Stalling!

Last night, Steve and I found ourselves laughing merrily after Steve recounted Elliott's bedtime stalling tactics!

Steve: Time for Bed Elliott!
Elliot: Read book Daddy..
[Books are a normal part of our bedtime routine; Steve gladly obliges and reads the book]
Elliott: Read book again, again, Daddy!
Steve: Okay, one more time! Then bedtime!

-- Books are put away... Steve begins to tuck in Elliott--

Steve: Lay down, buddy. Time to sleep.
Elliott: Socks. Need socks, Daddy. Socks.
Steve: Okay, no problem, let's grab some socks! Of course we don't want your feet to get cold!
[After the socks are firmly placed on ELliott's feet...]

Elliott: Nuk nuks hiding, Daddy... (Nuk nuks are pacifiers)
Steve: Where are they hiding? Let's find them...
[Steve starts rooting around.]
Elliott: Under the blankie!
[Elliott pulls out the nuk nuks! Then quickly hides them again]
2 minutes later.... "Daddy, where nuk nuks go??" Repeat, repeat, repeat...

--Now the lights are out and Steve is laying down with Elliott--

Elliott: Need diaper, Daddy. Need diaper.
Steve: Okay, Elliott. I'll change your diaper...
[Shortly after the diaper is changed:]
Elliott: Daddy, diaper too tight! Daddy!!
Steve: No problem, let me fix it!

--Back to lights out, all is quiet--

Elliott: Check on Mommy, Daddy. Check on Mommy.
Steve: No, Elliott. Time to sleep!
Elliott: Check on Mommy!
Steve: Mommy's fine! Time to sleep!!

or...
Elliott: Where baby go? Where baby go?
Steve: The baby's sleeping.
Elliott: Oh.
[pause]
Elliott: Where Mommy go?
Steve: Mommy's sleeping.
Elliott: Oh.
[longer pause]
Elliott: Where baby? Check on baby.
Steve: Remember... the baby's sleeping... and you should be too!!

Having a 2 year is fun because they can talk. But all that talking adds a huge new complexity to bedtime!