ACK!

Okay, recently I have been trying to shift the gears manually, It has been quite fun!

My problem is this though....

When I start from a stop, I am in position 2 on the gear selector (1st gear for car), I wait till it revs to about 3000 RPM, then I shift from 2 to 3, and then back to 2 again, but I seems to just stay back in 1st gear!!!!! I have to finally shift to positon 3 and then the car goes into 3rd gear.....

What am I doing wrong??!??!?!? HELP ME PLEASEEE!

1989 300E Automatic