If you Give a Mouse a Cookie . . .

Nathan has a very independent will. He never took bottles, never would take a sippy cup. Went straight to a cup and rarely spills. He refused milk and juice. So we settled on water. My fridge has it's own water dispenser. Nathan learned at a very young age that he could get himself his own water. For the past year he has watered himself. I get him drinks at meals and he takes care of the rest.

Until Evan broke the water dispenser.

I started helping Nathan get drinks, but being out of the habit of getting him drinks, I only did it when he reminded me he was thirsty. I offered him drinks when I got myself one, but he was usually too busy to stop and take a drink. I often wondered if he was getting enough, but he had a lot of very wet diapers so I assumed all was well.

You take away Nathan's independence, he will find a way to do it on his own. He flooded the bathroom downstairs so I moved the stool out of there. Can't have that happen again.

And yesterday I caught him. He had again solved his problem. He found this dipper:

And this water:

And this was his drink. He was so proud of himself. I was so disgusted. I'm not sure which is worse, A puddle that has been sitting in the backyard for weeks or toilet water. I think they rank about the same to me.

You break Nathan's water dispenser and he finds his own natural one.

I told Evan and so after gagging a few times, Evan decided to get involved. He took Nathan outside and pointed out the nasty water and asked Nathan if he had been drinking it. Nathan proudly announced that he had been drinking the water. He was so happy he found his own solution to the problem. And then Evan dashed his spirits. Poor guy, but we can't have him drinking the water outside. Hopefully we have solved the problem. Probably not, but I am keeping a watchful eye.