Cute Disobedience

This is a problem. My baby girl stands right up in her crib when I lay her down for bed. Usually she cries too. I was able to resolve the crying issue by patting on the mattress and encouraging her to lay down. At first she would cry and try to get me to pick her up, then she realized I wouldn't do it and would lay down. Now she won't lay down. Instead, when I pat the mattress and encourage her to lay down, she backs up to the furthest side of the crib, puts her arms down behind her, and grips the bars for dear life. Then she vigorously shakes her head "no," and says "na uh." Just watching my tiny, two-foot tall baby girl so determined to resist me undermines my ability to be strict because it's just too cute. Even her roommate older sister thinks it's hilarious. We were both cracking-up at bedtime.