Cheers to the terrible "2's" may they be short and easily forgotten

As my friend with twins the same age as Emma pointed out the other day, the terrible "2's" have started. We tried a new Mexican restaurant for dinner last night to celebrate Archie's birthday, it didn't end up being much of a celebration. It started with their 10-15 minute wait that turned into over 30 minutes, by that time I feared Emma's dinner would consist of crunchies and apple juice (the only two things I had in the diaper bag). We finally got seated and I ordered her dinner before we even looked at our menu hoping that would ensure a peaceful dinner. I ordered her a cheeseburger and side-salad, both her favorites. This was also one of those restaurants that serves chips and salsa while you wait. Well for some reason Emma chokes on any kind of corn chip there is, always has. (Starting with the "plane" incident last year when I deboarded in sub zero weather with only a tank top on, for those of you that remember) Anyway we were leery of letting her have any because of past tries, but of course it was the only thing she wanted and her dinner wasn't there yet. So we let her have some chips, she ended up with the bowl in front of her sharing "her" chips with us. Her dinner arrived and she was only interested in the salad, wanted nothing to do with the hamburger. But let me tell you had Archie and I been having burgers too she would have wanted nothing more! Our appetizers arrive , just as the fire alarm in the restaurant becomes the accompaniment music instead of the upbeat salsa music they had going. Of course I send a text msg to a friend at work wondering if I am going to see the local fire department soon....to my visual dismay they were not coming, alarm was canceled during the call into dispatch. When it did stop sounding everyone in the restaurant started clapping and cheering, that I did find odd. During this time while attempting to try the queso dip that looked and smelled amazing, trying to watch the "live" guacamole making, Emma wants me to put salad on her fork for almost every bite. Putting salad on her fork entails her not looking and aiming the fork in my direction, saying "Hap" (help), if I wasn't looking said fork ended up rubbing against my shirt, face, pants etc. By the time dinner arrived I was wearing ranch dressing. After that Emma decided it was more fun than eating to wipe her fork on the wall, dressing and all over and over. So there I am holding her left side to prevent more wall painting, trying to eat dinner, watching the appetizers get cold, and have a conversation with Archie that doesn't involve Emma and her dinner, not a chance! I had one piece of my dinner when I hear Emma starting to choke, of course on the corn chips that she has now consumed a whole basket of. I do the mom thing and hold my hands out, dump the contents on a empty plate, grab a napkin , Emma and look for the restroom. I ask a hostess where it is, she says let me seat these people then I will take you, forget it I can look for a sign myself. We both get cleaned up, head back to the table, I switch seats with her (wall painting prevention) which entails moving all the plates around so Emma can't grab it all and make more of a mess, then try to eat again. By this time it is futile, I have lost my appetite because puke plate is still sitting on the table, Emma is now trying to hang out into the aisle and Archie is beyond having fun at his birthday dinner. Emma then decides to try to feed me her hamburger bun, not my food of choice considering all we had on the table, she wasn't very happy I didn't want to eat it. After a 5 minute round of "Up, please" which slowly gets louder than the music we give up, Arch takes her to the car and I have our dinner packed up to go. For my friend that was sending me text messages during dinner telling me how much she wanted to be a stay at home mom with her 10 month old, wait till next year! I do wish I could stay at home with her everyday, but there are some days when I am grateful to go to work for a break, just as I am sure Arch will miss us when we leave today for 5 days. I bet he is silently doing a cheer he won't have to hear, No, No, No, say No, No, No, witness the newly erupting tantrums with arm waving and screaming, Emma proofing everyday and dirty diapers. It all does seem to melt away when she gives kisses and big hugs that are also in abundance these days!