Negotiations (Anna)

Emma continues to enjoy a good negotiation.

Mumma: Ok. I think I heard Mummy say you have ten minutes. So ten minutes it is and then it's bed time.
Emma: I want five minutes. Not ten. Please, Mumma. Five minutes?
Mumma: Well, alright then.

Snapshots of a toddler's mind (Anna)

Four snapshops of Emma's endlessly fascinating mind:

1)
Emma: Mumma, when it's Christmas, I want a scooter. I will stay at home and you and Mummy will go to the shop and buy me a scooter. I won't look.
Mumma: Oh yeah? Why do you want a scooter?
Emma: To ride. [duh]
Mumma: What colour scooter do you want?
Emma: Umm. Red.
(I should add that the desired colour of the scooter changes each time this conversation is repeated, cycling through red, pink, blue, purple and green. But given that she was sveral months short of 2 years old last Christmas, we're a little surprised that she has such a sophisticated understanding of Christmas presents)

2)
I just got back from being away for a few days. We were all snuggling on the couch, when Emma said, happily, "I cuddling with my family. *sigh* I like it when we all in the same place."

3)
Emma: Mumma, what are you doing?
Mumma: I'm wiping this crayon off the wall.
Emma: Oh. Is it from me?
Mumma: Yup. That's right.
Emma: Did Mummy do it?
Mumma: Actually, I'm pretty sure you did it, Em.
Emma: Oh. (pause, then with complete sincerity) I sorry, Mumma. I didn't mean to draw on the wall. I draw with my crayons on the paper next time.

4)
Emma: I have a cookie when we get home? (referring to the cookies she made with Caroline over the weekend)
Mumma: No, I don't think so. Cookies are a treat. We're not having cookies today.
Emma: But I made them!!

Don't flush (Anna)

Emma: Mumma-Mummy, my underwears are wet.
The Mums: Why are they wet?
Emma: They were in the toilet!
The Mums: How did they get in the toilet?
Emma: They swimming.
The Mums: How did they get there?
Emma: I don't know.
The Mums: Who put them there?
Emma: Ummm....Emma!!

I know how you feel (Anna)

Emma (wayyy past bedtime): I waiting for sleep to find me, Mummy. He hasn't come yet...

leaving on a jet plane

Granny Heath and Grandad left yesterday. After they left, Emma stroked my cheek and said, "I know. Mumma is sad 'cos your Mummy has flied away on a big plane."

Emma knows about being sad because Mummy has flied away on a big plane, so I knew it was genuine empathy. And very sweet.

In other news, Emma has developed a new phrase. "never, ever". As in "I'm not going to bed, never ever ever ever again" or "I not eating my dinner ever ever ever again..."