Reid’s range of facial expressions and tones of voice seem to have grown lately. Sometimes after she has been nursing quite a while, I will tell her that I think that the milk is all gone and she needs to wait for my body to make some more. If she is determined, she will say, “try it” in a particular tone that implies, “Come on, you’ll like it. Remember all of the fabulous things I’ve convinced you to try.” And her eyes sparkle and her eyebrows go up and her face reinforces her words and her tone. All she needs is too learn to wiggle her eyebrows. She could sell me the Brooklyn Bridge and since I know my logic will prevail I often do let her try it. Reid doesn’t like for me to be the one to end the nursing session anyway. When I’m in a hurry, I’ll give her a time warning and then, when the time has elapsed, say that I’m going to count to 15 or whatever. Reid says “No, 15″ and then suckles once or twice and announces that she is, “All done.” There’s that control thing again.
Some nights, Reid decides that she would like to sleep in the big bed. As this means that Ken will be displaced, I make her ask him. She walks over, half-shy and climbs into his arms before she says, “Sleep Daddy bed?” She raises her eyebrows, adds pleading to her voice and maybe even offers a kiss as a bribe. How can he resist? I use this powerful tool carefully and never let her ask when I know he needs a good night’s sleep.
Reid can use the darker side of the expression spectrum as well but unfortunately for her she is too cute, even when she doesn’t want to be. If she has been denied something Reid will look meaningfully at you from underneath her eye lashes with her lip stuck out. If you don’t relent, she concentrates on sticking her lip out to best effect and looking downtrodden. There’s no doubt that she is displeased but she is still my sweet Reid.