you are welcome

Alex had just finished pooping on the potty.

Alex: "It looks like an iguana."
Me: "What?  Your poop?"
Alex: (uncontrollable laughter) "It looks like an iguana.  A broken iguana.  My poop look like an animal."
Me: (silence)
Alex: "JJJJAAAAKKKKOOOOBBBBB!!! My poop.  My poop looks like an iguana."
Me: (silence)
Alex" "JJJJAAAKKKKOOOOBBB!!! I poop animal shapes."
Me: (silence)

Mary

-isms

Me: "It smells like poop."
Jake: "No.  It smells like cheese."

Me: "Alex.  Please take your sippy cup to the sink."
Alex: "No.  No.  No.  NO THANK YOU!!"

Jake has been obsessed with wearing a watch.
Me: "Jake.  What time is it?"
Jake: "Thirty O'Clock." (this is his answer every single time)

It was bedtime.  I asked Alex a bazillion times to put the bath toy away.  He continued to refuse so I grabbed the toy out of his hands.
Alex: "No Mama!!  You can't do that.  That not nice.  You never grab a toy out of your friend's hands."

Me: "I love you Jake."
Jake: "I like you Mama."

Me: "Alex.  What are you going to be for Halloween?"
Alex: "A ghost!"
Me: "Boo!"
Alex: "No Mama.  I'm going to be a happy ghost."

Mary

the candle

I told the boys after bath last night, like every night, to go in the bedroom and pick out books to read while I cleaned up the bathroom. We all know that a three old listens to all directions given.  So I didn't expect to walk in with the boys sitting patiently on their bed with their books.  But I also didn't expect to walk into the bedroom to find Alex eating a candle. (I'll let you ask Kara why there was a candle in their bedroom).

Me: "Alexander what are you doing?"

Alex: "It smell good. I think it should taste good."

Me: "Does it?"

Alex: (long pause) "No Mama. It no chocolate."

Alex is so very logical.  Just like me.  I respect that.  

Mary

the zoo

The boys took a trip to the zoo this week.  I had the following conversation with Alex later that night.

Me: "Did you see the baby lions at the zoo?"
Alex: "Yes."
Me: "How many baby lions did you see?"
Alex: "Four.  And we saw the Daddy lion too." (it was actually the Mom that was with the babies)
Me: "Really?"
Alex: "Yep.  Mommy not there today."
Me: "Oh.  Where was the Mommy lion?"
Alex: "At work.  She be home later to play with them."

I might be thinking too much into such a simple conversation.  But this quick exchange made me so proud of my son on so many levels.  (And I realize others could think different about the conversation).  It demonstrates, to me, that Alex is fully aware that the majority of families have both a Mommy and a Daddy.  We talk about this often.  Both of boys already talk about being a Daddy some day.  They also talk about getting married, mostly with the idea of being able to wear a wedding ring, but neither ever discusses marriage with context associated the sex of the individual they would like to marry.  They are too young.  Our exchange also demonstrated to me that Alex has the understanding that the male of the household can be the main caregiver for a family while the female of the household can be the breadwinner.  I'm going to pretend that's what it all means and simply be proud of Alex for a few moments.  

Mary