Conversation with Nutmeg

She's too young to have a real conversation but nonetheless...

Scene: Nutmeg is carrying her nappy (diaper) to the bin in the kitchen. The Engineer is holding the bin-cupboard door open for her.

The Engineer: "Come on, in the bin!"
Nutmeg drops the nappy, and sits down next to it.
TE picks it up and holds it near the bin. "Come on sweetie, come and get it."
Nutmeg gets up, retrieves nappy from TE, drops it next to bin, sits down by it. Looks at her father and shakes her head very firmly.
Nutmeg thinks: "My intention is to play with this nappy, and hopefully chew it a bit. I'm not putting it in there. I know you won't let me have it back afterwards!"

More conversations with Froglet

Froglet is four years and 3 months.

Yesterday I taught him how to peel carrots. As I stood behind him explaining how to hold the peeler so that it works properly, he said "You sound like Granwen" (my mother). This to me is a compliment, and I think he intended it as one too. Then he volunteered to teach Uncle Luke, my brother-in-law, how to peel carrots too*.

Today The Engineer received an in-depth explanation of tectonic plates:

(Froglet holding up two hands parallel with the floor.)
This hand is Switzerland and this hand is Haiti. Then they go like this!
(bangs hands together vigorously)
And it makes Haiti wobble.
(wobbling Haiti-hand to demonstrate)

*This is admittedly funnier if you know Luke and are aware that he and the kitchen are not always on first-name terms.

Crawling and commenting

Froglet didn't express any interest in crawling at all until he was nine months. I think it was due to our tiled floors - not good for gripping with your sleepsuit-clad knees. As soon as we got a rug he was off like a shot. So I wasn't sure if Nutmeg would wait that long or not. And she hasn't. Today she crawled her own length (falling over once or twice and complaining vigorously all the way through). Then she looked at me and started to cry as if to say "look I've got this far, can't you just carry me the rest?" So I did. I'm so proud of my baby!

Meanwhile Froglet is developing a great sense of humour. At the weekend we went out with some friends, and as he walked along behind me with their small daughter I could hear him commenting on my clothes: "R, do you like Mummy's skirt? And her black boots? And her new socks - they come right up to here." On recounting this to The Engineer later I remarked that I felt like a fashion model, upon which Froglet immediately turned round and said matter-of-factly: "Well, you're not."

His father creased himself laughing.

The things they say...

Some conversations we had with Froglet back in March. F = Froglet, M= mummy, D= Daddy

29 March

D: Get off me... GET OFF ME.
F: *mopes*
M: Did you not hear Daddy the first time?
F: I' not talking to you ever again!
D+M: *lol*
F: It's not funny!
D: Yes it is.
F: No it isn't.
M: You're talking to us right now!
D: Are you talking to us?
F: *pauses to consider* Yes. I know how you love me.

(later same day)

F: *comes into our bedroom stark naked*
M: Why are you naked?
F: Because I like being naked.
M: Would you like a bath, since you're naked anyway?
F: No. I will put my T-shirt on, then I won't be able to have a bath.

30 March, whilst having lunch

M: Stop slurping!
F: I'm not going to talk to you ever again.
M: You said that yesterday so I don't believe you.
F: I believe you.
M: See, you're talking to me already.
F: Well, be happy Mummy. Don't be cross. I love you very much.
M: *lol*
F: Some of your food from your mouth went splat on the table when you were laughing.

(a few minutes later)

M: *scribbling rapidly*
F: What are you doing?
M: I'm writing down what you said, so that Daddy can see it when he gets home.
F: *considers* I love you very much Mummy. Write it down, so that Daddy can see that.

Awwwww. I have to say that while I love the cute love-related bits, the bit I like most is the one about the food going splat. So very small-boy!