What a beautiful day. It's 9pm and the roto-rooter guy is here pumping our downstairs laundry room sink which is currently full of food from our garbage disposal? Don't ask. But it is times like these that I get to hang out exclusively with my daughter (Parker is sleeping) while Kelven gets to watch the rooter guy work (rooting him on). Jada's bedtime routine has been anything but graceful the last couple weeks (a kid who used to walk herself to bed is now running from us, refusing to get dressed in her pjs? What?!) We knew it would be a loud job downstairs so I didn't put her to sleep until right before he left. I spent a good hour reading books and just talking with her in her bed. THE BEST THING EVER. Holding a conversation with a toddler with your full attention for more than five minutes does not happen often enough in a daily/weekly schedule. These are the moments when I feel so blessed and happy. I didn't even come close to this type of teary-eyed contentment before I had kids. Life has much more meaning these days. Here are some pieces of our conversation:

(Jada's words in purple)


Nember (remember) my buns were hot on Nana's boat at her nother house. (Referring to the hot seat in Kelven's parents' boat in Chelan).


Nember I fell and the lamp fell on me.


Papa Boo lives in Heaven. Way up in the sky. You sad about that, Mommy. Because he lives so far away. Nember he says boo and I do dis (hides her face and laughs).


Nember daddy likes my poop. We only talk about poop in da potty. Nember I only pick my nose in da bafroom. Nember, Mommy?


I asked her what she likes about herself and she said that she "eats real food in the kitchen" and that she "has friends Evie and Cooper." Not sure she understands the whole self-esteem thing yet, but maybe she's just humble. We also talked about how mommy and daddy love her so much and how we'll always love her, even when she's big like us. And she said, "I grow big and go to high school, Mommy? And I be a teacher. And Parker will be big like me."


Then I asked her if mommy yelled today (I try to keep my cool, but Jada was putting my beloved pictures in her mouth and bent a few with her kicks. I really don't yell much, but at nine cents a picture plus shipping and handling, I take my scrapbooking pretty seriously). She said, "Yeah, and I got sad." Then I asked if mommy said sorry for yelling and she said, "Yeah." We're trying to help her understand the concept of sorry. And finally I asked what it feels like when she gets sad or mad and she said, "I just need you. I want you, Mommy. Cuz I got little tears in my eyes." Melt my heart. Reminds me that listening to our children is so important. There wasn't sadness in her request, just a simple statement. No book or advice hits you like hearing the words I just need you straight from the source.