Curly Straight

Mama: "What's your favorite color?"

T: "TJ."

Mama: "Is TJ a color? Or are you TJ? What's your favorite color?"

T: "TJ."

Mama: "Mine too."

TJ got cut off again with his phone call with Auntie KK before he could say goodnight.

Mama: "TJ, it's ok, do you want to try to call anyone else to say goodnight?"

TJ: "Elmo."

Mama:TJ, did you have any dreams last night?

TJ: Yes.

Mama: What did you dream?

TJ: That I was sleeping in my bed with my blankie.

Mama: TJ, what do you want for lunch?

TJ: Waffle.

Mama: But you had that for breakfast. How about something else? Sandwich?

TJ: No.

Mama: Pizza?

TJ: I want pizza.

Mama: Do you want pepperoni or just cheese?

TJ: NO, I WANT PIZZA.

We just made chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven.

I am introducing TJ to one of the true delights - warm chocolate cookies with a glass of milk.

TJ: I don't want cookie.

Mama: Just try it.

TJ: I don't want cookie.

Mama, walking away with half: OK, I'll take it.

TJ: I want cookie.

Mama: You have some right there. Try it.

TJ takes a bite.

TJ: I like cookie!

Mama, in response to T's imitating a monkey: Are you a monkey?

TJ: No, I'm TJ.

Mama: You're a boy.

TJ: No, I'm TJ.

Mama: You're TJ and you're a boy.

TJ: NO I'M TJ!

Mama: TJ, what do you want for lunch?

TJ: Ali and Bebe.

Mama: TJ, what color is an orange?

TJ: pink

Mama: Are they pink?

TJ: No! Blue.

TJ: Ju-ya-ya eating Mama's breast?

Mama: No, honey, she's nursing.

TJ looking at the string on his sweatpants: "Oh, that's your string?"

Mama: Nope, not my string.

TJ: That's Daddy's string?

Mama: Nope, not Daddy's string either.

TJ: Oh, that's Jul-ya-ya's string?

Mama: Nope, not Julia's string.

TJ: OH! That's MY string.

Repeat at least three times.

Mama: TJ, are you my baby?

TJ: No, I'm TJ.

Mama, making a shopping list: We need bananas and ham at the store, TJ, can you think of anything else?

TJ: Milk.

Mama: (writing it down): anything else?

TJ: Daddy.

Mama, nursing Juyaya: TJ, you used to nurse like this when you were a little baby, you know.

TJ, pulling up his shirt and looking for nursing equipment: I DID?!?

Mama: That's a cricket, rubbing it's wings together, making a chirping noise.

TJ, flapping his arms: These are my wings.

Mama: Are you a cricket?

TJ: No.

Mama: Are you a bird?

TJ: No, I'm TJ!

TJ, trying to move the baby's arms: Is Juyayaya a bird?

Mama: No, she's Julia.

TJ: I want to flap her wings.

TJ, with his favorite blanket in his mouth, as Mama and Daddy eat dinner: I am eating my blankie.

Mama: is it good?

TJ: No, it's my blankie.

Mama, pointing to the letters on the Thomas the Train blanket: what letter is this?

TJ: T

Mama: how about this?

TJ: H

Mama: This letter?

TJ: O

Mama: This letter?

TJ: M

Mama: This letter?

TJ: A

Mama: This letter?

TJ: S

Mama: What does that spell?

TJ: Choo choo train!!!

I love to sing to TJ and sometimes I leave the last word out and let him fill it in. I tried it the other day with a made-up song and this is what we came up with:

Mama: TJ, TJ, I love...

TJ: You.

Mama: Every day, yes it's...

TJ: True.

Mama: From your head to your...

TJ: Nose.

Mama: I love you right down to your...

TJ: Belly.

TJ to our accountant, Ernie: Where's Bert?

TJ, pointing at Daddy's drink at a restaurant: I want THAT.

Daddy, pointing at TJ's cup: You have your own.

TJ: Niiiiiiice.

TJ on kitchen table: Mama, lookit me!

Mama: Only food belongs on the table, TJ. Are you food?

TJ: No.

Mama: What kind of food would you be?

TJ: Pizza.

Mama: I would be chocolate. What would Daddy be?

TJ: A pineapple.

Mama: What would Julia be?

TJ: I don't know.

Mama: A banana?

TJ, smiling: Yes, a banana.

Mama: What would Auntie KK be?

TJ: A strawberry.

TJ looking at bbq beef on his plate: What is that?

Mama: barbeque beef. Try it?

TJ: I don't want to.

Mama: Set a good example for Julia.

TJ, taking a bite: yum!

Mama: I got you that toy because I love you.

TJ: You love me?

Mama: Yes, TJ, I do love you.

TJ: And I love Tigger.

After singing TJ a long lullaby about our life and our day, I tell him "you are such a good boy" and he replies to me "you are such a good girl."

Hey, I'll take it.

TJ to John at the dinner table, for no apparent reason (to us at least): "You freaking out?"

This is what I hear in the morning in the monitor. Names and details may vary.

"Daddy. Daddy. DADDY! I need my Daddy."

Pause.

"Oooga Boooga."

Mama: Time for your nap, where's your blankie?

TJ, clapping hands: Come here blankie!

Mama: "TJ, are you sick of waffles?"

TJ: "I have to go to the doctor."

Mama: "Why?"

TJ: "Because I'm sick."

Mama: "TJ, do you want to go visit Sue?"

TJ: "Yes, I want to go to the zoo!"

Mama: "TJ, do you want to run in that race again this year?"

TJ: "Yes."

Mama: "You'll be three."

TJ: "I'll be three? I'm two now."

Pause.

"HEY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PARTY?"

TJ: "I want chicken nuggets from the driveway."