Two Year Old Trouble (From a 20 mth old!)

I'm not sure how Emilyn turned two already, but she is FULL of attitude.  She is adorable and precious, but wow, don't make her mad.  She has learned tantrums from the best (Matisyn), and is able to add her own little flair to the mix.  She does NOT like to hear the word no, and if you tell her no, she looks around for something to knock over, throw, dump out, stomp on, etc. to drive home the point that she is unhappy.  She looks so sweet and innocent, and with the big, cheesy grin it is hard to think her capable of such atrocities, but believe me she can be a stinker.  Speaking of stinkers, she has really loved undressing herself lately, which includes her diaper.  I took some pictures when I found her this way, happy as can be in her crib.  I think if it were up to her she would run around without clothes, but wearing shoes.  The best so far was her first poop painting.  It wasn't really art on purpose, more the medium of poop was available to her, and she was wiping it on things surrounding her.  I saved you all from pictures of this event, but I will assure you it was disgusting to clean up.  She went straight to the bathtub.  She also has discovered how useful chairs can be.  She drags them everywhere to get to what she wants.  This can be dangerous and messy.  I'm thinking it is time to tie the chairs to the table.  Oh the things we do as a parent.  I wonder what the actual age of two will bring?!!!

 She has been obsessed with the duck song on the internet.  Matt showed her one night, and now she stands by my computer and says over and over "duck, please, please, duck."  I had to take a picture of how cute she was watching.  We all know the song by heart now, and have seen all three versions many times!

 The other day she cried for almost two hours straight because I was washing her blanket.  Curse that Target for discontinuing her favorite blanket or I'd have four right now, just like I do of Matisyn's!  I tried to show her it was in the washer.  We talked about how it was taking a bath, she loves baths, but she just kept crying for it and trying to get it out.  I guess there is no reasoning with a one-year-old.  She cried for the whole washing and drying cycles, except when I was holding her, and then she just whimpered.  I went to get the camera while she was standing on a laundry basket longingly watching it go around and around.  It was kind of sad, but cute.  By the time I found the camera she was coming back up.  She was crying right before this picture (as you can see by the puffy, red eyes) and again right afterward, but when she saw the camera she stopped and said, "cheese."  :)

I should add that she brings much joy to our family.  Just look at that face!  She makes us laugh and smile, and here are some of my favorite things about her right now:

• She loves to dance, and can't seem to resist shaking her shoulders and booty when music comes on.
• She loves snuggles and hugs and kisses.  She does sparkle fingers with her arms in the air and says please when she wants you to hold her.  (This happens often!)
• She really loves wearing shoes, and will wear them all day even in the house.  I think part of the reason she loves them so much is because she loves to go outside and go places.  Shoes are something that means we are going bye-bye.
• She knows lots of words and I love to hear her talk.  I love hearing her catch on to a new word or phrase everyday.  She can repeat what you ask her to say now, which is fun.  My favorite is when they are words you can't understand, but with the inflection, you can tell she is serious about what she is saying.
• She runs everywhere she goes.
• She loves to talk on the phone, and will carry it everywhere having a whole conversation with nobody on the line.  She's usually quiet when somebody is actually there!
• She has figured out that making the signs for please and more will get her things.  She will repeatedly make these signs over and over hoping to get something, especially a treat from someone.
• She's dexterous and mechanical and catches onto how things work quickly.  Daddy thinks she will be his workshop buddy when she grows up.
• She goes around singing "ah, ah, ah" like Ariel in the Little Mermaid movie.
• She lights up when I walk into the room.  She lights up the same when she sees her blanket!