In the no

For quite a while now, Wilder has loved saying "no." Sometimes it's one nice staccato syllable: "NO!!" Sometimes it's a rat-a-tat-tat of "nos" -- "no.no.no.no!" But not until recently has he discovered what it actually means. Now, if he really means "no," he'll stick a "y" in there. "Nyyyooooooo!"

I can only imagine what this is like for a toddler; this dawn of comprehension that you have choices in this world. It seems such a unbelievable discovery that he cannot help but say "no" to everything.

"Wilder, ready for your nap?"
"No!"

"Wilder, try a bite of spinach?"
"Nyyooo!"

"Wilder, give mama a hug?"
"nonononono."

"Wilder, want all the sugar you can possibly fit in your gullet?"
"No?"

Sometimes this is amusing, sometimes annoying, sometimes heartbreaking. But no matter what, it always gives me a little pinch of pride to see my son using his noggin.