Terrible Twos Have Arrived

Arrived in full force today. Screaming, crying, flowing snot. If this is any indication of the teen years, we are in a world of trouble. Exhibit A.

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny was a big hit here. I'd been talking him up the way one talks up Santa because her behavior has been atricious due to being on a nap strike. The promise of the Easter Bunny bringing DVDs and lollipops has been enough to calm some of the anti-nap evil that's been going on.It hasn't eliminated it, but small victories. She woke up this morning calling, "Mommy, where's the Easter Bunny? Daddy come see the Easter Bunny!" As soon as I got her out of her crib she ran to the living room window, right past the giant basket, to see if the bunny was outside. Quick redirection put a look of wonder on her face. A basket filled with DVDs (Toy Story 3, Lady & the Tramp, and Oswald), several books and coloring books, stickers, and DumDum lollipops (small and perfect for a few minutes of blissful silence, and more importantly, stillness, without a sugar overload).

She has become quite the character. She has an imaginary friend named "Weenie," the dog from Oswald. Weenie plays with her, shares her lunch, and often comes in the car with us. She has a memory like a steel trap. Girlfriend does not forget a thing, and nothing gets past her. We made the mistake of telling her we're going on a plane to Florida in August and now every single day she talks about it, and will tell anyone she sees that she's on her way to the plane. She's often asked me if I can drive my plane to her school. (Mommy would love to drive something nicer than our 10 year old car to school, but a plane might be overkill.)

For all her awful behavior at the end of every day thanks to her nap strike, she keeps me laughing most of the day; drawing funny pictures,

telling me stories, singing, dancing. She doesn't stop moving or talking. I hope she holds on to some of the funny little things she says for a long while. Elmo used to be "Memo" but now she can say it correctly. "Meemo" is Nemo ("Finding Nemo") and I've taken to calling him Meemo myself. Everything must be done "all my byself" and my mother is not Grandma, but "Mlamlah." Instead of telling us, "I don't like..." she "can't like" whatever it is. But my favorite, by far, is if you ask her what Buzz Lightyear says, she answers with a very enthusiastic, "Bling bling and blonde!" She loves to help me cook, and eats things most people wouldn't imagine kids eating. One recent night all she would eat for dinner was mustard and pickles. She also loves hot sauce.

School is the highlight of her days, and often the highlight of mine. Grocery shopping without a sidekick! Drinking a cup of coffee without someone climbing on me! Blasting music in the car! Speaking of music, she does have good taste in that. She loves Dave Matthews, Adele, Zac Brown Band, The Gaslight Anthem, and P!nk, and can sing along with all of those and others. Have you ever seen a 2.5 year old stomping her foot in time to "Rolling in the Deep" as she pouts and belts it out? Hilarity. Two weeks ago I registered her for official pre-school. Three days a week, three hours a day. I can't believe she's ready for that. I know she's going to love it.