Actually, Tanika, you must be kidding me.

In the last couple weeks, the boys have started saying phrases that remind me how much they're growing.

I overheard Dean looking for a toy, saying to himself, "Actually, I think it's over here."

Cary said to us last night, "You know what, y'all?" (Sidenote: Yes, Maryland is SOUTH of the Mason-Dixon line, people. So we say "y'all." And what?)

Dean has taken to calling me "Tanika."

And a couple days ago, I asked Cary to do something for me and he said, "No problem!"  So cute.

Not so cute? The time I asked him to pick up his toys and he said to me, "Are you kidding me, Mommy?"

No I am NOT kidding you, you little pipsqueak. Pick up your toys!  (That's what I said in my head. You can't really call kids "pipsqueaks" or else they'll repeat it to the people at CPS.)

Anyway, it cracks me up to hear them talking like big boys -- and it also (of course) makes me stop and take note of how fast they're growing. Sigh.  I remember when Cary used to stare up at the ceiling fan and say, "Dan!" That was just like seven seconds ago.

More importantly, it reminds Lester and me that we have to always be thinking about what we say around them. They are picking things up like wildfire these days.

What funny things are your kids saying?

P.S. Clair has become simultaneously more aggressive and more lovey-dovey in the last few months.
She whacks at us and her brothers all day long, and fusses at us non-stop. But she also hugs and kisses us -- and her stuffed animals -- ALL the time:

That's her kissing "Baby Beanie."

 I love that she is sweet AND feisty.

I have no doubt that this girl will be the kind to "lean in" when the time comes. So happy she's my sassy sweetie!

Proud of our affectionate household

Last night, I had Clair on my lap and the boys were strewn across the couch pillows "reading" to me.

They read "Bark, George," and "Picky Nicky" and "Good Dog, Carl!"

At a certain point, Cary went and got Llama Llama Misses Mama and they took turns "reading" it. Dean, ever the actor, made extremely realistic crying noises when we got to the part where an overwhelmed-by-preschool Llama Llama cried at the snack table. This made Cary decide to do the same when it was his turn to "read."

"A-hee-hee-hee," he said, with his face all scrunched. "Llama Llama wants his Momma!"

Cary's performance was much less impressive than his brother's. But Dean must've been moved, because he reached out, put his arm around Cary and said, "It's OK. It's OK, Cary." And then he kissed him on the cheek.

Cary smiled.

Then, he read the part again (pretend tears and all). This time Dean bear-hugged his brother and they toppled over onto the couch, giggling, while Dean kissed Cary again.

Clair laughed at the spectacle.

Cary caught a glimpse of his laughing sister, and climbed over to me, leaned in and kissed Clair.

Clair laughed some more.

Then Dean moved in for a Clair-kiss. He took two.

She was in heaven! So was I. Eventually, we were all stealing kisses from one another, and laughing. It was fantastic.

Then this morning, Clair was playing on the floor with her toys. After eating his breakfast, Cary came into the living room, sat on the floor next to her and said in a high screechy voice, "Hi Baby Clair. Hiiiiiii! Hello! Hello, Baby Clair. I am eating my vitamin. Hello!"


As we were leaving, Dean made sure to say "Bye-Bye" to his sister, even stopping to wave energetically at her as she sat on the floor. They are constantly making sure not to leave her out. They even say "Bye-Bye Baby Clair" to her empty car seat when we arrive at their school every morning.

I know there will come a time when the three of them will fight like crabs in a barrel and plot against one another mercilessly.

But I can't help but pray that they are building a foundation of love and affection for one another that will survive the teen years and sibling rivalries and 8 million episodes of "He-won't-stop-touching me!!"

I know it is taboo these days to be proud of your kids. Anything you say in the way of pride about their behavior or intellect or personalities gets construed as "bragging," and people are somehow more annoyed by people who are proud of their kids than people who do nothing but complain about them.

But you know what? I am proud that my boys are affectionate with their sister. It makes my heart so glad, I cannot even tell you. I seriously burst with joy when they constantly ask about her and rush to bring her a toy when she cries, or try to talk to her in baby talk or kiss her little cheeks.

And I am proud that they are affectionate (sometimes) with one another. 

I am proud to say that in our house, they have learned to love freely and openly. In fact, they will probably be sick of kisses by the time they're old enough to say so. That makes me tremendously happy.

Many aspects of my kids' personalities and life trajectories I will have absolutely no control over. But at least when it comes to this one thing -- showing them what love and affection looks and feels like -- I am proud of the example Lester and I are setting.