Toddlers in Trouble

After three kids, I am noticing a bit of a pattern.  Right about 19 to 20 months old, my sweet babies go from being adorable with their sweet personalities and squishy faces to testing every boundary you set for them to the point that you just want to squish their adorable little faces.  It happened with Josh when he began throwing himself on the floor and screaming every time he was told no (uh, I'm not quite sure if he will ever get over being told no or to clear the dishwasher or do his homework or pick up the dog doo or brush his teeth or change his underwear or bathe...**sigh**).  Hannah went from my super compliant, sweet little baby that would put herself to sleep in the middle of the floor when she got tired to my potty training two year old that peed on the floor because she didn't want to pick her shoes up off the middle of the kitchen floor, twice!  And now, there's Bethers.

The day she was born, Shad and I noticed that Bethany had a fire in her eyes.  At the time we weren't quite sure how that would play out.  Well, I would say that I assumed it meant she would be super smart and inquisitive in a very sweet, compliant way (Ha!).  Shad, however, knew what it meant, and he was right.  She now uses that little fire in her eyes to slyly grin at you as she opens the drawer for the 9 millionth time or as she kicks her feet in the high chair as loudly as she can or grins at you with a mouth full of chewed up food that she refuses to swallow (at least she keeps it in her mouth...for now) or lays herself down on the dirty, hairy dog bed for the 50th time in the last 5 minutes or while she walks up to unsuspecting toddlers and big kids (she's made Hannah cry more than once) only to whack them with the toy or sippy cup she is holding.  Oh, Bethany, I remember when the most ornery thing you did was to throw your cup on the floor.  Now it's let's see how many times I can scream "Mam!" as loudly as I can just to bug Mommy.

I think it's safe to say that we have officially entered the wonderful word of having a two year old.  If I remember right the terrible twos are followed by the even worse threes and then come the I-know-everything-so-you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do fours.  I remember five being a pretty happy time with Josh and Hannah.  OK, only 3 1/2 years to go.  I think I can survive that long.  Hey, at least by then she'll be in school 3 hours a day, right?  Here's to hoping that one day Bethany will learn to use that fiery personality for good instead of driving her mom and dad nuts!