cognitive development and negotiation...

Some days I really get excited to watch Eliza's cognitive development progress. I think, "Wow! how exciting to have a cute little bundle of intelligence." And then other days, I think, "Uh, why did we teach her that?" Eliza has been counting to 10 for awhile, but she was just reciting words. Recently, we has figured out that two is a bigger number than 1, etc. This was exciting, especially as we have been reading books and counting. It was pretty cool to realize that she actually understood what the numbers meant. And then it went too far!

Now that Eliza knows the difference, she feels the need to negotiate her wants. On Saturday night, I told her that after she finished eating we would be able to watch a movie. To this she responded, "No. Two movies." I then responded that we didnt have time for two movies before bed and that we would only be watching one. Her response was immediate. "No! Watch two movies!" It took awhile to continue exchanging ideas... and in the end, we watched only one movie. If she didn't understand her numbers and the meanings, I would not need to negotiate with Eliza Lane; however, it is probably better.

It has been interesting to see her personality and interests start to really solidify. She knows exactly what she wants in most situations. After she got her two-year immunizations, we told her that she could have a treat. We offered: candy, ice cream, or french fries. She responded that she wanted a sucker. So, there you have it. She knows what she wants and is willing to try to negotiate for it. We will see how this all turns out....