At 20 months, a new word

How naive of me. I foolishly thought that we might coast through toddlerdom without hitting the "no" stage.
It was going so well -- we rarely heard that word.
Now we hear it. Me, especially.
Elise's favorite line seems to be: "No, Daddy." It's usually followed by two little hands pushing firmly at my knees, in an attempt to keep me from leading her through daily activities like brushing teeth or even waking up in the morning. It's just delightful.
Oh, sure, she also uses "No, Momma" from time to time, but uttering "No, Daddy" is the preferred act of defiance right now. That, and the occasional falling-on-the-ground-crying-and-flailing episode. To be honest, it's a struggle. Drives me crazy and tests the patience in a new way. I'm not use to that behavior (mental note: get a job in a school) and I find myself trying to outsmart her or trick her into dropping the defiance. It's a mental game -- and I'm getting schooled.
The bright side? Sometimes those defiant pout-and-whine fests are inexplicably followed by a grin, a giggle and a big hug. Here's hoping that continues beyond toddlerdom.