Saying goodbye is never easy

So, yesterday was a rough one. I was so busy with all my household stuff and getting cookies ready for a Christmas party tonight as well as getting dinner ready and going to the grocery store for some groceries... I don't know that I really spent time with my boys yesterday. I regret days like that. I feel like I am always too busy to do anything productive with them. But what really do you do with them at 13 months and 9 months? They just really sit and play right???

I mean I know there is so much potential but does it stick when you sit with them and sing (or try to) nursery rhymes. I think this is the age that intimidates me most because I don't know what to do with them. Older I know how to create things and teach them how to do things. Younger I know how to cradle and love on them until they fall asleep. Diaper, feed, bathe it's all in a nutshell. In between I don't know how to chase them ALL DAY and REPEATEDLY tell them not to eat the dog food! (When I say them I really mean Bear, Moe is not even crawling remember... which I truly am grateful I was just shocked that he was not doing much of anything.)

Is there really any learning taking place in what Bear is doing wandering all over the house picking up everything and dropping it everywhere else. I want him to know that cleaning up is essential after making a mess but he isn't catching on to that. He puts his toys in his basket with me while we are "cleaning" but then proceeds to take them right back out. Is this ever going to come to an end, where he will just leave them picked up? I am asking for all you mommies out there to give some input here. Many of you have written in and given me wisdom on the crawling/pulling up thing and I appreciate you. Now I am pulling again from my resources (you wise, experienced women with older children) and asking for your help. What do I do with this two legged monster running a muck all over my house creating messes.

I read that it is not good to have them doing nonconstructive play but what is constructive play. We build with blocks (okay so I do while he just knocks them down and walks off with two in his hands to drop them somewhere else!) When he was little he was not allowed to roam aimlessly all over the house because that was nonconstructive. So we constructed a play place for him and he stayed there even when he was crawling we could tell him to play in a certain area and he would. Now, forget it! He acts like he has forgotten all rules and just goes and goes. I really need a mommy to a toddler 101 class. So for all you seasoned teachers out there I am seeking your brain.

Oh and the saying goodbye is never easy. The family friends of ours came to get our sweet Elli yesterday and I had to say goodbye. Ladies (and possibly gentlemen) I broke down and CRIED... I mean SOBBED when she left. To see her sweet little face so confused when we put her in the back of the car broke my heart. I didn't even cry this hard when Moe left for the first time folks... that is bad. I think I am just wound up tighter than a four day clock and my emotions are just everywhere so I exploded into tears. I think this will get easier, right????