What They're Saying

In the kitchen after Ali practiced pouring her own drink ...
Ali: Mommy, how old were you when you learned how to pour things?
Julie: I don't know.
Ali: Well, I bet you were older than I am.
Jair: Mommy, sometime maybe Daddy can take us to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and we can play with you when you were little.

In my bedroom at 4:30 am on Sunday morning ...
Ali: Mommy, can you please come in my room so I can talk to you about something?
In Ali's room, a minute later ...
Ali (fighting tears): I've been thinking that I won't be able to do much of church because I'll have to leave for E.J.'s birthday party.
Julie: Oh, Ali, church ends at 12 o'clock, and the party doesn't start until 2 o'clock. You won't have to leave church early.
Ali (visibly relieved that the church/party conflict has been resolved, but still sad): Oh, okay. Mommy?
Julie: Yes?
Ali: I had a fun thought, but it went out of my head.
Julie: What was it about?
Ali: Boxcar children.
Julie: What did they do?
Ali: I was pretending they were different people who got very sick and went to the hospital.
Julie: What happened then?
Ali: They got better.

At the calendar counting the days till my birthday, shortly after Ali noticed my expanding midsection ...
Ali: Mommy, you'll look so fat on your birthday!

At the zoo ...
Jair: Cobra. That's a cute name for a snake!

At breakfast, when Jair wanted his cereal without milk ...
Jair: Mommy, I need air on it. I don't want any milk, just air.

At lunch, after Ali asked when winter would come and we started talking about winter activities ...
Julie: And what else is going to happen in January?
Ali: Our baby's coming!
Jair: Mommy, you will have to hold the baby when we go sledding.

At the playground, when Jair wanted J.D. to sit beside him on a bouncy lion ...
Jair: Jade can be my wife. He can sit with me.

When he sees a hairy four-legged creature ...
J.D.: Gog? Woo-woof! Woo-woof!

When he sees a small winged creature ...
J.D.: Guck? Guck? [Duck?]

When he sees a picture of Daddy kissing Jair ...
J.D.: Dada [lip-smacking sound]. Dada kiss.

When he wakes up thirsty and hungry ...
J.D.: Cup. Cup. Foo. Foo. [Food.]

When he sees a train:
J.D.: Tain. Chut-choo!

When he wants to read a story ...
J.D.: Mama, sit do [down].

When we close a door to keep him out of a room ...
J.D.: Shut do. [door].

When he toddles across the room with an obvious sense of accomplishment ...
J.D.: Yalk. Yalk. Yalk. [Walk].