What's the Deal with {Almost} Three?!?

I know I am not alone here, but the "Terrible Two's"... missed those apparently.... but this {almost} 3-year old stuff is TOUGH!!!  Carson is only a little over a month away from "3", so I'm sort of lumping him into that category already.  In general, the "2's" have been a breeze... sure, we've had our moments, but lately this kid is really testing my patience!!!

-He doesn't listen.
-Time-outs don't work any more.
-He whines.
-A lot of the time he flat out acts like a brat {because he's whining and not listening}.
{Don't get me wrong, he's as precious as ever at the same time.}
-He fights everything {getting dressed, diaper changes... yes, still in diapers, taking a bath, etc.}
-He's ridiculously strong for his age.... this preggo momma has to watch out or she might accidentally take a kick to the stomach. He's not violent, but just flails and swings everything if you try to grab him to do all the things in the bullet point above.

It seems like it's just gotten bad lately.  It's usually at home too.  He was an angel at the farm and is usually fine when we're anywhere but at home.  Like I said, at the same time as all this, he's as precious as ever and when he's not being a brat, is just the cutest thing.  He says the funniest and sweetest things, but WATCH OUT... that little monster inside him may pop out at any time!  The kid knows when he's doing things wrong, which may be what's so frustrating to me.

The not listening and whining are probably what drives me the most crazy.  You tell him not to do something, he just grins at you and then does it anyway.  Twice.

He was in time out at school when I picked him up yesterday and they told me he had a rough day.  Apparently he hit two friends in the face and kicked someone.  WHAT?!?  Not cool.  I know they all have their days, but I certainly don't want to have "that kid."  Granted, we don't get those notes very often, but still...

Ugh.

We've started taking his favorite toys away and putting them on top of the China cabinet so he can still see them.  He asks about them constantly, which gives me a continuous avenue to drill the point home as to why the toys are up there.  We'll see if this works at all. 

I wish I had the parenting creativity of Dr. & Mrs. Huxtable.... I have a feeling we'll need it for this kid!

Yesterday at least started off good....

 

Let's hope Tuesday brings a much better report at school!

 

Such a toot...

But a really cute one!