At least it's cute the first time

Tonight, we were doing our usual bedtime wrangling with Jack. He was holding a string of beads in his hand, and I told him that he couldn't take it into the crib with him. He very innocently asked,

"Why?"

After I answered him ("Because it could get wrapped around your neck and give you an owie."), I looked at Tom and said, "Is that the first time he has ever asked W-H-Y?"

It was.

I had noticed throughout the afternoon that he had answered a couple "why?" questions I asked him. It was the first time I had also heard the word "because" come out of his month. I guess someone is starting to understand the concept of "cause and effect."

So, today was Jack's first "why?" But I'm sure, as Tom said, "not his last."

I'm dusting off my first "Because I said so" for just the right moment.