Go vote!

It's so important! I'm trading babysitting duties with a neighbor so that we can each get to the polls sans toddlers.

Jack had his first public temper tantrum yesterday, and I have to say, it caught me a little off guard.

I thought it might be nice to take the boys to Barnes and Noble to play with the Thomas train table that they have set up in their children's area. A good time was had by all until we got close to PJ's nap time and he started getting fussy.

"Come on Jack, it's time to go now," said I.

Four times.

The last time, I took him by the hand and said, "It's okay we can come back another day. Say bye-bye, choo-choos."

Well, you'd think I'd just said, "Come on, kid, I'm marching you home where I'm going to strap you down and stick bamboo shoots under your nails." The screaming that ensued was literally that dramatic.

Then there was the throwing himself down on the floor so that I couldn't hold his hand and carry PJ's carseat at the same time.

Unfortunately, the child play area is in the back of the store, so we went all through the store with him screaming bloody murder and me struggling to keep him on his feet and walking so we could get out.

To anyone who was in the Barnes and Noble near our house yesterday morning hoping for a quiet time browsing self-help materials or travel guides, I apologize.

We proceeded to get as far as the little vestibule between the two sets of doors in the front of the store, where I put PJ's carseat down, picked up Jack and, pointing my finger at his mouth, said "You stop that!"

He promptly grabbed my finger and bit it. Hard.

I seriously almost laughed, it was so out of character for him. I wasn't sure how to discipline him, knowing that he's working on some painful molars, having a hard time adjusting to the time change, and is usually a really easy-going kid who's very obedient. I figured a time out when we got home would be too far removed from the situation for him to associate it with what he'd done in the store. We just got to the car and he got an earful from Mommy.

I thought I had two more weeks until the Terrible Twos reared its ugly head, but I guess this may be a sign of things to come. I need to work on a strategy so that I'm better prepared next time.

Finally, I recognize that my Story of Us dragged on, potentially ad nauseum, and it was a little anticlimactic at the end there, since Patrick is out of town and I was a little rushed in writing. Thanks for hanging in there with me. You guys are the best! I think part three was my favorite. I saved a whole bunch of those email gems as fodder in case I decide to write a book about it. I'll throw a few others out there when you least expect it for a good chuckle.

Now, please be sure to get out to your local polling place today, and if you happen to pass a Starbuck's on your ride home, stop in, tell them you voted, and get yourself a free cup of joe!

Happy Election Day!