Conversations with a Toddler

Lily: "Mo?"

Me: "More what, lovebug?"

Lily: "Mo!"

Me: "I don't know what you want more of, sweetheart."

Lily: (punctuated with much gesticulating) "Mo!! Mo!! Mo!!"

Me: (snuggling her to me) "Hold on, bug. Remember what Daddy says? Use your words. What would you like more of?"

Lily: (after a deep breath) "Mo. Moo-zic."

Me: (with a sigh of relief) "Of course! Who ever wants to turn off Disney Toddler Radio?"

Conversations with Lily these days aren't always that easy to decipher, but I am so grateful for these tiny windows I get into understanding her desires and needs. There's nothing like the grin that spreads across her face when I finally grasp what she's saying and she realizes that she is understood. It might take a bit ("Ready... Go!" sounds an awful lot like "Daddy... Ball!"--especially when you're throwing a ball and watching the door for Daddy's arrival), but the success is all the more sweet thanks to the challenge it took to get there.

A few other recent gems (and some much-needed updated photos!):

Lily: "Sit."

Me: "That's right, honey, Bunny is sitting."

Lily: "Sit!"

Me: "Do you want to sit with Bunny?"

Lily: "MAMA! Sit!!"
Me: "Oh!"

Lily: "Shoes!!"

Me: "Can you kick your shoes?"

Lily: (delighted laughter)

Lily: "No."

Me: "But I love your taco costume, don't you?"

Lily: "No!"

Me: "Can we please wear it just for the parade?"

Lily: "Nawnawnawnawnaw!!!!" (Sound of masking tape unsticking.)

Lily: "Brella! Boots!"

Jeff: "Yes, Lily, it's a rainy day! Let's go find puddles!"

Lily: "Book!"

Granddaddy: "You'd like to read a book?"

Lily: "Yeah!" (Granddaddy sits on the sofa next to her.) No!"

Granddaddy: "No book?"

Lily "Yeah! Bankie! Ganny!"

Granny: "My pleasure!"

Lily: "Moony!"

Me: "Honey, there's no moon inside. Maybe there's one out--"

Lily: "Moony! Moony!"

Me: "There's definitely no moon in the fridge..."

Lily: "Moony!" (frustrated pause) "Mooth-ee!"

Me: "Oh! Smoothie! Yes! I got it!"

So, life is pretty joyful over here. Not all days, not all nights, not all meals, not all activities. But most of them are pretty amazing. We sit in awe of our little Peanut, daily wondering how in the world she's ours (and if she'll ever stop growing so fast!). I can't imagine what lies ahead...