Terrible Ones?

Ok so here we are, 1 week and 1 day away from Kaleb's BIG DAY....he's turning the big O-N-E!! I can't believe it. In the midst of all the excitement, I am beginning to notice quite a change in my little dude. He has been very aggressive lately. Ok, REALLY aggressive lately. Things like....slapping the spoon away from his mouth, grabbing Oliver and Zilla and pinching them until they yelp, hitting his Mommy in the face and laughing (that one I just LOVE!) and then there was today. Hmmmm, we'll call it a great lesson for the both of us.

I knew the day was shot when he woke up at 5 am and had absolutely NO interest in going back to sleep. none. I finally gave him a bottle about 6:15 and he settled back down for about 45 min. All throughout the day, he would just get fussier and fussier and then in the early afternoon, it happened. A total baby breakdown.

I was on the phone with my Mother and Kaleb decided he wanted to say hello to Grandma by grabbing the phone. Well, let's be honest-that's cute for about 2 min. and then ok, it's time for Mommy to chat again. Oh no. When I took the phone away from him it was like I ripped his right ear off. He threw himself down on the floor kicking and screaming with tear drops the size of Texas rolling down his cheeks. I tried to distract him with another toy, coax him with an afternoon bottle and carry him around to calm him down. NOTHING worked. I had to put him on the floor and let him be....there it was-unfolding before my very eyes. My baby boy was big enough for his first tantrum.

All I can say is...WOW. If they handed out an Oscar for the lead role of maddest baby he would've won hands down. I was at a loss of what to do. Afterall, I'm a new Mom. I don't know about these things. not yet. I thought kids didn't start doing this stuff until maybe two, three if I'm lucky. But one, ONE?? He's still supposed to just be cute and cooperative. (ha, you experienced Mothers are laughing, right?) I finally mangaged to wrangle him close to me and hold him. He was still crying but the kicking and screaming stopped. Then, just as soon as it started-it stopped. He was talking and pointing at things out the back window. Like nothing had ever happened. He needed to get some stuff out and then, he was over it. I guess it shouldn't have shocked me that bad really. I mean, I act like that every once in awhile only I try to use words instead. Kaleb just doesn't have words. not yet.
I read in one of my favorite books, My Baby's First Year, that tantrums are actually a healthy part of growing up. They mean your baby feels comfortable enough to "express" their emotions with you. They feel safe.
Well, Kaleb must feel extra safe with me :)