• Iliya's naptime experiences seem to be getting better. We think we might've found something that "speaks" to him as a punishment for when he acts out. The child loves his fruit snacks...and for the past several months, he has come home from school every day and gotten a pack of fruit snacks. It is one of those things that could be defined as a "privilege," and is the first thing he goes for after coming in the door and giving me a kiss (sometimes, he even tries to bypass me for the snacks! Of course, I don't let him! :)). Well...we have established a new policy: if he has a good naptime (no screaming just for the sake of screaming...and no jumping up off his cot and/or running around), then he can keep the priviledge of having fruit snacks when he gets home. On the other hand, if his naptime does not go well (he has to at least stay on his cot and rest quietly), then he loses that priviledge. So far, so good...but we'll keep praying that this is something that will continue to work...and eventually translate into an intrinsic behavior.
  

• Iliya has really become quite the manipulator. With regard to the above-mentioned naptime and fruit snacks, his teacher calls (or texts) me with a report every day. So I already know how he's done when he gets home...but at first, he didn't know that I would know. Last week, when we really began implementing this new "fruit snack privilege" policy, on the first day, he told us that he screamed (I knew this already) and he lost his fruit snacks, which totally broke his heart. He tried to play it smart, after that. On the subsequent days, he came home, insisting that he had been quiet...stayed on his cot...and noooooooo screaming! Of course, I'd already spoken with his teacher and knew that this was not the case. So one of those days, when I called him on it, and he said, "Okaay. Well, just a little screaming." Didn't matter, since the rule was no screaming, and he proceeded to cry his heart out. I felt terrible, but #1, he's gotta learn it's not okay to lie; and #2, he's learning when we say something, we mean it. I hate being mean...but it's part of the job description sometimes. This week has been immeasurably better (as I already mentioned) and I hope it continues to improve!

• This past weekend, after our graduation(s), we had a family dinner. Since we have had Iliya in our family, we have worked hard to teach Iliya about appropriate church/prayer behavior - and the importance of being quiet. I think it is evident that he understands the concept, because...on Saturday, as Nathan was saying the blessing for the food, our 5 month old niece, Tabitha (who has recently reaaallly found her voice) started entertaining herself by squealing. Iliya, who was using his "prayer hands" and had his eyes squeezed shut, squinted up in Tabitha's direction and whispered loudly, "Shhhhh, baby Tabba! Be quiet! (We're) praying!" We were all a little surprised and of course, laughter had to be stifled.

And I'm curious. Do you think Iliya enjoyed his cupcake?