Evie update at 26 months

The Good:

*spontaneous "I lub you"

*singing the call-outs to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with me

*choosing a tutu and cowboy boots for our morning at Bible study

*waking up in a good mood in the morning

*less separation anxiety when I drop her off at the church nursery and PDO (parent's day out)

*easily distracted from meltdowns

*loves to learn new things

*happiness is as simple as going outside and wearing sunglasses

The Bad:

*post-Halloween fixation on the glories of CANDY

*will only eat healthy foods now if she's promised CANDY afterward (sigh, I brought this on myself)

*has started hitting us, herself and objects when she's frustrated or angry (we're working on labeling her emotion for her and talking about alternate ways to vent)

*resists sleep by singing to herself (this would be fine in theory except that singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "The Wheels on the Bus" etc. for over an hour cuts into her total sleep time and leaves her chronically tired.)

*Is in the testing limits phase, which is normal, healthy, expected, and exhausting

The Quotes:

"I'm a baby." No, Evie, you're not a baby. Do you know what you are? "I'm a toddle. I'm a women."

"I have a idea! I wanna ride a elephant."

"Mommy, Daddy, Evie. We a family."

What would you like for breakfast this morning? "How 'bout candy?"

"I only have one shoe! That's silly."

"Mommy, you wanna come in the other room an play with me?"

How can I choose dishes over that?!