I miss the baby version....

Benton has been trying the last week or so. We are pretty sure he is growing since the pudge is leaving his belly and his pants are getting short. I think with that the brain is short circuiting. He's tired, cranky, contrary to the extreme and uber stubborn. We've been trying like mad to get him to poop in the potty to no avail. We've tried everything including a new Skylander as a bribe and nothing. So, we put him back in pullups and he's going to get bumped back to the 2s room. Sighs. If he doesn't do it at school this week we will try naked kiddo all weekend to get him to go. But bewilde stated that sometimes it just when kids decide to do it. I just hope for all of our sakes that he decides to do it soon. Sighs. Being frustrated with the kiddo does not make me happy and I get angry and violent and mad at myself. I get the doubts of being a good parent and just worry myself sick. Sighs.

Additionally, Mel's dad is declining further. He's been a week without dialysis and has stopped it completely. He's no longer really lucid and we just are in the waiting game. My MIL has her BIL visiting so she has someone there and other friends will be visiting too. I sent her 2 more seasons of Castle so she has something to occupy her wait. It just sucks though. Mel will be heading out as soon as she says to come or earlier. He can't use FMLA since he's not really in hospice so it will be modified time and bereavement.

On the fun side brennabe "stole" Benton on Friday for the zoo and fun with one of her friends and their 3 year old. We hit Lizzie Sinclair's bday party and I got to see Mina and her brood. And Friday night we had time with bertana which was awesome. I wish we had had more time with her but it is what it is. Russ was awesome and he fit right in with the guys and the ladies had an really nice time chatting while the kids watched a movie and stayed up way too late. Benton hasn't stayed up that late in a long time and he had refused to even lay down earlier.

Sunday we had breakfast at Joe's with scribe_ari and ran into lots of folks we knew. Then it was home for Ari and I to have some work time together on scrolls before the scribes descendeda about 1pm. I managed to to get the County all traced (twice since my sketchbook doesn't fit on my light table well) and then base painted and started on the shading all before 5pm. Looks like I will be doing all of the county myself which is pretty cool. Its my first Benton was a crank but luckily Maddy and Mark kept him occupied for a while with Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders.

It was a pretty frustrating and saddening weekend. There were high spots but Benton and my FIL just drug everthing positive down. Bad headspace etc plus my foot I bunged up at Estrella is still jacked and I see Glenn today to see what I need to do. Sighs. Just a lot of grump.