rivka

Scene: edge of the neighbors' landscaping.

Alex: serially picks up small pebbles from the ground, sniffs them, and puts them down.
Me: What are you doing?
Alex: Good, good.
Me: disbelieving tone. They smell good?
Alex: picks up another rock and sniffs it. Pee-uuw! Stinky! grins at me.

Scene: Alex's room, bedtime. Soft lights and music, rocking chair, pacifier.

Alex: takes pacifier out of mouth and flings it onto the floor. Uh oh.
Me: determinedly ignores provocation.
Alex: Uh oh. Paci ground.
Me: That's too bad.
Alex: beginning to be alarmed. Paci ground!!
Me: Because you threw it there.
Alex: laughs. Funny, funny!
Me: Actually, not so much.

Scene: At the breakfast table.

Alex: Banana hot!
Me: Your banana is hot?
Alex: Noooo, cold. looks around, points at my mug. Tea hot!
Me: That's right. takes a drink. Ooooh! Mama's tea is hot.
Alex: tilts head to the side, looks searchingly into my face. Okay?
Me: heart melting. Yes, Mama's okay.
Alex: A drink tea hot.