Small Moments

• Yesterday Tess was having trouble settling down for nap, but she was really tired. I let her have some time alone, and I heard her crying in the other room. I peeked in to check on her, but I saw she was just looking at a book, so I figured she was fine. But the crying didn't stop, so I went over to see what was wrong. She was grabbing at a picture of cake in the book, and then putting her fingers in her mouth, furious that she couldn't EAT THAT CAKE!
• Cutting Tess's fingernails has always been one of my most dreaded tasks. But today there was this marvelous breakthrough. I asked Tess if she wanted to cut Monkey's fingernails. She did, and she not only sat still while I trimmed Monkey's nails, but also sat calmly while I did all of her fingers!!! Monkey is so useful these days. 
• I love the fact that she's starting to understand cause and effect, and sometimes she can even understand "this, then that." I can even bargain at times, and at other times, I can use imaginative play as a tool to achieve the desired end goal. :) This part I like much better than the blind screaming of 15 months.