manners and negotiations, please

For the past several weeks, we've been working on Ruby's manners.  She had (still has I'm sure) a very bold way of expressing what she wanted.  Simply put, she'd say, "I want _____ ".  "I want more milk!",  "I want some oranges!", "I want to read a story!", "I want more stories!".  With every demand came a  "how do you ask for that nicely?".  

This morning at breakfast she looked at me and said sweetly, "can I have some yogurt please mommy?".  It was magical.  

This is a conversation from later on during that same meal:

Ruby:    "I wanna watch Olivia!"

Me:        "How do you ask for that nicely?" 

Ruby:     "Can I watch Olivia please mommy?"

Me:        "No honey, we're going to get dressed and go to the Superstore."

Ruby:     "How about just one Olivia, mommy?"

And....... this is breaking news.  I just got back from her bedroom after putting her down about 15 minutes ago.  Before I left she wanted more stories, oatmeal, cheerios...... all the tricks to get out of going to bed.  Then I hear her whining up there so after a few minutes I go up.  She gets up on her knees and says to me:  "How about one more story please mommy?"  

I guess all our hard work is paying off.  She's becoming quite a polite little negotiator.  

Maybe she'll be a lawyer.

Good night Ruby!  

Nice try but I'm not going back up there..... 

Love Mommy.

oxox

This was taken a few weeks ago.  

Watching TV.