Lucy is not yet two, but, man, can she be terrible. I won't list her whole rap sheet, but the shrieking, fit-throwing, and hitting are making her less lovable (or at least less likable).
Until yesterday. We were sitting in her bathroom and she was proffering different body parts for me to kiss. "Mama kiss arm. Mama kiss elbow. Mama kiss foot." Then she sweetly took my face in both her hands and said, "I love you." It was the first time ever, unprompted. That moment erases countless other hard ones. I am a sucker for her.