My Strong-willed child

So this is my lovely strong-willed daughter.  Let me tell you how this picture came about.  Elli had been doing this weird holding the food in her mouth for four days in a row.   She would take a bite willingly at dinner and then she would just hold it there.   I tried to entice her to swallow by telling her she couldn't have a cookie,  I put her in time out, I gave her a little wap on the mouth, and I took away her drink but nothing worked.  We would usually just end up having her spit out the food or she would throw up a little.  It was not ideal either way.

So on the fifth night, I decided that she would stay in that high chair until she swallowed.  Todd wouldn't be home till late so it was me against her-- I was sure I could win, but the power struggle that occurred was much more than i bargained for.  This picture is near the end of the night after green spit from the peas had already trickled down her shirt so I took it off.  I sat her back down, gave her time out in the chair, ignored her, turned the lights out, and would not let her out.  I would check back on her every 20 min or so but every time I would come in, I would ask her if she had swallowed, and she would open her mouth showing me the food still there (the smallest bite ever by the way) and then she would smile.  So I would leave her there.  I tried not to raise my voice, but I tried to stay firm.  Anyone have any guesses on when she was finally let out of the chair-- We started dinner at 6 and I took her out of the chair at 10:30.  That's right 10:30.  She sat in that chair the entire time, really not even crying much, just not swallowing.  OVER 4 HOURS!!!!  I finally gave in, took her upstairs and made her sleep without her elephant and blankey which seemed to make her very upset, so at least I got to her some way, *which is what I will just start out with next time.  But I also learned that in a power struggle, my Elli is not a quitter.  Oh- I am pretty nervous about how this stubborn and strong-willed personality will be as a teenager!!!

Since this night, I gave her one dinner I knew she loved to stop the cycle, and then on other nights since I have only had to threaten taking away Elephant and she will swallow it.  I only make her take two bites and I don't let her snack-- but I seriously still can't believe that she lasted 4 hours in that chair.  OH ELLIANA!!!!!
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FUNNY STORY UPDATE:  So to add to this post, I thought I would add another Elli story.  I have a feeling there will be many over the course of her life.   So I was in the Target parking lot getting both the girls in the car when Elli picked up a shiny rock.  She obviously really liked it so I didn't tell her to put it down.  However as I was putting her in her seat, she started putting the rock in her mouth.  I told her not to put the rock in her mouth, and she looked at me defiantly and then put it on her chin.  I told her that she had to put it away from her mouth, so then she put in on her neck with this death glare.  I said No- you have to put it on your lap like this.  She looked at me, seeing I was serious, and did what I said.  However, as I started to shut the door, I saw her bringing the rock up to her mouth as fast as she could.  I opened the door quickly, pulled her hand down and said "Elli I said No.  If you put it in your mouth, I will take it away."  Well this little stubborn, but smart girl looked at me, looked at the rock, and I could tell those little gears were turning in her head.  Finally, after another moment, she said "Take away" and then she put the rock in her mouth lightning quick, and then handed it back to me with a smile.   She seriously weighed the consequence and decided that she could deal with it- and so happily continued with her plan.  BOY am I in trouble with this one!!!