Apropos of nothing

I probably don't say it enough, but I really enjoy being your mother. Especially during periods like this, when we're both in good moods and nobody is trying to force a molar through their own flesh or anything.

We're in a nice little routine where we just hang out. Sometimes just doing our own things, sometimes playing together. We chill in the backyard, and you entertain yourself digging in the dirt while I entertain myself...well, digging in the dirt. Occasionally you waddle over to where I'm working and we chat, mostly about BAALLLS! and FOWAHS!

It's amazing to watch you absorb information. I point things out to you, saying the words carefully, and most of the time you just give me a look of mild disbelief. Like, "Really? Is that really green, or are you pulling my leg?". Sometimes with a hint of wonder: "How do you know that?" But then, randomly, you'll say the word back to me. And I'm sure the exuberance I show in response is not nearly the same wattage that you beam every time you say the word BAAALL! But I try.

I'm totally entertained by you and your weird little personality. How can someone who has only been around for 20 months have decided on a favorite colour? But you have. Unsurprisingly, it's BOOOOOH.

Every other Tuesday we have dinner with your father before his shift at the restaurant, because the lifesaver cleaning person is doing the house. Afterwards, we sometimes go to the dollar store nearby to kill time, and you're in heaven. There are racks and racks of things to be explored and sorted, and some of them are BAAALLS! Today you sorted through an entire bin of balls, carefully taking them out and setting them down in the aisle, to find the one blue one.

(You put all the rest back, because if there's something you love more than balls, it's sorting things into containers)

There was also a stack of kid-sized plastic chairs. I thought you might want one for the backyard, so I took the top one, which was red.

"Boooh!" you said, pointing to the next one. It was turquoise.

"Oh, okay, we'll get a blue one." I put the red one aside and took the next one. You took it from me and set it next to the red one.

"Boooh!" you said again, pointing to the next one again. It was DARK blue. I took that one off for you, and you walked a little ways away with it, making it quite clear what your selection was.

Not just BOOOOH, but a certain shade. Well, then. I guess I have to start making room for this personality of yours. Think it'll sleep on a top bunk?