No doubt, it is funny how they pick up certain things and run with them. I actually got him to say “please” tonight and was quite pleased with myself.

Great post and love the nod to the Princess Bride. Teaching our daughter, who just turned 2, was and continues to be a challenge. When she used to give us something, she would say, “Thank you,” and when she wants something, she now says, “Here you go,” since that's what we say to her when we give her something.

I remember when my kid used to yell “DOGGY!” and I was like, “no, I don't see a dog…” But yes, indeed there always was one SOMEWHERE. Nothing like a toddler making you feel like an idiot.

Except a teenager.

Just tonight we were reading one of the large-picture books for toddlers, pointing at things and naming them. I pointed at a picture of a puzzle and she said “Cow!” I looked twice, as the puzzle in the picture was an animal puzzle with a cow as one piece. She proceeded to name the little pieces in the puzzle. Amazing that they can scrutinize at this age.

One last comment on “No.” I live in the northeast, which has been hit with a decent amount of snow lately. I've been using the snow to combat her constant “Nos”. Every time she says “No!”, I say, “Yes, honey, it's snow outside, isn't that pretty?” Not sure she gets the humor in that (in fact, I know she doesn't), but it helps me get by.

The other night my son just started laughing his head off at like 3am. There was no crying, no nothing. Just a series of giggles emanating from the monitor. It made me wonder when he's planning his takeover.