Uh oh ... looks like I'm really blogging now! (*Not!*)

Jacob awoke this afternoon after about 2.25 hrs in a good mood -- I could hear him through the monitor singing Old MacDonald. Then he started asking to "hug eema"... eventually I heard him pull the chain on the light by his bed, then shortly after that he'd made his way to the door and went in search of eema (Jeanne)... I was across the hall so I called him into where I was... he came in asking for Jeanne, I told him she'd be back soon... anyway... the point is that this is the first time since he'd gotton his new firetruck bed that he's gotten himself out of bed and out of the room on his own. My biggest concern is when he starts doing this in the middle of the night... mostly because of the stairs in the dark.

Next... as in, a several minutes later... I hear him plaintiff with Krystle... I smell popcorn so it's probably another sample of Jacob not getting his way... either not saying please (with his voice as opposed to sign-language) or not saying thank you...

So I came to him, picked him up and explained that if he wants popcorn he has to say, "abba popcorn please". Which he did immediately. Then I gave him his popcorn and said to him, "Jacob, when someone gives you something you want you say, 'thank you'." And he said, "thank you".
For that he was rewarded with a big hug and kisses and "very good"s and "proud of you"s...
When his fist-full ran out I said, "if you want more, you have to say 'more popcorn please'." This time he signed *and* said "more popcorn please" which led to another handful reward.
I knew I was pushing it then when I reminded him about saying 'thank you' but I tried anyway. He was over that game by now and I didn't press him for it. But then again, he already had access to the bucket.