More from Jacob

*Jacob's favorite things in the world, still, are cars from the movie Cars and puzzles. On days when Isaac has preschool and we have no other obligations, I let Jacob choose what he and I will do. Most of the time he wants to sit at home and play online coloring games on the Cars website, or to put together this exceedingly awesome 100-piece dinosaur puzzle we got as a hand-me-down from our neighbor. We recently spilled a cup of coffee on a 48-piece dinosaur puzzle that Ella gave Isaac for his birthday; we had to throw it away. Oh, it was so horrible! The fits that were thrown! And it was understandable because literally Jake assembled that puzzle by himself daily. We shall have to get a replacement straightaway.

*Jacob is attached to my hip, still. He wants to go everywhere with me, even when Brother and Daddy want to stay home. Moreso, he insists on being carried EVerywhere. Entering a new realm of Jakey-dingleberryness, I carried him on my hip into the liquor store on Friday to buy beer. When we visited DC, he insisted on being carried piggyback by me over riding in the stroller. I know I am being indulgent, but I am also increasingly happy to indulge him because I realize...

*Jacob is engaged in a constant struggle with Isaac to be heard. Two nights ago Jake called Daddy in his bedroom to talk during tuck-ins. "Daddy," he said, "Isaac always tells me what to do and I don't like it."

Now, Isaac is not bossy in the stereotypical sense. I would say it in a gentler fashion, that Isaac prefers to control the situation by assuming that, in a situation with him and Jake, he is the natural leader and therefore decision-maker. Jacob at first will go along with Isaac's games and ideas because they usually are entertaining and good. But after awhile, it becomes clear that Isaac's games leave little room for anyone else's imagination.

Because of this, we think, when Jacob doesn't get his way, he erupts with the most unjustified temper I have ever seen and has trouble calming down. The situation is a lot more complicated than I can adequately explain after today's looooooong day, but we notice that Jacob is a complete angel when Isaac's at preschool, and that he can be an utter hellion when Isaac is around. I am trying much harder to pay attention to their separate needs, but sometimes it is just impossible when they insist on pulling me two directions at once. "Mommy, let's pretend to be dinosaurs!" "Mommy, play cars with me!" AAAARGH.