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Converstations with a 3-year-old Archives

August 14, 2008

bubble gum

TJ: Blow a bubble.

Mama complies.

TJ: Do it again.

Mama complies.

Repeat 17,000 times.

Throw in "I want to touch it."

Mama complies.

TJ touches it and then runs screaming across the house.

Comes back a second later.

"Do it again."

August 15, 2008

No not that hand!

Mama: It's near your right hand.

TJ, looking at his left hand: I want my right hand to be on this arm!

August 16, 2008

Mama, be polite

Mama, talking to Daddy in car: "GGG* (our doctor) said that teething cannot cause fever, but I think that's why she had the fever the other day."

TJ from back seat: "Mommy, call him Doctor GGG, not GGG."

*names changed

August 22, 2008

what to wear to the pool

TJ calls our bathing suits swimming lessons.

Looking at me wearing my bathing suit: "You got your swimming lessons on, Mama?"

September 18, 2008

stranger danger

TJ: That man needs to sit down.

Mama: Well, don't worry about it.

TJ: He needs to sit down.

Mama: You can tell him.

Man walks outside the pizza parlor and TJ starts to follow him.

Mama: Don't follow him outside.

TJ: Why?

Mama: He's a stranger.

Man walks back in and TJ looks at him for a good 40 seconds.

TJ: He's a stranger?

Mama: Yes. You can talk to him now because I am right here.

TJ: He might eat us.

October 16, 2008

heaven

TJ just asked me if Bebe has a mommy and daddy.

"Well, he did, but they are gone."

"Why?"

"People only stay around for certain amount of time."

"Why?"

"Then they go to heaven."

And that seemed to appease him.

October 23, 2008

a boy after my own heart

Mama: TJ, what would you like for dinner?

TJ: Chips.

November 10, 2008

Don't worry Mama

We have visitors in the house - unwanted visitors - in the form of mice.

I am petrified of them and they skeeb me out.

TJ was walking down the stairs yesterday in front of me and he said: "Don't worry Mama, I'm right behind you and I'll protect you from the mouse."

AWWWW!

December 1, 2008

Oh my gosh

TJ just said "Oh my gosh, I forgot to put my sunglasses on when I was outside. Oh my gosh."

December 9, 2008

no popcorn for Mommy

TJ is hiding behind one of the couch cushions right now.

He's crying, because I ate a piece of his popcorn as I was bringing it to him at the table.

Julia, on the other hand, happily munching on a handful of cheese, a bunch of cheerios and two slices of turkey.

December 16, 2008

his babies

Mama: TJ Where are you?

TJ: I'm taking care of my babies.

Mama: Come upstairs.

TJ, as he's walking up the stairs: I'm taking care of my babies.

Mama: What are their name?

TJ, entering the room with two stuffed animals: Charlie and Fussy Bear.

December 19, 2008

It sure is.

TJ: Mommy, is it snowing out yet?

Mama: No, not yet.

TJ: It is still a wonderful day.

December 22, 2008

subtle fashion advice from the 3-year-old

As I was getting the kids ready to take TJ to school this morning, I hadn't got dressed myself yet, I was too busy feeding them breakfast and getting them both dressed into warm winter clothes. I was still in what I slept in- a powder blue and white striped long john top and cozy gray pj bottoms with snowflakes on them.

As I was helping TJ get into his shoes, he looked at me and said "is that what you are wearing?"

December 25, 2008

am I tall?

TJ: Mama, am I tall?

Mama: Yes, you are tall, TJ.

TJ: Am I as tall as you?

Mama: Not yet, but someday you will be.

TJ: Will I be as tall as Daddy?

Mama: Yes, I think so.

TJ: Someday will I be a daddy?

He's not gentle

Mama: TJ, let me wipe your nose. I'll do it gently.

TJ: Is Daddy hard?

Mama: What? I don't understand what you mean. Is Daddy hurt?

TJ (yelling really loudly): WHEN DADDY WIPES MY BOOGA SNOTS, DOES HE DO IT HARD?

December 27, 2008

don't tell me no

TJ: No.

Mama: TJ, don't say no to me.

TJ: Nope.

December 31, 2008

need a little work on the listening skills

Mama, talking about the prize won at Edaville Railroad: TJ, don't go near Julia with that sword.

TJ: I won't Mama.

Mama: If you do, you will go right into time out.

TJ: OK.

Mama: Are you going to go near her with that sword?

TJ: No.

Mama: What will happen if you do?

TJ: She will eat it?

No, part 2

Mama: TJ, don't say no to me.

TJ: mmt mhmm.

Pause.

TJ: Does that mean no?

January 5, 2009

Long distance hug

"I'm going to throw Daddy a hug all the way to work and it will get him on the train and go SPLAT right on his face."

bungees are used for many things

TJ: What is this?

Mama: It's a bungee cord. It's not for you.

TJ: It's not for me?

Mama: No, Daddy uses it to tie things to the top of the car so they won't fall off.

TJ: I use it too.

Mama: You do? What do you use it for?

TJ: I use it to catch ants.

January 9, 2009

driving me crazy

Mama, bouncing Julia up and down on my lap as we are watching a Dora dvd.: Boing, boing, boing, boing!

TJ: Stop doing that, you are driving me crazy.

January 14, 2009

when I'm older

TJ and I did not have a good morning, he wasn't listening and I wasn't being patient.

Mama, in car, once we finally got of the house: TJ, let's talk about what happened today. What would make you listen to me better?

TJ: When I get a little bit older, I will listen to you.

January 28, 2009

broccoli soup

Mama, at daycare, trying to get him to leave: TJ, let's go home so you can see the nice dinner I made for you.

TJ, looking up all excited: Soup?

Mama: No, not soup.

Drive home.

Mama: Here's your dinner.

TJ: I WANT SOUP.

Mama: ok, what kind of soup? We have clam chowder and chicken soup.

TJ: Broccoli soup.

Mama: I don't think we have any of that.

TJ: Yes, we do.

Mama, scrambling, finding onion soup mix, broccoli and pasta: ok, buddy, we do.

TJ, about three minutes later, eating his broccoli soup: It's so delicious.

January 30, 2009

Don't laugh

TJ: Mama, don’t laugh.

Mama: You don’t want me to laugh?

TJ: No.

Mama: Why not?

TJ: It drives me crazy.

Mama: I love to hear you laugh. It makes my heart melt, the sound of your laughter.

TJ: It makes your heart melt?

Mama: Yes.

TJ: Why?

Mama: Cause you’re the bomb.

TJ: I’m not the bomb, I’m TJ.

Mama: laughs.

TJ: Don’t laugh Mama.

February 4, 2009

you don't need to feel alive

Mama: TJ, eat that yellow pepper.

TJ: No, I don't like it.

Mama: Eat it, it will make you feel alive.

TJ: No. (puts it in his cup)

Mama (pretends to drink the yellow pepper from the cup): Woowoo, woooh!

TJ: Why you say Woowoo?

Mama: I feel alive right here (points at belly) from eating that yellow pepper.

TJ, pretends to reach into Mama's belly and takes his hand and puts it behind his back: Stop it.

Mama: You don't want Mama to feel alive?

TJ takes his hand and pretends to eat what's in it.

February 9, 2009

He doesn't mean it...right?

Mama: TJ, you are going to start brushing your own teeth.

TJ: I will do it when I'm older.

Mama: You are older now.

TJ: I will do it when I'm bigger.

Mama: You are bigger now.

TJ: I will do it when I am giant and I can crush your bones and crush Daddy's bones.

mint?

TJ, spitting out the very, very diluted mint mouthwash: I don't like it. It's too spicy.

February 24, 2009

life thus far, according to TJ

When I was one, I was boring (Mom's note - that means born)

When I was two, I slept in a crib.

When I was three, I stopped wearing sleeping pants and I had a birthday.

Soon I will be four.

I like the correlation

TJ, walking into the gym and seeing the ladies on the treadmills: "Those are mamas."

February 25, 2009

he knows that?

Mama (expecting to hear the answer right or left):
TJ, do you know which way we are turning?

TJ: South?

February 28, 2009

say this

Mama, coughing: excuse me!

TJ: NO, you have to say 'bless you myself."

March 5, 2009

c'mon over

TJ, to guy in Burger King: You want some popcorn?

Guy doesn't hear.

TJ: Excuse me. Excuse me. EXCUSE ME!

Guy looks at TJ.

TJ: You want some popcorn?

Guy: No thank you.

TJ: It's sleeping popcorn.

Guy: Not right now, thank you. Maybe later.

TJ: OK, you come over to our house later and get some popcorn.

March 11, 2009

a long time

3 a.m.

TJ comes into our room. "Mama, I'm thirsty."

I pick him up and put him in our bed and we both fall asleep.

7 a.m.

"Mama, you are taking a long time to get me something to drink."

March 18, 2009

ballet dancer, yes, that's me

I walk downstairs and TJ sees me in my uniform, wearing the blue skirt.

"You look just like ballet," he tells me.

figure it out!

Mama: TJ, did you have fun at the playground with Mimi?

TJ: Yes.

Mama: Was anyone else there, or just you?

TJ: There was a big girl there.

Mama: Was she by herself?

TJ: No, I was there too!

March 25, 2009

bribery

Mama, hanging up the phone with the Easter Bunny: "TJ, the Easter Bunny wants to make sure you are going to brush your teeth and mind Mommy and Daddy. He also wants to know what kind of chocolate you like."

TJ: A lot.

March 28, 2009

peas please

TJ, walking down the stairs with a packet of peas: Daddy and I are going to plant these because I'm hungry.

Mama: Do you want a snack?

TJ: No, I'm going to have these peas once they grow.

April 16, 2009

Daddy and Daddy

TJ: If I am a daddy, then there will be two daddies.

Mama: What do you mean?

TJ: If I am a daddy, there will be two daddies.

Mama: Who will be the other daddy?

TJ: Daddy.

Mama: Oh, I see. Well, Daddy would be the grandfather if you had a baby.

TJ: Julia's grandfather.

Mama: Hm. OK, if you had a baby, what would you name the baby?

TJ: Um, um, um. Daddy.

Mama: Oh. OK. So, Daddy your daddy, would be Daddy your baby's grandfather.

April 17, 2009

makes sense really

Mama: What do you want for breakfast?

TJ: Oatmeal.

Mama: Oatmeal with raisins?

TJ: No. Oatmeal with plain.

April 23, 2009

that's true

Mama: When there are two babies from the same momma at the same time, that's called twins.
When there are three babies, that's called triplets. When there are four babies, quadruplets.

TJ: And when there are ten babies, that's a lot!

Sesame Street, feel free to buy the rights to this

We went to a PawSox game yesterday.

Today TJ informed me that he would like to go to an ElmoSox game.

May 12, 2009

Somehow this gets blamed on me...

TJ to Daddy: Your hair is freaking crazy.

May 13, 2009

the trolls in his bedroom

Mama: TJ, why didn't you sleep in your own bed last night?

TJ: I was too tired to sleep in my own bed.

Mama: That doesn't really make sense.

TJ: Well, there was a troll, so I ran upstairs to your room.

Mama: Did you see the troll?

TJ: Yes.

Mama: What does a troll look like?

TJ: They have sharp teeth, sharp claws, sharp toenails, sharp feet, sharp hair, sharp noses, sharp bellies and sharp everything.

Mama: Are trolls nice or mean?

TJ: Mean, they take people on a bad adventure.

Mama: Are there any nice trolls?

TJ: Zero nice trolls.

Mama: What would get rid of the trolls?

TJ: The troll spray will make the trolls disappear.

Mama: Anything else to tell me about the trolls?

TJ: Yes, they are just scary things.

May 17, 2009

better than the alternative

So apparently I use the word Freakin to describe things and now so does my 3-year-old.

"Shut the window," he tells me the other night, in front of our guests. "It's freaking cold out there."

May 28, 2009

flashlight

TJ: Mama, I want to go to the condo and bring the flashlight and go into the basement and see the creepy creatures on the wall.

May 31, 2009

bi-lingual

A bird is singing outside our window. A high pitched tune - wooo wooo wooo.

I whistle back to it, three times. It makes its noise back to me. Repeat about 10 times.

TJ looks at me and says "Mama, I didn't know you knew how to chirp!"

June 1, 2009

define "birds"

Mama, showing TJ a frozen chicken pot pie: Do you want this for dinner?

TJ: What is it?

Mama: Chicken pot pie.

TJ: Does it have birds in it?

throw her WHERE?!

TJ started quoting from a library book we have while at the doctor's office for Julia's 15-month visit today.

maybe we should go to church more

Every night we go through a ritual with both kids, we read to them, snuggle up and tell them all the people who love them. Tonight John put TJ to bed, and I put Julia to bed. John told me that TJ was requesting me, so I went in to his room. Since John had already told him all the people who love him, I decided to go a different route.

Mama: Sweet dreams.

TJ: Sweet dreams.

Mama: Sleep tight.

TJ: Sleep tight.

Mama: I love you.

TJ: I love you too.

Mama: God bless you.

TJ: I didn't sneeze.

not right now

I was trying to make TJ feel better after getting his hair washed, which he is not fond of.

"TJ, come help me get Julia's milk."

"I can't right now, Mama, I'm too busy crying."

June 3, 2009

which stairs

TJ stands at the landing and says "Mama, what stairs are you? Upstairs or downstairs?"

heck yeah I am

Mama: TJ, I bought you a bunch of good stuff from the grocery store last night. French fries and drinking yogurt and spaghetti-os.

TJ: Mama, you are hooking me up.

June 4, 2009

my choice

Mama: TJ, do you want to watch a dvd?

TJ: Yes. You pick it.

Mama: I get to pick it? Oh boy!

TJ: Pick Heffalump.

June 15, 2009

So, Mom. What's on the agenda?

TJ asks me this morning, "where are we going? School? Gym? Church?"

When I tell him gym, he says "yay!" but I'm pretty sure he would have said that for any of the options.

June 19, 2009

not two, not three

Mama: TJ, how many Madagascar books to you have?

TJ: Two ones.

July 1, 2009

Hawaii

TJ is learning about Hawaii in his school.

Today he told me "Hello-ha."

so which one is it?

Mama: TJ, what are you drinking?

TJ: Cold hot chocolate.

July 14, 2009

What would Santa say?

TJ has Sesame Street Christmas ornaments that never made it back into the Christmas storage box. I think Mimi bought them for him after his broke all the feet off of the original Sesame Street Christmas ornaments.

Today, he took the string off of one and told me "It's not a Christmas ornament anymore. Now it's a toy."

July 22, 2009

I love that ABC blankie

TJ: Mama, did you get me my ABC blanket?

Mama: No, KK's friend did.

TJ: What's her name?

Mama: Lisa.

TJ: She bought me that ABC blanket when I was little?

Mama: Yes, when you were first born.

TJ: Because I was sad, because I didn't have any blankets. Then I got sadder and sadder and sadder.

Mama looks in rearview mirror and sees a sad looking little boy.

TJ: But then Lisa bought me that ABC blanket and I slept with it all day long, with a big smile on my face.

July 24, 2009

ABC blankie in the room

I had TJ put his ABC blanket in his room yesterday. He has a bad habit of flipping it around and of course it hits people, mostly Julia.

I heard him tell Mimi, "I don't feel right without my ABC blankie."

golden love

Daddy and TJ are playing catch with the golden ball filled with floating glitter. It's the ball that I tell TJ is the Be Nice to Julia ball, he gets to use it when he is good to his sister. It's banging hard on the floor when a throw is missed and we are afraid it's going to conk Julia.

Daddy: This ball is so heavy, let's use another one.

TJ: OK.

Daddy: I wonder why this ball is so heavy.

TJ: It is full of Mommy love.

July 27, 2009

he means bubbler

Leaving the gym today, TJ says "I need to get a drink from the sprinkler."

something's missing

Leaving the post office today, TJ says "we are missing someone."

"Who?" I asked, looking into the seat to make sure we have Julia with us.

"Dada." he says.

Aw.

August 2, 2009

no saluting necessary

After my ceremony, TJ tells me, "I am going to call you Major Powers from now on, Mommy."

August 4, 2009

ok Goldilocks

Mama: TJ, what to you want for breakfast?

TJ: Oatmeal. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right.

I would have believed him if drinking yogurt were a commonly used word

Mama: TJ, what do you want for a snack?

TJ takes his hands and twists both of them in a back and forth motion down by his waist.

Mama: What's that?

TJ: sign language for drinking yogurt.

September 28, 2009

mm hmm

For the last few months or so, TJ has taken a dislike to me saying mmm hmm, which I say kind of a lot.

Every time I say it, he says "Mama, don't say that!! I don't like it when you say mmm hmmm!!!"

I tried to break the habit but of course it still slips out.

Now when I say it, he says "Mama, you said mm hmm."

Came out the other day, when he was telling me a story. "Mm hmm," I reply, as he tells me about his day at school.

TJ: Mama, you said mm hmm!

Mama: Yes, honey, I did. That's what people say when they are listening to a story.

TJ: Allright!

And continues on with his story and hasn't said a word about me saying mm hmm again.

About Converstations with a 3-year-old

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Curly Straight in the Converstations with a 3-year-old category. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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