Maybe it’s because we’ve had the stomach flu at our house and have used videos in place of parenting the past couple days.

Maybe it’s because we often have the television on when HawkInWinter brings Siena into the office to nurse a few hours after bedtime.

Maybe it’s just because we have a toddler with her own plans and preferences.

Whatever the cause, the effect is a screaming toddler jumping angrily in her crib at the moment.  She never quite fell asleep when we put her down at her usual 7:15 bedtime, and the crying intensified rather than dissipated. Sometimes when that happens, she just needs a few more minutes of nursing before falling into a deep sleep.

That wasn’t the case tonight.

Tonight HawkInWinter brought her into the office as usual, and I expected her to snuggle in for a quick nurse as usual. Instead, she pointed to the television, arched her neck to get a better view of the blank screen, and made her whining “eh! eh! eh!” sounds that mean she wants something. This went on for several determined minutes, and she couldn’t be distracted out of it. Guessing she wanted a movie, I stood up and followed her reaching arms all the way to the entertainment center, where she indicated she wanted me to lift her higher so she could grab the Signing Time DVDs from the shelf.

Then she was happy.

The little schemer had been crying in her crib, wanting to get up and watch a movie.

We couldn’t quite believe it.

And now that she’s back in her crib, without getting to watch that coveted movie, she can’t quite believe it either.

And she’s letting us know. At the top of her lungs.

Temper, temper!