Out of the Mouth of my Babe 3

To get inside that little brain for just a few minutes would be, in my opinion, a total trip:

Mama? Where we going to lunch

To Sebastian's.

Where? I been there when I was a baby mom?

Just down the street babe, and you've been there before babe. We get gyros there.

It at the beach?

At the beach? No, hon, it's here.

But it's the crab's place right, mama?

Ha! No babe, it's not Ariel's friend's place, it's a restaurant in Cincinnati.

Oh, I did not know that.

Mama, what we doing today?

Today? We've got to run a bunch of errands.

Run errands?

Yep, we have a bunch to run.

Mama, we can't run errands. We have to drive them.

Hey Mama, see that ring?

What ring?

The sparkly one Dad gave you.

Yeah, what about it?

One day Daddy gonna give it me when he marries me.

MOM! Wake up! I gotta show you somptin! C'mere! Look!

Wow, look at that - snow. It's beautiful.

No, mama, it's not beautiful, it's magical.

Come on, Mom. Let's go get daddy - we'll make an Addie sandwich.

An Addie, sandwich eh?

No! An Addie hot dog. I'll be the dog you and daddy are the buns!!

Who's Saint Nick, Mom?

He's one of Santa's helpers and he comes to fill your stocking.

Does he fly? Does he use TinkerBell's dust? Is he a man?

I don't know, er I don't think so, and yes, he's a man. But he won't come tonight until you are sound asleep.

I have to be asleep and making loud noises for St. Nick to come?

No, honey, sound asleep means being all the way asleep, not sleeping and being noisy.

Oh, okay. I won't make lots of noises then!

Moments

A few moments over the past day or two:

• Yesterday, as Andy checked to make sure he had golf balls for vacations she said: Why you got balls Daddy? I may have let a little snort of laughter escape.


• Last night as I paid for dinner and they headed to the car I snidely told Addie I was staying behind to drink a couple of beers. She then repeatedly told Andy Mama's gonna have couple more beers Daddy. Just a couple more beers. Note to self: Three-year-olds don't do sarcasm.


• Her suitcase is packed to the brim with beachwear - she informed Andy and I last night she's gonna take it to the beach and then to A-cago (Chicago) and to Gramma Kathy's -but she's far, far away.


• Today, at exercise, I firmly told her to eat her blueberries and she replied, with her hands on her hips, Okay! Okay already. Don't rush me - I doing it Mommy! I had to walk away.


• This evening I mowed our front and side lawns (a horrid, thankless job) and she dutifully followed safely behind me pushing her bubble mower. Each time we'd pass each other she'd give me a thumbs up and shout Good job Mama! Way to go! And then we would high five.


• After mowing, as I used the blower to get the grass clippings off the driveway and sidewalks, I turned around to be greeted by a buck naked little girl giggling and shouting I ready for my shower. I super big time stinky Mommy.

She's a mishmash of laughter and frustration - and as much as I complain, I wouldn't have it any other way.