the mind of a two year old

I just want to bottle Addie up right now and save her forever. She's so funny and cute and sweet. The terrible twos aren't terrible for us at all. It was the 'ones' that were awful. The tantrums, the poo eating, the screaming, the climbing on counters and grabbing knives,  the running in the road and laughing when I told her to stop...the overall  fearlessness really sucked last year.

(above photos taken by my friend Ashley, excuse the watermark)

But, now she is fun and [for the most part] she listens. And best of all, she says stuff like this:

I yove you yike a booberry! (<---- but said to me while eating raspberries, lol. PS: she says her 'L's' with a 'Y' sound)
Hey MIKE! Why don't you feed the baby?
I yove Portia so much, but she makes me SO sad. :( (<---- said in the cutest voice ever) 
Edephants are my favorite. (<--- we were at the zoo)
Edephants take a huge poop. Two poops. Four poops.
Dat edephant needs to paint her nails. Dat would be SO perfect.
Dat edephants name is Adedaide (how she says her name and how she says elephant). She has big poops. (<---- said really loudly in front of a group of people)
Mommy I yove fishies. I yook at fishies all day yong. I want us to take a fishie home. Come on, yets take one!? (<---- looks at me with pleading look, then I sadly explain to her that no, we can't take the fishies home. Tear)
That BIG shark is going to eat me up!! Ahhh (<---she then runs away screaming while I chase after her with Scarlett strapped to my chest and people staring at me. Oh yeah, she still runs away from me, so maybe that part of her terrible ones isn't over yet)
I yove Scarlett, I want to feed her. (two seconds later). I no like Scarlett!! I no want to feed her!
Hey daddy, you not being nice. You go in time out! (shakes head)
Go to bed Carolyn!!! (<---- I should probably listen to her)

Then we said "it's time for bed Addie" and she said "but, I yove you so much, I just want to hang out with you and be your best friend!!!" and I said "awww I'm your best friend?!" and she said "NO mommy, daddy is my best friend!"(she glances at Mike and says) "Right daddio?"

Despite her obvious preference for daddy (which honestly only lasts about a millisecond, she switches favorites at least 50 times a day it seems) I feel so lucky to be her mom. It's like I've been given this awesome gift that I get to laugh and cuddle with every single day. Of course that goes for my other two kids as well, but there is something about this age that I love the most. From about 2-5 kids really blossom into their own little person, but they still need their mama, they still have those speech impediments that I <3, and they still act like a little kid. By Kindergarten that all goes away... then before you know it, you have a nearly 5 feet tall 7.5 year old that wants to listen to music in her room all night and talk about cute boys. Sigh...

So for now, I cherish these fleeting days. Because I know that the day is not so far away that Addie won't want to sit on my lap or sleep in my bed. I will miss this SO much. I yove her SO much. Thiiiiis much ;)

PS: I know I'm supposed to be a parent and not a best friend, but at some point in life, I know these three girls will be the best of friends and I hope they let their old geezer mom join in on that friendship. :D