Pets

M: If you had a puppy, what would you name it?

H: Elliot Dog.

Understanding her world

"Swamps are waters that witches fall into, right, mommy?"

"She is for girls and boys are him."

"Monsters can't open doors, right?"

Parenting, a play in three acts

Act one

M: Before you put on your swimsuit, let's go to the potty, just in case.

H: I don't have to! I don't like you. You're so mean!

Act two

Two minutes later, in the swimming pool...

H: I have to go potty.

Commencing drying and foot wiping for child to enter house

Act three

Two minutes later, child returns to swimming pool...

H: Nothing came out. Why are you laughing, Mommy?

Just can't win

M: You're having so much fun with Baby Brother's toys maybe we'll just get you baby toys for your birthday.

H: Really? That would be so great! I love baby toys!

The monkeys are running the zoo

M: H, did you know animals are coming to your school on Friday? 

H: Is there a person too?

Ninis

Pretty much since H has been able to talk and wanted to delay bedtime she has asked for 4 hugs, 4 kisses, and 4 high-fives. Pretty early on she realized that that was four of only three things and so she invented a fourth thing to have four of: "ni-nis." These pretty much consist of the adult looking in her eyes and saying "nini one nini two nini three nini four."

 Last night during her bedtime routine she says to me, "I just invented those right?"

Yes, H. You are the only little kid in the world who gets ninis before bed.

On strangers at the restaurant

"The people love my Elliot."