no, finley!

How many times in a day am I going to have to say this for Finley to get it? So far, I can't count that high. Here are a few of Finley's favorite 'bad' things to play with. The computer, the computer cords, the printer, the printer cords, the phone, the phone cords, the surround sound and the surround sound cords. Do we have to go back to the stone age for Finley to be safe in his own house??? Today, he was playing with the cords around the computer. I went over and said, "No, Finley". He stopped, I turned around to leave and he turned around to play with the cords again. I went back over and said, "No, Finley" and gave him a swat on his hand. I turned to leave...taking him with me this time. He promptly went right back to the computer cords and reached to play with them again. This time, I stood him up in front of me and said, "No, Finley. Do not play with the cords" swatting his hand again. It didn't seem to phase him that he was being punished. (This scares me.) I could tell that he was contemplating reaching out again, but this time he reached with his foot. I saw his foot move back and his little toes moving and reaching for that cord! He actually touched it and gave a little triumphant giggle. (whether he giggled because he was mocking me or because the cord tickled his foot, I don't know.) What was I supposed to do, swat his foot??? I've never seen that done before. Plus, he would probably laugh and think I was trying to tickle him. Instead, I ended up sitting there in wonder and not doing anything. I took him into the kitchen with me and tried to get him interested in something else.

I don't think adults give babies enough credit. They have the ability to do more with their little brains than we think. He may not know all of the options that he has, but Finley knew that his feet pretty much worked like his hands. He knew that there was some other way to get those cords than just with his hands and I swear I saw him turn to look at me before he reached for the computer again.