life of, like for anything. And so. he was
just having a full -blown tantrum like in the
hotel room we were staying in and I'm just like
trying to bribe him with anything to get his
shoes on so that we could get down to the car
and just drive to like the building where the
session is and so I finally get his shoes on
we get down to the car and then he I like open
the trunk to like put the bag in the trunk and
he like wants to get in the trunk to just like
play and i was like nobody we gotta get in your
car seat so i grab him out it creates a big like
this big old tantrum again he like his tantrums
he'll like throw himself back he'll try to like
fall to the ground and so he's like in the trunk
of my car having a full blown tantrum perfect
and he goes during his tantrums he'll go mama
up up. And then I go to pick him up and he goes,
mama, move, move. And I'm like, I don't know
what you want me to do. And this is happening
for like 30 minutes, probably in the trunk of
my car. There's multiple people walking by and
like onlookers. Finally, I'm like, okay, buddy,
do you want to just walk there to where daddy
is? And he's like, yes. So I get the stroller
out. I have Cruz like in the carrier and Cruz
has been, Cruz is chilling the whole time, which
I'm so grateful for. He's like used to this at
this point. He's like, this is calming to me.
This is normal. Yeah. So then I get the stroller
out. But we have one of those strollers you have
to like bend down to the ground to like unlatch
it and like pop it up. And so I'm like bending
down to the ground, like trying to make sure
Cruz doesn't like fall headfirst out of the carrier
because I'm not like his head's not strapped
in. And so finally this like this man comes over
and he could tell like. I think he was one of
those like onlookers that was like sitting outside
the building. He like comes over and he's like,
can I help you with that? Like, I totally know
what this is like. You got to just let him burn
out sometimes. And I was like, yes, please. Like,
thank you so much. And I was like on the verge
of tears at this point because I was like, you
know what? Let's just call it. Let's go up to
bed. It's fine. We're not going to go. We're
not even going to try. And finally, I get Colton
the stroller. That man was super nice. And we
get down to session and. Thankfully, he was pretty
good at session. And then he slept really good
for us that night at camp. That's great. Yeah.
So it's funny that that's my mom moment. That
leads into our episode really well. Yeah, right?
So that was a super fun time. That's, I guess,
one of the reasons Colt cried this last week
was just being overtired, which I can relate.
I cry when I'm overtired, too. So I can relate.
Yeah. So we have a good chunk of funny ones,
I would say, to add in here. I think we were
talking before we got started. Most of them are.
funny and not like super sad or serious or anything
yes yeah um okay do you want to go first with
yeah so my first one is Lloyd had a burrito the
other day and so he like had taken a few bites
so there was like an open end and a close end
oh yes and then he went to take a bite from the
close end and Stuart was like oh buddy like you
should take a bite from the other from like yeah
the other ends the open end so your burrito doesn't
fall apart That's it. That made him cry just
being told which end of his burrito he should.
He's like, no, dad. I know how to eat this burrito.
Well, and to the point where we had to like take
a break from, I think it was breakfast. And so
we had to like take a break. And Stuart was like,
do you want to? He had to get something from
the car, go to the mailbox or something. He was
like, do you want to go on a little walk? And
Laura was like, yeah. And so they did. And then
he came back and finished his burrito. Sometimes
you just need a breather. Yeah. Yeah. That's
so funny. Get some fresh air. Speaking of like
being in the high chair, so I'll piggyback off
of that one. This one was actually tonight before
I came over at dinnertime. Colt cried in his
high chair because I wouldn't let him have my
knife. Yeah. And so. That was a clear answer.
I was not going to give him my knife. You don't
just hand your two -year -old your knife? Not
usually. Not usually. But it then ended up in,
like, he will have, like, full tantrum in the
high chair. And so it's also, like, a breather
situation. Like, got to unbuckle you, get you
out, calm you down. All right, buddy. I hide
the knife. Yes. Mom doesn't need a knife at dinner.
It's fine. You'll just eat your steak with your
teeth. Yeah, exactly. So, um, yeah. Wouldn't
let him have a weapon. Uh, I have one that goes
hand in hand with that. Nice. I wouldn't let
him play with the can opener. He can reach the
drawer that the can opener's in and I try to
like keep it in a spot that he can't reach it.
Somehow he can always find it. And I'm like,
obviously like. Not as bad as a knife. Yeah.
For sure. But does have sharp edges. You're for
sure going to end up hurting yourself on this.
Yeah. Not the best toy in the world. No. Yeah.
So I took it away from him and that was. That's
so funny. I mean, it was pretty cruel to be fair.
I feel like we're reaching a stage where I really
have to be careful with what I put on the counter.
I feel like Colt must have had a growth spurt
or something that I didn't really notice because
now it's like everything right on the edge is
in reachable territory. Yes. And so can opener.
Yeah, and you don't notice it until all of a
sudden you're like, how did you get that steak
knife? I swear it was out of your reach. Yes.
Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I feel the same way. Yeah. Okay.
My next one is that I wouldn't change his diaper
first. So Colt has this thing right now that
like anytime I change Cruz, Colt has to be changed
first. And no matter how long it's been since
I've changed his diaper, because Cruz like, I
mean, he's four months old. He like gets his
diaper changed more than Colt does. Right. But
now if he sees me even try to attempt to. change
Cruz's diaper he goes Colty Colty Colty turn
Colty turn and then wants me to move Cruz out
of the way Colty lays down and then even if his
diaper is not wet at all he wants a new diaper
so sometimes I'll even like take the diaper off
I'm like okay buddy putting the new diaper on
just put the same dry diaper back on because
I was like you know these things are expensive
yeah I was like you don't know how much money
we spend on diapers, buddy, because it is. It's
a lot. It is a lot. So that's like a new one
that's kind of popped up in the last week of
like him needing that. And if I, there's moments
where I'm like, no, buddy, like your diaper is
dry. We do not need to change you right now.
It's okay. Mommy's going to change Cruz. And
he goes, and that usually ends. That triggers.
Yep. That's rough. All right, my next one. So
our cat, Red, he's our boy cat. He got into some
string that if he was for sure going to eat it
and then like get sick or whatever. So Stuart
ran after him to make sure he did not eat the
string. And I said something like, Red, don't
be a bad cat or something like that. Lloyd lost
it. Really? First he got his like. So empathetic.
Big cartoonish frown. I was like, it's okay,
buddy. Like, Red was just doing something he
wasn't supposed to. And then he just started
crying so hard. And I was like, we still love
Red. Like, he's still a good cat. It's okay.
Like, Dad's just making sure he doesn't get sick.
It was just so unexpected. Because usually, like,
if we yell at the cats to, like. get off the
counter or something that they're not supposed
to be doing usually he does that like he'll repeat
us so it'll be like red get down he says red
get down yeah but this time he was just so sad
that we called red a bad cat yeah oh my gosh
it was that one was actually pretty cute oh he
just loves his kitty he does love his kitties
um okay my next one is i wouldn't let colt put
a golf ball in his mouth So Michael has this,
like, little putting green thing that he keeps
in the garage. And pretty much every time we
get out of the car, Colt grabs one of the golf
balls and brings it inside the house. Of course.
Which is, like, we've also had a problem with
him, like, trying to throw the golf balls in
the house. And I'm like, and he just, like, spins
and then just, like. chucks it. You got to get
like ping pong balls or something that he can't
throw. I know. We have like a little ball pit
that he like will throw those balls. He's just
like super into sports balls right now. So any
sports balls, but yeah, he like tried to put
it in his mouth and I was, and I just like foreshadowed
like this being a terrible situation obviously.
And so I like grabbed it out of his mouth really
quick and that. He lost it. Yeah. I'm like, I'm
trying to keep you alive, buddy. Do you not understand?
This is for your own good. I'm so sorry. But
yeah. I don't want to drive to the hospital.
No. Like my kid has a golf ball in his mouth
and I don't know what to do. Yeah. Yeah. Right.
Because we're entering that phase of like. Yes,
we went through the phase of like teething where
everything goes in the mouth. But this is like
the like exploratory like, oh, can I put this
in my mouth? Yeah. Yeah. Most of it is stuff
that they're going to choke on. Yes. Yep. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. I feel we're definitely in that phase.
Next one is that Zeta was taking a nap in her
crib. So she was upstairs and we were downstairs
and she was sleeping and he wanted to hang out
with Zeta. And I was like. That's really sweet.
I was like, she's sleeping right now, so, like,
we'll hang out with her later. And that was not
good enough. That was not the right answer. Nope.
He wanted her to hang out right then and there.
That's so sweet. I was like, that's really sweet.
I love that you want to hang out with your sister.
She's sleeping right now. Yeah. I'm not going
to go wake her up. Oh. So, and then because we
can, we have, like, an iPad that will pull the.
baby monitor up on it and so then he'll just
point to a baby baby nap baby nap yeah and he
wants to see her which is super cute oh and if
i don't show him the ipad fast enough then then
that's another one that's another one for sure
yeah but yeah he wanted to hang out with his
sister while she was napping sweet oh okay i
just thought of one piggybacking off of that
yes so last night we went to youth group just
colt and i and we left cruise michael's grandparents
are in town so we left cruise at home but before
we left i was like okay colty let's go we're
gonna go and he's like cruise like come on cruise
come on cruise and i was like no cruise is gonna
stay here with grandma and papa and that was
that was what did it for him and It was so sweet
because that's not usually the case at all. And
Colt and I have not had a lot of, like, one -on
-one time since Cruz has been born. And so I
was like, oh, this is so great. Like, he's going
to love this. Mommy and him time. And then when
it came to, like. He's like, no, I won't. Yeah,
he's like, brother's coming too, right? Why are
you not? Taking the baby. Yeah. So I thought
that was so sweet. That's really sweet. Yeah.
And I had to like explain it to him and then
he was good, but. We're coming back to him. We're
not just abandoning your brother. Yeah. Yeah.
So sweet. Okay. My next one is right now he's
in this phase where he will come up to either
Stu or I and say mom hug or dad hug. And he just
wants hugs like all of the time. That's cute.
Which is really, really sweet. The problem is
we also have other things to do. Like I work
from home. Yeah. Or, you know, just making dinner
and doing normal things that you have to get
done throughout your day. And so if it doesn't
happen within like the exact time frame that
he wants, which is immediately. So I'll be like,
buddy, I have like ground beef on my hands because
I'm making dinner. Like you got to wait. Yeah.
Let mommy wash your hands. it's too much. Oh
yeah. You can't wait for a mom hug. It has to
happen right now. Or for Stuart, it happens to
where Stuart works in a wood shop. So when he
gets home from work, he's usually covered in
like wood glue and acetone and all sorts of chemicals.
He doesn't particularly want to get on our kids.
Yep. And. lloyd will be like dad hug dad hug
and stewart's like no like i gotta gotta shower
yeah i gotta shower and clean up first and it's
just too much for him oh he doesn't get it quite
no not yet oh gosh those are so sweet okay my
next one um is not I mean, it is sweet, but it's
funny. Okay, so we have a garden in our backyard
and we grow our own squash and zucchini. And
I've been making zucchini bread like every week
so that we can just have like a loaf of zucchini
bread. And it's very good. I'll make you some.
And I put some chocolate chips in this last one.
Very good. And Colt has been having like a little
piece of zucchini bread like every day, usually
for breakfast. We were out of it, and he was
so sad that we ran out of zucchini bread. And,
you know, that was my bad for not. You should
have been more prepared. Yeah, I should have
stayed up late making zucchini bread. But apparently
that's, like, the best way to have him consume
veggies, I guess, is through zucchini bread.
I mean, I would probably rather eat zucchini.
in bread form in bread form than not even like
fried zucchini yeah oh yeah for sure um so that
was really cute and trying to explain to him
like hey we'll make some more later yeah it doesn't
just magically i mean it kind of magically appears
yeah i can't just snap my fingers yep usually
i'll like bake it at night so it's like yeah
it does kind of magically appear yeah he's like
where'd this come from but all right my next
one is dad was at work just that he was kept
asking like dad dad dad and usually he'll like
point to our bedroom or point upstairs or you
know wherever we are and i was like buddy like
dad's at work so we we'll see him after your
nap um you'll wake up from your nap and then
it'll be a little bit and then dad will get home
and he just he wanted dad to be home right then
I was like, I feel so bad. You're like, I can't
really explain how time works for you right now.
Yeah. It's like, do I call Stuart and tell him
he has to come home immediately? Yeah. Yep. I
mean, his boss has kids. He'll understand, right?
Yeah. Oh, for sure. Just, hey, can you use your
PTO right now? Because Lloyd is so sad you're
not here. Yeah. Oh, gosh. Okay. My next one is
that dad buckled him in the car seat instead
of mom. I mean, to be fair, that's a travesty.
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. If it's not done the correct
way, it will be turned into a situation for him.
So, yeah, usually I am the one who buckles him.
And it was like one of those days where it's
like I was getting Cruz ready to go. Cruz was
like crying in his car seat. So I'm trying to
calm him down. And then Michael's like, OK, let
me just usually Michael will put him in the car
seat and then he wants me to buckle him. OK.
And so it ended up being like Michael was just
like, I'm just going to buckle you really quick,
buddy. And it was not, not the right answer.
So tears. Yes. My next one kind of goes with
just getting in the car. And this isn't just
this week. This almost always happens. And it's
leaving grandparents' houses. Anytime we leave.
Either grandparents' house. My parents' is a
little bit better. I think partially because
we're there a little more frequently, so he's
more used to it. But especially Stuart's parents,
it's like every time we get in the car and he's
just so sad to leave G -Ma and Op -Op's house
or Grandma and Boppa's house. That's so sweet,
though. He just wants to hang out longer. Yeah,
you're like, okay, if you want to. Yeah. All
right. Okay, my next one is he cried because
he head -butted Dad. Yeah, and because it hurt.
Yeah. Yeah. That would hurt. I've talked about
a bunch on the podcast how much my child likes
to headbutt things, excited headbutts or angry
headbutts. This was just like a playful one,
and then it was a painful headbutt, understandably.
So he cried, but I don't think he'll – I don't
think he's learned his lesson from it. I mean,
I usually cry when Lloyd headbutts me because
it hurts. Because it hurts. Those heads are hard.
He's headbutted me in, like, the mouth and the
teeth a couple of times. Oof. Yeah. Yeah, it
really hurts. I'm like, this kid has a really
strong skull. Yes. He must at this point because
there's been a lot of headbutting. Great. My
next one is his sister was crying. Oh. So she
was crying and that made him cry. And I don't
know if it was, like, an empathetic thing. Or,
like, an annoyed thing. An annoyed thing. Or
if it was just, like, she's crying so I should
cry. Like, everyone should be crying right now.
Yep. A courtesy cry. Yeah. Like, this doesn't
make my life easier because now I have to figure
out what both of you need. But, yeah. And that's
a whole thing, too. Yes. Yeah. Ugh. Okay, my
next one is he cried because I had to feed Cruz.
And that's been like a – That's been a thing
this whole time. That's been a thing for sure.
It stopped recently, but just this week it kind
of started again of like, oh, no, he needs mom
and he needs mom right now. And then if Cruz
has to eat, then it's like, I don't know what
to do here. Yeah, yeah. So poor Colty didn't
get the attention he needed in that time. It's
rough. Yeah. My next one is we were at the zoo
this week and I wouldn't let him climb into the
flamingo enclosure. He wanted to climb in. How
come, mom? And I said no. It was pretty awful.
You're like, sorry, buddy. I don't know what
those flamingos would do. I don't know if they're
vicious. I don't think flamingos are really vicious.
let's not find out i guess i mean i know i don't
want him to get the kangaroo oh for sure which
also this is like a total side tangent have you
been to the zoo since they've opened like the
australian no exhibit so they oh wait where you
can walk through with the wallabies yeah yeah
which is like kind of cool but it's also i feel
like poorly thought through because so For anyone
who hasn't been to the Denver Zoo recently, they
have a new Australian exhibit. So they have like
kangaroos and wallabies and a few other like
native Australian animals. And for the wallaby
enclosure, you can like go in and they're not
caged off from you. Yeah. But there's a path
you have to stay on. So like when I heard that
they were making this, my brain went like, oh,
like. you were going to be, like, among the wallabies.
It's like, no, there's, like, a paved path that
humans have to stay on and then wood chips that
wallabies stay on. Yeah. And it's kind of weird
because it's, because you're not, like, supposed
to go up to them, which, like, I guess is fair
and reasonable, but then why did you make this
exhibit this way? I don't know. Yeah. So, yeah,
Lloyd was not happy. That was another thing.
Then he couldn't go pet the wallabies. Yeah.
Yeah. Which, I mean, I could, yeah, I get that,
too. I'm like, oh, well. why can't i right all
the other animals are like in yeah cages there's
like a wall between us or glass or something
and this is these are the only ones and they're
on wood chips wood chips is like the playground
yeah so yep yeah it feels like a weird design
it does i thought it was cool like when we walked
through it i was like oh this is so cool but
then now as i have like a toddler who runs i'm
like if he was out of his stroller i could see
him just booking it yeah well and we had the
stroller and we took lloyd out of it because
i did not realize that he was gonna that or that
he couldn't couldn't yeah yeah so no no to anyone
if you're going to the denver zoo and you want
to go see the wallabies keep your toddler in
the stroller yep unfortunately no okay my next
one is um colt cried because i was singing What
song were you singing? Oh, I was singing Barbara
Ann, which is like. It's the song of the year.
Yeah, the song of the year for our kids. And
he didn't like that I was singing along to it
and not just him singing along to it. It was
playing like on the speaker. And then I was like
singing and like dancing and thought I was like.
having a good time with him and he goes stop
mama stop mama and then just cries i'm like do
you not like my voice buddy i was like okay buddy
i won't sing you just sing you sing i thought
i could carry a tune yeah apparently not all
right my next one um is just that he had a short
nap this has happened so this week has been a
little crazy because our kids are gonna They
share a room. And so this is the first week I've
been trying to have them both nap at the same
time, which has been going better than I expected.
Nice. But it does mean that Lloyd has had shorter
naps than normal just because he hasn't had anyone
sleep in his room with him since he was in his
bassinet with us. So, like, I get it. That's
an adjustment. That's an adjustment for me, too.
So he's had shorter naps. And there was at least
one day that I like had to wake him up. So like,
if I let you sleep any longer, bedtime's never
going to happen. And then he cried because I
had to wake him up. And I was like, I feel so
bad because I know you're tired and I want to
let you sleep. But also. I need you to sleep
at bedtime and not be up till like 1030. Yes.
You're like, mom needs that time. Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, speaking of naps. Uh, yeah. My next one is
because he woke up from his nap and he's been,
he's been doing this like just this last like
week or so. If he wakes up from his nap, like
on his own, rather than me having to wake him
up. Cause he's like slept for too long. He like.
wakes up he like sits there he usually throws
everything out of his crib so blankets pillows
stuffies everything out and he'll usually just
sit there and while i like come up to the room
and then i go in there and then he like cries
right when i get in there and like lays down
and like kicks his feet and then i'm like okay
buddy like do you need a few more minutes and
he goes yes and i'm like okay i'll give you a
few minutes you just call Call when you're ready.
And then I'll like go back downstairs for a few
minutes. He'll like cry a little bit. Then he'll
like sit there. And then he goes, Mama. And I'm
like, all right, you ready, buddy? Yes. Okay.
i mean i guess i need a few minutes when i wake
up too i do too but like i yeah i don't know
i thought he was ready when he was sitting there
the first time maybe wait longer i don't know
i don't yeah or is it good just gonna happen
even if you wait half an hour i don't know yeah
i'm like do i wait for him to like be like mama
like call for me maybe maybe i'll try that but
Yeah, that's been a fun new thing. I mean, waking
up from, I also don't like waking up from naps.
So I can't blame either of them on this one.
No, I'm like the groggy feeling of like waking
up from a nap. Like maybe that's what he was,
he's experiencing. Yeah. And he doesn't like.
obviously doesn't know how to communicate that
or even like what it is yeah anything like that
yeah there are so many of these things where
i like do feel bad for little kids because i'm
like you're experiencing this thing that's awful
that as humans we all agree is awful like waking
up groggy from a nap but you have no understanding
or comprehension and i can't even like explain
it to you or like if you have a sugar crash like
as an adult you're like I did this to myself.
I had too much sugar or whatever. But as a kid,
you just know, like, I was feeling great, and
now I'm feeling awful. Yeah, and what happened?
And that's just it. Yep, exactly. Okay, I have
one last one, and that was he had to put on his
pants. So he's mostly potty trained. We still
have him in diapers when he sleeps. So that means,
like, we're not going to let him just run around
pantsless? Mm -mm. I know. That's how it works
in some houses, and that's fine, but we don't
want him to. But you wouldn't prefer that. Yes,
we don't want him to be running around pantsless
as much as we can control it. And so I, like,
took him potty, and then we had to put pants
back on. And he didn't want to. He doesn't want
to. And he has been fighting back just in general
lately, specifically with me putting on his pants.
Sometimes if Stuart's home, I'm like, do you
want Dad to do it? And he's like, Dad. Like,
okay, and then it's fine. But so usually I give
him two options. Like you can either put on pants
like a big kid and like I'll help you put them
on or you can lay down like a baby and I'll put
them on you. And lately he's been like, lay down,
baby. Lay down, baby. Okay. Whatever. That's
fine. Your pants are on. Your pants are on. It's
less of a fight. Okay. Sure. So, but yes, I made
him put pants on and again. What a terrible mother
you are. Gosh. I know. I know it's awful. Okay.
My last one, um, actually happened tonight at
dinner as well. Well, before dinner, uh, he was
helping make dinner and he was, it was actually
Michael's grandparents that were making dinner
and, uh, they were putting like salt on stuff
and he just like takes a, like a finger full
of salt and just like puts it in his mouth and
eats it. And he just goes, ah, and like sticks
his tongue out. And like runs over to me and
is like coughing. And I thought he was like choking
on food. And then I look and his hands like covered
in salt. And I was like, oh, buddy, did you eat
salt? And he goes, ah, just crying. And I was
like, okay, let's get water, water, water. Lloyd
likes to, well, Stuart likes a lot of hot sauces.
And so he. puts hot sauce on almost everything
he eats. Oh, yeah. And Lloyd wants whatever dad
has. And so usually, like, first time he asks,
we're like, no, buddy, you don't need it. And
if he asks, like, two or three times, then Stuart
will just, like... a drop on his finger and let
him try it and that's the case most of the time
and we're like okay milk milk here's your milk
drink your milk yeah yeah we have had that happen
a few times and we like usually wait till at
least colt is like pretty much done eating because
we know that like if it's too spicy yeah he's
done and it like it it ends the meal so yeah
that was i think this is just like a highlight
of of just our our weeks with our toddlers and
lives it's just what it looks like right now
and most of these just like anytime my toddler
cries i mean a lot of the times i'm like sympathetic
of course but like sometimes they just like it
makes you laugh it's like the burrito one yes
both stewart and i had to like because i was
like i don't want to laugh at him right now because
he's clearly distraught yeah for whatever reason
yeah but it was so funny and it was one of those
like i have to walk away so i'm not laughing
at my child who's crying at you yeah that's so
good well we'd love to hear what your guys uh
whether you're like in full toddler hood right
now with your kids or maybe you have older kids
still want to hear like reasons why your kids
cried this week yeah i got upset yeah tantrum
yep yep or even just like thinking back to when
your kids were young we'd love to hear some of
those funny Funny moments. Okay. Do you want
to hop into your win of the week? Yes. So I mentioned
this a little bit. We're trying to get the kids
used to sharing a room, but I'm also really trying
to get Zeta napping in her crib. Yeah. Because
up until now, we've mostly done contact naps
or she'll sleep in her swing and it's worked.
But now she's like, she'll have like a 15 minute
nap. If it's a contact nap or in her swing. And
then something will happen to wake her up. Yeah.
You know, Lloyd wakes her up or something. And
she's old enough that she's interested in what's
going on. So she wakes up and she doesn't fall
back asleep like she did when she was a newborn.
Yeah. So I'm like, okay, we got to get you in
your crib. Yeah. So you can get like actual good
naps. Yeah. And it's been going surprisingly
well. Oh, good. Yesterday, I would not have said
that. And everyone was in tears. For the most
part, it's been going really well. That's awesome.
Almost every day this week, we've gotten at least
one solid nap in the crib. Nice. And then a couple
other of like, okay, it was a short nap, but
you slept in your crib. Yeah. And at least one,
she got herself to sleep too. Yeah. So. That's
awesome. And I'm like, oh, this is. And actually,
the other thing, she's been going to sleep in
her bassinet. before we do so it's like at bedtime
at Lloyd's bedtime yeah they both go down and
she sleeps in her bassinet um so we're like oh
we have like awesome you have like some time
a little time just the two of us and it's crazy
that's nice like I forgot I gotta start working
on that yeah I mean for we tried it a couple
times and it didn't work and then again with
the nighttime thing it just came to the point
where it was like she'd be sleeping on me and
the tv would be just like a little bit too loud
and she'd wake up and then she'd be up till 10
30 yeah and so it just wasn't working and we
tried it one night this weekend and it did work
and so we're like well let's keep trying it and
i mean we've had a couple of like false starts
or whatever and had to like go back and get her
back to sleep but overall it's going really well
and I was like oh yeah I forgot what it's like
to have like alone time with my husband sometimes
yeah what does that look like it's crazy I forgot
it's a thing dang well commend you for because
that's a lot of work like yeah a lot of trial
and error I feel like yeah it's it's just a lot
of like who knows if this is gonna work and if
it doesn't like Like do we keep trying or do
we stop trying because it's not. Yeah. Yep. Yep.
So commend you for that. I know I need to like
start doing those things, but it just feels like
a lot of work. So I feel like we found like a
sweet spot in time. Yeah. And so I don't know
if that's Zeta specific or if that's like. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay, my win. So I mentioned for
the mom moment that Michael was up at camp with
his youth group this last week. And so this was
like the longest time I solo parented. So it
was four nights. We actually went up to camp
one night. So technically three nights of solo
parenting. And both of my kids are not the best
sleepers. And so I just went into it like super
anxious and nervous about like especially the
night times and like knowing I was just going
to be exhausted. And I was for sure. And definitely
drank more caffeine than usual weeks. But I just
like overall, it just went really well. And I
was so grateful for that. We had like hard moments,
but. All of us survived. We all came out happy
and very grateful. Michael was home that Friday.
No one's permanently traumatized. No, hopefully
not. No one other than myself. But no, I just
was, it went really well. Thankfully I had like
someone helped me every single day, whether it
was for like just a couple of hours or like I
was able to put the boys in childcare for like
six hours on Tuesday. So then I could like shower
and just. have a moment to myself so we survived
and that is just my win of the week of like I
went into it really anxious and nervous and it
just went very well in comparison to what I thought
it was going to be I thought it was going to
be terrible and it and we did it you did it yeah
yeah yeah I haven't had that like since Zeta
has been born Stuart hasn't like gone away but
last summer Stuart went away for Probably the
same amount of time, like, four nights or something
like that. And that was enough. It's not easy.
Yeah, because you literally, like, don't have
a set. No. You know, normally when you're sleeping,
you're like kind of on edge. Yeah. You can't
even just like shower and be like, I'm off the
clock for these 20 minutes because you're going
to listen to it for him while I'm in the shower.
It's like, no, I'm in the shower. And also after
I'm actively listening. Yeah. Yeah. And that
total like phantom cry is so real. I ever since
Colt was born, like I have not taken a shower
since that. I haven't thought one of my kids
was crying. Yeah. Yeah. So good times. Yeah.
If you're not a mother yet, something to look
forward to. Yeah. Well, thanks for tuning in
today to No Manual. And we hope that you enjoyed
today's episode. And hopefully you can relate
as a mom of just like, hey, toddler cries. Really
any cries of kids, like whether it be funny or
not. It's just, you know. It's a part of motherhood.
Yeah. It's part of motherhood. Tears. And we've
all cried about all those things too. Oh, for
sure. Yeah. Whether it's me as an adult or as
a kid. A lot of them recently. Yeah. Yeah. Especially
the golf ball in the mouth. Yeah. All right.
Well, we will see you guys next week. Have a
good week.