not-enough-nap blues

She was rudely awakened by a certain pooch. And she shared her stellar 'tude with me from the moment I greeted her.

Caroline: I need to be ALONE!
Mama: You don't say!
C: I SAY!
M: Come downstairs when you're ready to smile.
C: I don't want to be the smiling me!
M: Well come down when you're the half-hearted-attempt-to-smile you.
C: I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

[moments later she joins me in the kitchen as I prep some baked pasta for dinner]

C: I'm not smiling. What are you doing?
M: I am smiling and I am cooking dinner!
C: I don't think I want pasta!
M: Well there's always dog food...
C: I don't think I want dog food either!
M: Reuben likes it, it's the good stuff with oatmeal.
C: Will it taste like cookies?

who needs television

I couldn't find the dog, so I asked her where he was. She went to find him and called out a play-by-play.

"I found him. Here he is. Right there on the rug. I had to move to see his face. He's licking his feet. He's licking them with his mouth and tongue. They're so very brown. And they're so very tasty. He thinks his feet are brown and tasty."

those funny fungi

I was sending an email to my sister when Caroline asked what I was doing. I told her.

She replied, "Mama, can you tell Aunt Amy that sometimes mushrooms looks like noses?"

After looking at her (confused, where did this come from?), I typed and she dictated, "Some...times... mush...rooms... look... like noses! Did you get that?"

caregiver extraordinaire

I was having a very pukey morning (thanks to the one in my womb), and Caroline discovered me doing what she at first called "pooping out of [my] mouth."

I then laid on the bed and she walked up and started patting my arm.

"Aw, you're sick Mom. 'Cause of the baby."

I am.

"It's like when the cats puke, but you puke in the toilet."

Thankfully!

"Poor Mama. That's so awful." Complete with an armrub.

Thank you.

"You'll be ok. Let's fix you up."

Aw, you are going to take care of me?

"No, I was going to go play. But maybe someone else will come here. Bye!"

caprese monster

We make caprese sandwiches often, so our girl has become as obsessed with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella as we have. She requested I buy some.

Caroline: Mama, when you go to the grocery store, can you get me some monsterella cheese?
Mama: Monsterella cheese?
C: Yeah, like with tomatoes.
M: Oh mozzarella! You sure like that huh.
C: Yeah, I love monsterella cheese, Mom.
M: Ok, I will get some just for you.
C: Great! Thank you. I just love it. It squishes when you bite it and it's so... tasty.
M: It sure is tasty--
C: And white and... monstery.

empathy for those girls

We were watching the Michigan State vs UConn game, and the Spartans were pretty much out of reach with 20 seconds to go. The cameras cut to the dejected faces of the UConn cheerleaders, who couldn't muster even a smile or a half-hearted pompom shake.

Caroline instantly felt for them. "Those girls are sad. I think they miss their mommies."

so friendly it hurts/complete strangers

Since it was lovely outside today, Caroline and I went to the playground across the street shortly before dinner. She walked up to a girl who was on the swings, being pushed by her mother.

Caroline: Hi there! [hand to chest] My name is Caroline. What is your name?
Girl: I am Natalie.
C: Nice to meet you, Natalie. What are you up to?
G: I'm swinging and my mom is pushing me.
C: That's great! How are you doing today?
G: I'm good.
C: Oh, good to hear that!

At this point, I suggested maybe she do some swinging too, since we were there for the purpose of playing more than producing an episode of a toddler talk show. She, of course, picked the swing right next to Natalie and they conversed. The girl's mother asked Caroline how old she was.

C: I'm two. Natalie, how old are you?
G: I'm four!
C: I'm not two. I meant I'm FIVE.
Mama: You're five?
C: Yeah, I grew a lot.

She and Natalie had a great time for about half an hour, before she had to go. Caroline and I continued to play, and then Chuck pulled up in our driveway. We waved him over to the playground.

C: Dadddyyyyyy! Would you like to play?
Dad: Yes, I would love to play!
C: Would you like to play with my friend Mama?
D: [laugh] Your friend Mama?
C: Yes, my friend Mama. She's right over there. [Points at me, standing 5 feet away. You know, since he'd have trouble picking out his wife of 4 years.]

another frightening diagnosis

My glasses broke, so I am going naked-faced until I can get in for some new ones. Caroline is amazed by the unshielded presence of my eyeballs.

Caroline: Mama, let me look in your eyes.
Mama: Oh, okay.

[staring here]

C: I think I see a problem with your eyes.
M: Oh?
C: Yeah, they look a little sick. Like they might have a stomach ache.
M: A stomach ache in my eyes.
C: Yes. I think they ate too much popcorn.

nothing gets by her. nothing.

Caroline: Mama, what's a 'odor'?
Mama: 'Odor' is just another word for 'smell.'
C: So flowers have a odor.
M: Yes, flowers have an odor. A very pleasant odor.

[4 hours and a nap pass before I get the following totally random newsflash]

C: Hey Mom, every dog takes a poop.
M: Yes, this is true.

[25 minutes pass and I get the following secondary totally random newsflash]

C: Hey Mom, every dog poop has a odor.
M: Well, that's for sure.
C: It is not a pleasant odor.

that's pretty unconditional

We have been playing "I love you more" lately - you know, where you try to top the other person's declarations of affection, even when you give yourself a toothache in the sickening process.

This explains why she just walked up to me and said randomly, "I really love you Mom. I love you forever and backwards too!"