Hello, I'd like to introduce you to Trouble.

(Jonah and Cairo are helping Garrett get up. Garrett is my friend's little boy.  He is three days younger than Jonah and Erik is watching him during the day.)

We need to change Jonah's name.  At first I thought we should change his middle name to Trouble, but I've decided that changing his first name to Trouble would be more appropriate.  He is T-R-O-U-B-L-E and he knows it!  As he stares you straight in the eye, with that evil little gleam in his eye and smile on his face, he does what he knows he's not supposed to and then laughs about it.  If he knows you are going to try and intercept him and keep him from trouble he speeds up and tries to do whatever it was in double time- two-times as fast, two-times as frantic, two-times the smile on his face.

The other day Jonah ran into my parents room where there were things he needed to stay away from.  Erik told him he needed to get out of there and he retorted, "No way!"  Erik wasn't quite sure he heard right.  No way! Really?!  But Jonah's comment made Cairo giggle and say to Erik, "He, he, he.  He said 'No way.'" So, Erik knew he must have heard right after all.  That boy has a smart little mouth.

Don't leave the door to the bathroom open!  Before you can even say trouble Jonah will be splashing in the potty or climbing in the shower.  He will be rearranging the cupboards (sanitary pads and all) and rummaging through the drawers.  Occasionally, thanks to big sister Cairo, he ends up with clippies in his hair.

Erik and Jonah often have show-downs.  One particular incident was with the drawer to our nightstand in our room.  Jonah likes to pull the drawer out and get into it.  Yesterday when Erik was making the bed, Jonah kept going toward the drawer and Erik kept taking him away from it.  While Erik was on the opposite side of the bed pulling up the covers Jonah started for the drawer again.  Erik told him no and started his way around the bed.  So, naturally, Jonah made a break for it.  He ran to the drawer as fast as his little legs would take him, yanked it open and out, and dumped the contents of the drawer all over the floor.  One point for J Bear.  He did it again today. Two points.

I guess it all boils down to the word No! The words seems to egg him on, like a dare you just can't resist.  As soon as something is forbidden Jonah will do anything in his power to do it... and he is persistent.  It's getting to the point that we are going to need to get a babysitter for him.  You know, someone who will actually sit on him.  That way, maybe Erik can have a little peace during the day.