Today was the first day...

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5 flowers.

E counted for the first time today. Counted where I knew he was counting instead of just saying the words in the proper order. The first time I knew he had made the connection between word and concept/quantity. I was excited all day by this new development.

Each morning when he wakes up I go get him and we lie in my bed and cuddle for 7-14 minutes and talk about what's going to happen that day or read a book or sleep. Today we looked at the pictures in "Wind in the Willows." There aren't as many as he would like but it's what was in Mommy's room. On the cover is an illustration of Ratty, Mr. Toad and Mr. Mole in a field with a few flowers. He wanted to count the flowers this morning and he did the pointing this time and started at "one". I generally do the pointing and start us out.

There are some words E says that as so clear, so distinct that there is no mistaking what they are. Some of these words are often mispronounced by toddlers so it's kinda freaky when he says them clearly. I am thinking of course of "McDonalds". Today was the first time he ever said that word.

Yes Bad Mommy got McDonalds this evening -- just didn't have the umph to cook a complete meal. But to my credit Good Mommy served him green beans instead of fries, the potatoe hater wouldn't have eaten them anyway, and milk instead of soda. When I proposed the idea of fast food I asked what thought of that idea.

GOOD 'DEA! MC DONALDS YEAH!

The fact that McDonalds was so clear floored me, we don't go there that often anymore and I never say the restaurant (I use the term loosly) name when we do go. Then he started today's mantra, HAMA-GER-GER YEAH! Nice flourish son, good use of the wave.

Mr. Fussy wanted the food immediately and I needed to take off our coats, put down our bags, nuke the beans and get his milk. He decided a fit was a better option and laid down on the floor in front of the door. I gave him the slow three count.
1. change your behavior to what I want
2. or this is what the consequences will be
3. You're done. TIME OUT. this is what I wanted, you didn't do it, here are your consequences.

I ate the fries and drank the coke from his Happy Meal as I nuked the beans and wiped down the high chair. He spent that time wailing from his crib upstairs. He is definitely in the terrible twos and I am going to become quite fit carrying him up and down the stairs for his major time outs. A crib time out is so much bigger than a floor or chair time out. I reserve those for fits when he decides to lay down, he must be tired he should be in bed. (I can hear my father saying that, this is the guy who waves cheerfully to honking motorists behind him, "Well they must know me, you don't use your horn except to say 'Hi'.")

When I was done I went upstairs and got E ready for dinner, washed his hands and the snotty boogers off his face. He went into the high chair without a fight. I got out the HAMA-GER-GER and offered to cut it for him. "No I bite it." There's a first time for everything.