Baby steps

Declan just climbed onto the couch where Lochlan is perched up on a pillow. He sidled up to his baby brother, nose to nose and patted his little head. Then, he rubbed his lips against Lochlan's cheeks (Declan's version of a kiss) and said, "Bebe". He loves his lil' brother and it melts my heart! Paugie is always up for a good snuggle.

As I followed the sound of silence this afternoon (never a good sound in this household) I discovered Madigan "taking a dump" on the back porch. I was rather aghast and said, "Madigan, what are you doing?" He said, in a rather matter-of-fact manner, "pooping on the porch." "Why?", I said. "The girls [Scotties] poop on the porch." "Yes, but they get spanked for pooping on the porch, because they are naughty little girls. You need to go in the toilet ONLY. Do you understand?" Befuddled, he finally agreed that such activity would be restricted to the restroom in the future. Oy! Such reasoning this boy this has!

I finally had the good sense to move the snack food containers down to "man level" so that they can help themselves whenever they are so inclined. It has made for a lot less trips back and forth to the pantry for Mommy. They help themselves to walnuts, almonds and raisins anytime they please. They are praying that the chocolate chips end up on the same shelf!