I have been awed lately by the fact that I can have conversations with my 21-month-old daughter.
This morning, Chalupa got Chuck out of bed and brought her to me in our bedroom. I was just getting ready to leave for work.
“HELLO!” she said. (A bit more like “’ello,” but you get the point.)
“HI!” I replied. “Did you sleep well?”
She nodded. “Raffe.” Which is, of course, her name for Giraffe.
“Giraffe slept well, too?”
Another definite nod from Chuck, followed by, “Ah-bee.”
“Oh, yeah, Brobee was in bed with you last night, too, huh?”
Another nod. Then her eyes widened and she pointed to the button on my sweater. “Ah-DAT!?”
“That’s a button.”
“OOOOOHHHHHHH!”
A skeptical look crossed her face, and she pointed to the sweater’s embroidered flowers. Concerned, she said, “Ah-dat?”
“That’s a flower.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“TEEEEEEEEEEE!”
“I guess it does look a little like a tree,” I agreed. The flowers are somewhat tree-like. “Honey, I’ve got to go to work.”
“NOOOOO wuuk.” Sad faced girl.
“Yeah, sweetheart. I’m sorry. But I can get you some breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“HUNNNNNNDY!”
“Okay, what do you want—”
“NONUT! NONUT! NONUT!” That, of course, means donut. When does this kid not want donuts?
“Can you say DO-nut?”
“NONUT!”
“Do?”
“DO?”
“NUT!”
“NUT!”
“Okay, now put it together!”
“NONUT!”
Ten minutes later, as she happily scarfed down her powdered sugar donuts in her high chair, I packed my lunch and gathered my work bags. (I have lots of work bags.)
“Nye-nye!” she said, waving to me.
“Bye-bye, baby!” I gave her a kiss on the head and went to leave.
“NOO!” she cried. “UUUGGGG!”
I turned and saw her with a donut stuffed in her mouth and her arms reached wide. “I’ll give you a hug!”
As I hugged her, she smiled broadly and showed me her powdered-sugar mouth. “NIIISSSS!” she said.
“Kisses, too.” I gave her a kiss before I left.
I didn’t notice until I was halfway to work that I had powdered sugar on my lips from a good-bye kiss.
Chatting with Chuck at her table
