But WHY Mommy?

It's started.

I've been around kids my entire life so WHY would I think, however hopelessly, that MY preschooler would somehow pass over this phase, leaving me and my husband to blissfully talk to her, explaining things at our own pace??

why?

WHY??

It began this morning on our drive to school. In an attempt to divert her attention from my coffee cup (she was insisting I put it in the cup holder rather than hold it in my hand), I tried to turn her attention to some sprinklers watering flowers in a nearby subdivision.

"Look at the water!" I chirped.

"It's wet!", she replied.

"Sure is, baby", said I.

"But WHY Mommy?"

OMG. Did she say what I think she said? I thoughtlessly ignored it, hoping it would go away. ha!

"Why mommy? Why is it wet??"

I attempted to explain that the water feeds the flowers and helps them grow, blah, blah, blah...and she seemed satisfied.

But as all phases go, the pattern returned on our drive home. "Honey, we'll go to the park after we deliver the food to Dr. Rogers. I am going to finish cooking for him, OK?"

"But why?"

"Because Dr. Rogers is hungry, honey."

"But WHY?"

"Well, because he needs to eat to keep his body healthy honey. Just like you and I," I said.

"But mommy, WHY?"

...

A new best friend!

Two weeks before Ava started school, she announced that she had a best friend.

"Mommy," she said to me with those chubby little cheeks. "Trooper is my best friend!"

"Oh honey, that's so sweet!" I said, and part of me believed it. Yet the hyper-critical, paranoid part of my mind thought, good gracious - have I been negligent with my daughter? Should I be getting her out more? Is it natural that her first best friend is our DOG?

A large part of me HATES these sort of thoughts - the conforming - you've got to be a certain way in order to be normal - sort of ideals. But when it's your kid, and for the first time ever she's saying, "I have a best friend!", it was all at once cute and sad that it was a dog.

It didn't last long however. The next day it was me, and by the weekend, Grandad was her new best friend.

But those days, at least for now, are over. For the past two days, she's made reference to a boy at school whom she plays with in the sandbox and on the swings. When we'd probe for his name, she'd say defiantly, "His name is BOY!"

This afternoon the suspense ended. As I buckled her into her seat, she told me about her day painting, singing and playing with Boy.

"Did you ask him his name?", I gently probed.

"Nick-yus! I YUV NICKYUS! He is my best friend! HE YUVS ME VEWY MUCH MOMMY!"

Could this be any sweeter? And, is it natural - for me to already - four weeks later- to miss the stage where our dog held the key to her heart?????

No need to spend time worrying. By the weekend, it may be someone - two or four-legged - new.

Chillin' in the 'Ville

It's been TOOOOOOOOOOOOO long since our last trip to Louisville - 4 months since Derby weekend when our feet last danced in the Kentucky bluegrass.

So on Friday, Ava and I saddled up and drove to see Grammie, Papa, CJ and Aunt Corie for a festive Labor Day weekend.

THE JOY!

Being spoon-fed banana pudding by papa. Days at the park, playing hide-n-seek with Corie and the sweet corn, ham and green beans - 4 servings worth - at Huber's Farm in Starlight, Indiana.

Even with the upset of Louisville losing their opening game to Kentucky on Sunday, we were still sad to go. But really, too tired from all the fun to notice.