Terrrrrrrible twos!

You've heard it said, and I thought I had experienced this stage before...

but, little Allison Grace (bless her heart!) is really testing my patience.  I will share just a few examples from our day today.

Unbuckled her car seat
(Britax Marathon, with a button I find hard to push sometimes!?!?)
FOUR TIMES
while driving home from Cayden's school - which is only THREE miles away.  Each time, I pulled over, told her she needed to stay in her seat, put her back in, buckled it, and explained that it is a law to make sure we are safe, and that mom could get in trouble with the police if she doesn't stay in her seat.  She didn't seem to mind the pulling over, but her brothers were both very worried, and told her repeatedly that they didn't want mommy to go to jail.  Hopefully this phase will end very soon, or I may start carrying around zip ties to keep her buckled.  Any suggestions?

I found her several times today with nothing on.

Clothes and diaper (sometimes messy) laying on the floor.

It takes just seconds, but creates quite a mess. 

Every chance she gets, she finds a way to play in the water, and of course, fill something (cup, toy, wipes container-emptied of all wipes, dish from the dishwasher...) up and then spill it somewhere else in the house.  This happened probably 8 times today, and six were while I was trying to make dinner.  She does not discriminate on water source - whatever is close - bathtub, sink, water dispenser in kitchen, and of course mom's water bottle she has recently figured out how to take the top off of.

Allie is constantly going in the fridge and pulling out her next "snack" for the day.  If I gave in to this, she would have a snack every 5 minutes, all day long!  Cheese, milk (yes, she grabs the gallon container, sometimes unsuccessfully), apple, yogurt, juice, etc.  If she sees me coming, she grabs whatever she can, and makes a run for it.  Today she claimed she wanted some onion.  I was really tempted to let her have a bite.  She couldn't possibly be this hungry.  I think she just likes opening the door and exploring.  I purchased a lock for the fridge, but within 24 hours she had broken the lock.

The pantry.  Similar to the fridge, but with shelves to climb.  I actually have an effective lock on this door.  The problem comes when I am trying to make dinner.  She knows the door will be opened and closed several times, and she must wait around the corner for the times when I do not lock it - because I know I will be in and out.

Outside.  Her newest trick.  She just opens up the front door and leaves.  Luckily, our house is set back quite a ways from the street, and I do not worry so much about cars, but still - probably not great to have your two year old letting herself out whenever she pleases.  I think a lock will appear on the front door in the next day or so.  You know the kind.  Fancy hotel chain lock you can put as high as you want - out of reach.  (It will remind me of living in Berkeley!)

Throwing her food.  I thought this stage was long gone.  I was wrong - it has returned, and she can now throw much farther.  All three meals today (and yesterday) ended with quiet time in her room while mom cleaned up.

  

I will stop now.  (Even though I could go on... :)

I do not want this to come across the wrong way.  

She is an adorable, funny, beautiful little girl.
We LOVE her!
She makes us laugh!
(... she usually makes Conner laugh right after he takes a drink during dinner -
you can guess the rest of that story.)
She makes us smile!
She is a joy!  

But she is definitely two, and is testing the limits.

I just had to share, and laugh at my day.

I am sure she will laugh at this someday as well.

(oh.... and, of course, to the wonderful Grandmas who will be visiting soon to help us out during Conner's hospital stay, I am sure this stage will be over in a couple weeks.)