Conversation Snippet 9: Five Minutes

Yesterday, I set Caleb to play with his Legos in the corner of my room while I took a short nap. After about 15 minutes, I felt a little tap on my arm.

Caleb (in a whisper): Mom, can I have a snack?

Me: Yes. I'll get it for you in a few minutes. You can just play for a little bit more. Okay?

Caleb: Okay. But I am kinda hungry.

Ten minutes later, I felt another tap on my arm. . .

Caleb: Mom, can I have a snack now?

Me: Sure. I'll get it for you in five minutes. Okay?

Caleb: Umm, how about just five. Not five minutes.

Me: Huh??

Caleb: Five is okay, but not the minute part. Because minutes are sooooooo long. And I am really hungry.

Conversation Snippet 8: Tuna

Caleb had his first tuna fish sandwich yesterday.

Caleb after his first bite: Mom, what is this?

Me: It's a tuna fish sandwich.

Caleb: Hmmm. . . well, I like the tuna part okay, but I don't really like the fish part.

Conversation Snippet 7: Pretty

Alternate Title: Why Everyone Should Keep a 3-year-old in the House

I was standing out on the utility balcony this morning hanging a load of laundry. It is a hot and humid day, and I was sweating after just a minute of being out there. Add that on top of the fact that I've been sick all week, haven't showered in over a day, was sporting a very sloppy bed-head, and was still wearing my pajamas, and you can picture the sight.

I noticed Caleb standing in the doorway watching me work. Then, out of nowhere:

Caleb: Mom, you're really pretty.
Me: Thanks, Caleb.
Caleb: I mean, even though you don't have good clothes on, you're still really pretty.
Me: Thanks, Caleb.
Caleb: You're welcome, Mom. (and off he went to play)

I think he was probably the only person who could have given that complement in complete sincerity of heart. There really is something wonderful about having a 3-year-old!

Conversation Snippet 5: Counting

I've been working with Caleb lately on counting. He's starting to recognize numbers and can (sometimes) count to ten. The other day he lined up a string of his toy cars and brought me over to look at them.

Caleb: Mommy, can you count them?
Me: (slowly pointing to each one) One, two. . . . eight. Eight cars.
Caleb: Wow! Good job, Mommy!!! You can count!!!

Conversation Snippet 4: Vacation

I rarely let Caleb sit in front of the TV to watch a movie, but yesterday I was desperate to catch up on some housework, so as soon as Annabelle went down for her morning nap, I decided a movie was just the trick for keeping Caleb busy.

Me: Hey Bud. . . I want you to go sit on the couch.
Caleb (climbing onto the couch): Can I have a snack?
Me: Yep. I'll cut you an apple for snack. And guess what, you can watch a movie while you eat your snack!
Caleb: Oh wow!!!!! Are we on vacation?!?

Conversation Snippet 3: Something

Mommy, I'm hungry.

Okay, Bud. Would you like me to get you something to eat?

Yeah! I want to eat something!!

opening the refrigerator door and pulling out mango slices How about some of this?

Nooooooo. How about something?

Okay, would you like some raisins?

Noooooooo. I think I just want something. peering inquisitively into the refrigerator
Mom. . . which one is Something???

Conversation Snippet 2: The Sucker

It's Josh's birthday today. Caleb colored a birthday card for Daddy and then picked out a sucker to give with it. It's been sitting up on the table all morning, waiting for Daddy's return from work.

I think he forgot about the plan because he just spied it again and the following conversation occurred:

"Yum!! A sucker! Is that for me!?!"

"No. Remember. . . it's for Daddy. Today is his birthday."

"Um, can it be for me?"

"No. It's for Daddy. When Daddy gets home, you can give him this card and sucker and say, 'Happy Birthday, Daddy! This sucker is you, Daddy. It's from me.' Can you say that?"

"Hmmm. . . (long and thoughtful pause) How 'bout I say a different thing??"

"What would you like to say?"

"How 'bout I say, 'This sucker is for Caleb!"

Conversation Snippet 1: I'm proud of you, Daddy

I'm starting a new category called Conversation Snippets. There have just been too many good ones lately and I don't want to forget them. I hope you get a chuckle or two along the way.

The following occurred between Caleb and me just yesterday:


"Caleb, you went pee pee on the potty all by yourself!! Mommy is so proud of you!"

"I'm proud of Daddy!"

"You are?? Why?"

"I'm proud of Daddy because Daddy goes pee pee on the potty, too!"

Grocery Shopping with Caleb

I have been getting the biggest kick out of Caleb lately. He's got something to say about everything! It's as if the first two years worth of thought have finally formulated into words and he just feels compelled to get it all out.

We just got home from a much-needed trip to the grocery store. The kids were sick last week and I had already put off going the week before, so by today, I really needed to go. That meant, I was desperate enough to take both kids with me, in broad daylight. Brave, I know.

Had someone felt so inclined to follow us through the grocery store, they could have gleaned enough information about us to steal our identities, at least our food identities. Caleb found it virtually impossible to pass by any item he recognized without pointing it out and providing some sort of commentary on it. For instance, the cereals:

Hey Mom, look. Cereal!! That's the kind Daddy likes.

Yep.

We need to get some for Daddy.

Very thoughtful of you, Caleb. I guess we can get one for Daddy.

Ummm. . . maybe just two?? (it helps that this also happens to be his favorite cereal as well)

or fruit:

Oh wow! Apples. There are a lot of apples! Mom, those are the apples I like. You like apples, too, Mommy. Can we get apples, Mom???


So, if you have any questions about what the Redins like to eat, just ask Caleb. He'll be more than happy to tell you.

A conversation about heaven

Caleb was sick last week. Very sick. At one point, after praying with Caleb that God would make him better, the following conversation transpired:camping out on the couch

"I am sorry you are sick, Sweetheart. I hope God answers our prayer soon."

"Yeah, me too."

"Do you want to hear some really good news? Someday, if you accept Jesus and love him, God will let you go to heaven to live with Him forever. And in heaven, no one is ever sick. Isn't that something to look forward to?"

"Yes! No more sick. That's good!"

"Yes, it is good. God is very kind to us."

"Yeah, He is! . . . .Hey, Mom. . . I wanna go to Church!"

Drink Choices

Caleb: Mommy, can I have juice?
Me: No, you already had a cup this morning.
(walking to refrigerator and opening)
You can have water or. . . SHOOT!, we're out of milk. Sorry.
Caleb: Um. . . I want Shoot, please.