Two Year Attitudes

So lately it has become very obvious that we have a 2 year old on our hands! I hesitate to complain a lot because I know he is a well behaved child in most aspects and we are blessed to have a healthy child who sleeps all night in his own bed and who eats most of what is placed in front of him! He is also pretty content and can entertain himself.
With all that said he has gotton a little attitude lately. Its almost funny/cute though but you hate to laugh/encourage it because it won't be cute when he's 6! Well today we went to the mall. Colby usually does pretty well at the mall. We don't go often though and probably haven't been with him since April. And usually we ride a ride there. But in the middle of August the train is not set up and will not be until October. Well he started out on a bad note...we first went to Stride Rite to get him some fall/school type shoes. He wouldn't even come into the shoe store...not sure what the deal was. He pitched a royal fit and therefore Austin had to stand outside of the store with him. I was embarrassed knowing that he usually does not behave this way. He continued this attitude of wanting in/out of the stroller wanting to carry his cars and not carry his cars. Later we went in PB Kids which he usually likes. Well once again he pitched a fit...so much so Austin had to corner him in a "room" and get him to straighten up. Once again I was sorta embarrassed! I finally decided to take him to the Disney Store while Austin shopped for himself for awhile! Well ofcourse he loved the Disney Store...he could have stayed all day in there looking at all the "Cars" stuff! He ofcourse left with the police car that matches his firetruck he got for Easter! Well we decided it was time for lunch after all that then to go on home. He did pretty good at lunch....he is in a middle stage or really getting to big for highchairs but he can sit in big chairs but then he plays more and doesn't focus on eating...he focuses more on climbing in and out of his seat. He ate good so we let him up the last 4 or 5 minutes we were sitting there. What did he do? He flipped the chair over ending in a major fit of tears, screams, and well you get the picture! WOW we call him Dennis the Menace for a reason! Some of the stuff he does is just so funny but you can't laugh at him.
Later tonight at dinner we had ham, black eyed peas, cornbread, and pasta salad. All of which he has eaten before and loved. For some reason though when we all sit down as a family these meals turn into power struggles. Well he wanted to pitch a fit and not eat. Austin finally had to get him to eat. We are in agreement he eats what we eat or he goes hungry...he finally ate but not a whole lot but that's his choice because his next meal will be breakfast. He ate yogurt and will get a cup of milk later but we don't really do desserts with him. He gets them on special occassions but not every night because that becomes a big issue with kids when they expect desserts. So now I know he will be extra hungry in the morning but thats ok! He won't starve!
So that's all for now...2 year olds are fun in many ways but they are also tiring to parent because they are struggling for independence and also communication. They are finding out the way the world works. I just want him to learn self control and obediance now because an out of control 2 year old will be an out of control 6 year old and so on!
Most of the time though he is really sweet he just has his moments! the end!