Life: Idiotropic

Annoying things about my two year old...

• Her obsession with my sewing machine thread. Elise loves to pull the end of the thread and run around the legs of my office tables creating a very nice yellow thread spider web. Just a minute ago, she finished spinning her web all around the table legs, then went over to tie up the cat. Misha tolerated it pretty well but ended up looking more like a mummified fly in a spider web than a old grey cat. A minute later Elise was standing next to me with her arms pinned to her sides. "Mommy, help me." She'd wrapped herself too. May be that will teach her the perils of sewing.
  

• Her need to use REAL water in her play kitchen leaving a soppy wet trail from the bathroom sink to her play sink in the playroom. Last night she also managed to create a 1/2" deep lake covering the entire bathroom floor. Ahhh... I've always wanted a water feature. This house has survived two world wars, but there are days when I am really not sure it will survive my children.
• Her ambition to be the next world record cheerio thrower. She takes pleasure in throwing cheerios - smiling brightly, with enthusiasm, as if she were throwing confetti or candy in a parade. She could be the president's wife, tossing candy to the crowds as proud as she looks when she tosses them. May be she'll reach Olympic fame for her feats. Elise - the next gold medalist in the Cheerio-put.
  
• Her spit gargling talent. She's just recently learned to gargle her spit while screaming - a sound that every mother just loves to hear - it's great when throwing a full fledged temper tantrum and pushing away the full cup of milk that she just asked for, thus spilling it all over the floor. (I think my kids are conspiring to buy me a maids uniform for Christmas. They'll get me the waitress apron for my birthday. Did I say that I love to clean? Oh, yes... it's my sole purpose in life! shiver)
• Her desire for thoroughness in everything. This sounds good? No. Not really. Elise is thorough. If she wants to throw cheerios, she will not stop until the last one has been tossed randomly about the room. Her new favorite is "making the beds," a feat that she proudly achieves by throwing every last pillow, blanket, and stuffed animal off each bed in her room (there are three) until the bed is completely cleared. Unfortunately, this desire for thoroughness does not translate into cleaning up a messy floor afterwards.

But... for every annoying thing - thankfully - there is something sweet.

• The way she wakes me up in the morning, cuddling up next to me, whispering "mommy, it's time to wake up," and rubbing my hair or my shoulder like I rub hers at night
• The way she runs around the house on her tippy toes half teetering over like a ship in a storm with her pig tails bouncing up and down
• The way she comes up to me asking, "Can I help you mommy?" and will do just about whatever I need her to help me with (except picking up cheerios)
• Her smile when we play peek-a-boo
• Her crazy laugh (will get that on tape one of these days)
• Her obsession with balloons of all kinds and the look of pure joy on her face when she sees one
• The silly way she talks, dropping the Rs off of the end of words giving her an unusually adorable Jersey-esque accent. It's not car, it's caahee. It's not star, it's staaee. Etc.
  

That list could go on forever...