huh?

today you were playing with jewelry and barrettes and you looked up at me so sweetly and said, "mommy, you're so precious....mmmm, no not precious, you're lucifer."

i almost died laughing because the only lucifer you know is the cat from cinderella. i have no idea why you called me that, but i have to assume that you're thinking of the cat.

i sure hope so.

word play

We were driving home from our visit with the Teagues tonight, when out of the blue you boldly stated, "Mom, I'm not picking my nose. I'm just getting them out."

"Getting what out?" I asked, probing you to see if you were doing what I thought you were doing.

"My boogies."

preschool days

it's interesting that i spent so many years being trained as a clinical social worker, and how much i incorporate those techniques into our everyday interactions. you started preschool several weeks ago and had difficulty at first, more being away from me for such an extended period of time twice a week. you eventually asked me to pretend that our roles reversed so that you could be the mom-in-charge instead of the preschooler-having-to-attend-preschool. and not only did we role play once, but we do this several times a week (sometimes even several times a day) at your request. you are a social worker's dream come true - a willing participant requesting a role play - that is something that never happens in the real world! here's a little glimpse into one of our role plays...

Me: But Mommmmm, I don't want to go to preschool. I want to stay home with youuuuuu.
You: I know, I know. But you have to go to preschool. I'll pick you up later and we'll go home and I'll give you some gum. Bye! Okay, now I'm Caitlin.
Me: My mommy wants me to play at preschool. What's your name?
You: I'm Caitlin and my mommy takes me to preschool too.
Me: What are you playing with?
You: ummmm, some donkeys (these "donkeys" are actually "my little ponies")...
Now I'm mommy again. I'm Back!!! (with arms wide open) You can have some gum now.
You're all finished with preschool.

I think this is your way of processing your separation anxiety from me while going to preschool. in fact, I could tell how torn you were those first few days when I picked you up and asked you about your experience. you replied, "I like preschool. I don't want to go back."

silly questions

Me: Ouch!
You: What's wrong, Mom?
Me: I got an owie on my finger.
You: Where?

*grin*


Another funny one...tonight you were desperately trying to delay your bedtime and you kept thinking of all kinds of excuses to get daddy to come to your room.

You: Daddy!! Come here.
Dad: What is it, Madeline?
You: I have something on my lip.

*grin* ...a few desperate minutes later...

You: Daddy!! Come here.
Dad: What is it, Madeline?
You: There's something on my finger.

...another few minutes go by...

You: Daddy, do you want to watch me go poo-poo?
Dad: No thank you, Maddie. Call me when you go and I'll change it for you.

*grin*

silly questions

Me: Ouch!
You: What's wrong, Mom?
Me: I got an owie on my finger.
You: Where?

*grin*


Another funny one...tonight you were desperately trying to delay your bedtime and you kept thinking of all kinds of excuses to get daddy to come to your room.

You: Daddy!! Come here.
Dad: What is it, Madeline?
You: I have something on my lip.

*grin* ...a few desperate minutes later...

You: Daddy!! Come here.
Dad: What is it, Madeline?
You: There's something on my finger.

...another few minutes go by...

You: Daddy, do you want to watch me go poo-poo?
Dad: No thank you, Maddie. Call me when you go and I'll change it for you.

*grin*

the world is a stage

you really enjoy acting and reenacting various scenes from different movies. you are constantly asking me to pretend i'm cinderella while you pretend you're the "mean stepsisters." you rip my dress and then tell me i can't go to the ball. then you tell me to cry as you magically reappear as the "fairy godmoVer." then you say, "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo", while you transform me into a beautiful ballroom princess. then you ask me to repeat back to you what we just spent 10 minutes acting out together. some of your other favorite characters are Nemo, P. Sherman, Marlin, Dori, Bambi, Lady, Trusty, Jack and many more. In fact, for months you would call us "Fahver" and we knew that was the cue for us (daddy and I) to pretend that we were Bambi's father and you were Bambi.

also for several weeks while i was on bedrest, you talked to your stuffed animals and wanted daddy and i to respond to you in various voices, pretending to be the stuffed animals. this went on for quite some time, and maybe it will return again because we got many laughs from pretending to be a tiger, lumpy, dude crush, and dora. you even invited all of these friends to jump on the trampoline with you and informed me that they were your "brovers and sisters."