boys with attitudes

So the past couple of days Carter has given me pure attitude, especially in the mornings. My once compliant, pleasant-natured son wakes up at 7:15am fussing and screaming...almost tantrum-like. Once I eventually gather up the courage to face the "morning monster" I am greeted with even more wails and the biggest crocodile tears you've ever seen! I don't know where those days of getting smiles and giggles went to, but I'm patiently waiting for them to come back...well, maybe not so patiently. So I take a deep breath..............and just act as positive as possible. I sat him down after holding him a few minutes and it's like someone cut on the "monster" switch again. I can barely get Hunter up and dressed without my little monkey climbing and crying all over me, like I'm about to leave and never come back. It's like he's been transformed into this "mommy magnet" that I can't seem to console at times.

Did this even happen with Hunter at this age? I don't even remember. I do know that Hunter had been walking well for 3 months by now and was fairly independent for a 12 month old. Not this clingy....hmmm....I'm just perplexed........and tired.

And problem/concern #2: Hunter refuses to get dirty. I mean, I know he has this complex about anything getting on his hands, but I thought that when it came to doing something fun, getting dirty would just be part of the game for him. NO...I was wrong. His teacher tells me that he's refused to finger paint everytime it's been offered, he didn't want to participate in the "garden" art activity 'cause he didn't want to put "dirty seeds" on his picture, but yet, and excuse my honesty here, he will poop in his underwear during naptime and try to clean himself up...even to the point of getting it on his comforter!!!!!! Somebody explain this to me!!

I don't get it!