Exerting Your Will

Papa: We were playing on the floor building houses with Tyco blocks. It came time to put away the blocks. We were working together, and you jumped up to go draw on a piece of paper.

"You're not done here yet," I said.

And you replied, "Yes, I are."

So I went over and grabbed you to "help" you back to your blocks so you could finish the job.

Prayer Time

Mommy: Tonight you asked me to lay in your bed with you during night-night time. I curled myself into the toddler bed with you. I realized that your eyes were open and you were just looking at me. I started speaking words of blessing over you like, "God made you special," "You are beautiful," "I can't wait to see what God is going to do in your life," etc. I started to talk about your day. I asked about if you liked dinner and you said, "I like ice cream," which is what you had for dessert. I mentioned going to G-momo and Guffaw's house and you talked about washing the car and playing with marbles. I explained that G-momo and Guffaw were going to be moving to a new house and pretty soon we would need to say good-bye to the house they are living in right now.

We discussed more things, including who was big and little in our family (you brought that up), and then I said that it was time to go to sleep and I got out of bed to leave. You asked, "Pray?" I figured Daddy had already prayed with you but I figured more prayer couldn't be too bad even if it was a delay tactic for going to sleep.

I started thanking God for you and saying some of my normal night-night prayer topics for you. You chimed in with people to pray for and so I would pray for them for about a sentence or two before you would say another name. At one point you said my name and so I was asking God to help me be the best mommy I could be and to give me patience and love. Instead of chiming in with another name you said, "God made you." I was caught by surprise by your comment and realized it was like you were giving me a blessing. You proceeded to say, "God made Daddy. God made me."

During the prayer you mentioned G-momo's house which is something you say a lot during prayer. I was praying that their house would sell and that the family that moved into the house would love it, and that G-momo and Guffaw would find a new house. You said, "God bring a house." What struck me by this comment was I hadn't used that wording, "bring a house," those were your own thought up words connected.

I find some of the things you say to be so interesting and poignant in the moment.

Show Urine

Mommy: We were trying to use positive reinforcement to encourage Jenna to not wet her pants so much. We know that she loves popcorn so we made the deal that she could get popcorn during the night-night story if she hadn't wet her pants all day. To give you a way to earn popcorn we said you would get some if you went potty on the toilet at least once each day.

One night as we were getting ready for bed you ran into the bathroom. You have been doing this some nights just as a way to run away from getting your PJs on. You hadn't gone potty on the toilet yet on this particular day. You sat on the toilet and said, "Show urine." I was slightly confused by your word choice but you quickly stood up and said, "Popcorn!" and ran towards the living room where Jenna was eating her popcorn. I looked in the toilet and sure enough there was urine.

Jesus, Peace

Mommy: You were crying about something and needed to go to sleep. I was holding you and sat down in one of our blue rocking chairs. Many times daddy will say, "Pray to Jesus to come into your heart and he'll give you peace." I can't remember if he said it this time but while I was rocking you I heard you whisper, almost like a breath prayer, one word with each exhale, "Jesus, peace." You stopped crying and relaxed. It was so quiet, only I heard you say it. I thought it was beautiful. I love watching your faith journey.

Driving

Daddy & Mommy: When we got in the car after Jenna's 4th birthday party, the windshield wipers started swooshing and Mommy said, "Someone else has been driving my car." You, Sarah, promptly replied, "Me!" We chuckled. You replied, "My driving the car." Cue more laughing.

I'll Show You Jesus

Mommy: We were at Papa and Nana's HB house doing laundry. Jenna had cracker's from her sacklunch from preschool. She was taunting you saying, "Here you want one," and then eating it. I let this happen a few times and watched how you handled it. You were getting confused, frustrated, and started to whimper.

I explained to Jenna that if she was offering you a cracker she, then, must give you one because it is mean to only offer and then not share. Jenna started sharing some of her crackers. When there were only two crackers left, she once again offered and then this time slowly ate it in front of you. It was basically evil. You started crying.

I was quite angry but decided to just see if I could find any crackers to give you. I gave you two crackers and almost instantly, with tears still in your eyes, you turned and handed Jenna one of the two crackers.

tacos vs. burritos

Daddy: we were driving in the van on the way home from Pre-marital class, right around lunch time. I asked you what you wanted for lunch: tacos or hot dogs. You said, "Tacos." Then a moment later you clarified, "Actually, burritos." Yes, you said "actually" like that kid from the Little Rascals.