Erin has begun asserting her perceived authority by answering “no” to nearly all of my suggestions, in fact she responds with the n-o-word to practically everything I say. I might have just concluded that she has learned the word and wants to use it as much as possible, however, I believe she knows what it means.

Sometimes we get a straight and definite NO, other times she pauses for thought and gives a marginally more gentle no, coupled with scrunched up nose and shake of the head for effect, ….uh…..no (shake and scrunch). The final version is just no, no, no, no, no.

I’m trying to combat the constant no’s by showing her that “yes, please” is a good alternative when you do indeed want something. Currently “whas-iss-iss” and a little pointed finger is her way of purveying her want/need for something. This whole different communication channel is so exciting in comparison to the grunts and crys we’ve been trying to decipher for the last 17 months.