This is the face of...

A little boy who is going through a night terror phase. They play out exactly like the articles describe.... Completely and utterly traumatic for a parent. Lots and lots of loud screaming, eyes open and clearly seeing something and totally terrified and I can't wake him (which I tried once, and then read the articles that specifically say not to). It is truly one of the most helpless things to observe. He never remembers them and swears that he didn't cry in the middle of the night, but man alive, the entire neighborhood would say otherwise. 

an almost 2 year old that has a black belt in sleep fighting. I'm sure, if you've never had the experience of parenting "A Bram" , than you're like me and my pre Bram thinking that my child's lack of sleeping is because surely I haven't tried this that or the other thing. But oh ho HO, let me tell you folks, that is not the case. Throw your suggestion, book, article and message board at me, I've READ it,   put it into practice and come out the other side with a kid that still fights sleep. * after hitting publish, I decided that I was a touch harsh....its' all relative, and we've come a LONG way in the sleep department...he doesn't always sleep through the night, and getting him to finally fall asleep at night is a battle, it could be A LOT worse...so here I am eating my words a bit.

a sweet boy who every preschool morning says to me, " I'm going to miss you today mom."

of a kid, who pooped 4 times yesterday, and the last two were in the bathtub (just to be sure you're looking at the right picture...this is about Bram....my poor other child bathes on pins and needles, fearing that I'll lunge for the stack of red solo cups on the edge of the bath, and shout at him to stand up and get out because his brother just pooped in the bath...again...sometimes Ambrose asks to just skip bath time, which may be the smartest option. He probably comes out cleaner in the end when he skips it. And now for all of you worrying that I don't clean the bath or kids in between the incidents, don't worry, all involved get a good spray down  ). 

* of two people who realize they are truly and undeservedly blessed with this life, but are still totally bummed at the insane amount of time we are spending apart this year.