We made an important discover this weekend with young Gertrude. She’s mastered walking, is tackling talking and her motor skills are developing at a perfectly fine clip. But now, she has discovered something that has enriched her life in ways she never imagined.

Cookies. To be specific, animal crackers. And all you have to do is say “cookie” and she motors over to the pantry and pants like a dog in anticipation.

Now, I know that this isn’t exactly a good thing to teach your kids. Meaning, one should never introduce junk food to a child who is perfectly happy eating healthy food. But, I also think it is important that children understand what is important in life. And cookies rank third, right behind nachos and hot wings.

Let me back up and explain how this happened. It was early Saturday morning and mommy and I made a deal. She would let me sleep in if I offered her something in return. I offered money, prime cuts of veal and a very expensive bottle of wine, but she settled for an afternoon nap.

Our day went as normal . . . you could even say it was fun (I got another Feynman book and was investigating his lectures in book form). Mom was tired and baby wouldn’t sleep. So baby and I played downstairs, Matilda outside and mom slumbered happily upstairs. Well, Gertrude and I were having a fine time of it when we decided to have a snack. Now, it’s difficult to give an 11 month old child a snack. Most of the food you give kids of this age will turn into a pasty mush and stick to things better than monkey poo on a humid day.

Well, we had animal crackers and they looked good to me. So, Gertrude and I sat down on the kitchen floor and she and I munched on cookies and drank milk. She seemed happy with her discovery of yummy food. She munched and crunched and asked for more (using sign language . . . she can ask for more, say she’s all done and we’re trying to teach her to say thank you.)

Well, for the rest of the weekend I’d say, “You want a cookie?” and she’d haul over to the pantry panting. Mom yelled at me, especially when we were making dinner and it would ruin it.

But I couldn’t help it. She was being cuter than hell. I couldn’t resist.

That’s because I’m a sucker and a fool. This kid has me wrapped around her finger. When she runs up to me, arms out giggling happily I turn into a puddle on the floor. Sometimes you get overwhelmed.

So I give her cookies. And she eats them. And looks at me with a love and happiness that tells me, “Someday Daddy, you’ll give me my own car. You may not realize it yet, but you will. You will.”