More development and a parenting validation

In recent weeks we now have "yes," which has made life much easier. In the past all we had was "no," which could've meant no or yes, but now we're firmly at "yes" and "no" and it's quite a relief.

Alongside this burgeoning communication, comes the expression of his will. Saturday morning he announced that he wanted grapes for breakfast. After the grapes we made eggs and pancakes, so Sunday morning he got up requesting a repeat performance. I'm less impressed with the new backseat music critic, however. "Off Mommy!" "Mommy where is k-k-k?" (His alphabet CD from the library, which has played no small role in keeping him entertained on the way to and from school and in him learning the alphabet.)

Toddler times bring hitting, biting, kicking, etc. and he's nowhere near able to tell what hurts and what's fun. We handle unwelcome physical attacks with a firm, eye-level "no, we don't hurt our friends/mommy/etc." and then a forced apology with cuddles. This morning he accidentally bumped the bathroom door into my head, and when I exclaimed "Ouch!" he grinned broadly and said "Sorry Mommy." The other validation that we're Doing Something Right is in the middle of the night when he wakes up and he says "Please Mommy Na-na. Please Mommy." His dear father in an equally sleepy state acts more like a drunken sailor.