cutie patootie

I've really been enjoying the Princess lately.  She is a Princess, no mistake, but a very happy, cuddly, smart little girl.

She loves to wear Silly Bands.  She brings them to me and hands them to me, "uh uh uh" (put these on me, lady!). I put it on her wrist and she twists her wrists back and forth in such a girly way, admiring her bracelet.  Then takes it off.  Then hands it back to me. "Again!" 

She is such a cuddly baby.  She considers me her personal property. No other child may cuddle me.  Woe to the 2 year old if he attempts to climb on my lap.  She will race from across the room, propel herself into my lap, push him out of the way, hit him, push push push, screaming "no no no no" the whole time.  That's MY lap, buddy, get your own.

She has no problem taking what she needs.  You have a fun Thomas train? I'll take that, thank you very much.  You want it back?  Scream to the heavens, shove it down your dress, and run. You're not getting it back! Its mine mine mine now!

She understands everything.  Lets brush your teeth! She runs to the bathroom door, opens her mouth and says "aaaaah".
She will push me over to the fridge and then open the freezer door and start yelling "pop!"
Fresh diaper? NOOOOO run away. 

She ROARS with all her toys.  Give her a lion, she roars.  Dinosaurs, she roars.  Buzz Lightyear, she roars.  She says "Bzzeer ROARRRRRR"  I haven't noticed Buzz roaring in any of his movies, but we are open to interpretation.

She has lately taken to running around saying "topa topa topa topa" over and over again. Which I think she is copying from Grandma doing an Italian nursery rhyme about riding a horse, which starts with "topi topi cavallucci" (I have no idea how to spell the Italian words).  And "buh buh".  And "appa-ju" (applesauce). 

She laughs. She giggles. She chuckles.

She loves to read.

She wants to feed herself.  I usually bring three spoons to the table, one for each of her hand and one for me to feed her with, but she throws her two away and wrests the spoon from my hand, and insists on spooning up her own food.  I DO IT!
 
You can't turn your back on Princess. Ever. Like, even for 2 seconds.  Or she will eat a marker and end up looking like the Joker.

Our high chair has held up through two very rambunctious boys.  Technically, it should hold up through the Princess as well.  Except that the Princess is a Houdini and can get out of the seat in 1 second flat.  No straps will hold this child.  I am forced to find an alternative, or feed her on the floor like they do at the zoo. Not yet having sunk to the level of feeding my children from bowls on the floor, I am perusing new high chair candidates.

I bought the Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair.  Eh.  If I use the tray, it keeps her corralled.  But she really likes to sit directly at the table.  Without the tray, the Fisher Price is just as much as a death trap as the old one.  My other option is the Stokke Tripp Trapp.  Which seems to be a lovely piece of Swedish engineering....but its a $250 high chair.  Plus I have to buy the attachment that makes it safe for her age.  She could eat directly at the table and be appropriately corralled....for close to $300.

So! Cheapo Fisher Price it is.