A Cynic is Born

Zane and John were weeding our little rock "garden" by the front porch. Helpfully, Zane was selecting the pretty rocks and setting them aside. I came over to see what was going on and the following conversation tool place:

Zane: Look at all the pretty rocks! What kind of rocks are these?

Me: Well, actually, those are pieces of glass. (decorative, non-sharp-edged glass - don't call CPS)

Zane: No they're not.

Me: Yep. That's glass.

Zane: No it's not. Daddy! Mommy says that those rocks are glass.

It doesn't really matter what happened after that. Suffice it to say that my skepticism for all things (which, no doubt, was passed on to me through both 'nature' and 'nurture' and I have worn like a badge my whole life) has bitten me in the ass.

Yeah - laugh it up mom and dad.

A Perfect Saturday Afternoon

Faves

My current favorite word of Zane's: swannich (sandwich)

I'm sitting next to Zane and watching him play games on my computer.

Ever since he started playing games on my iPhone (and now my computer, which is kind of annoying because he's really too young to have his own computer, but, come on, I want to play on my computer!) he's done this thing that makes me laugh and wonder what's going on in that little brain. Whenever he's given a selection of items and tasked with selecting the "right" one, he selects every wrong thing until only the right one is left.

Is he being silly or obstinate? Or do all the other kids do this, too, and I'm erroneously thinking he's special? Or maybe he really IS "special?"

Random Picture + Conversation

Zane: I want a new Umizoomi. Mommy, can you download a new Umizoomi? Please?

Me: No, we have plenty. You can just watch one that we already have. Thanks for using your manners, though.

Zane: Oh. Can you upload one?

Reader

Zane read his very first word almost all on his own this weekend (I had to tell him that, in this word, the 'c' made the 'kuh' sound). He sounded out all the letters and read CROCS on his shoe.

And he didn't even just guess that it said Crocs because it was on a Crocs shoe. In fact, he hasn't yet figured out "context." Like, if we're in Starbucks and the word that you're reading is on the Starbucks sign (which you've recognized since you were about 8 months old) and the first part says STAR - you can pretty confidently assume what the word is.

Sarcasm aside, I'm proud of him.

Why does Buddha wear gloves?

Zane: (looking at Buddha figurine in bathroom) What's Buddha? Is he a superhero?

Me: No, he's just a person.

Zane: Why does he wear gloves? (No idea where that came from)

Me: Hmm...maybe it's cold.

Zane: Where does he live?

Me: Well, he doesn't really live anywhere. He's kind of like Jesus. You know how you learn at school that Jesus lives in your heart? Buddha does, too. They're a lot alike.

Zane: Why is it cold in your heart?

Me: Wash your hands, please.

Extra Fingers

A Facebook conversation reminded me of this conversation with Zane:

Zane: Mommy, why do I have five fingers? I only want a pinky and a thumb.

Me: Well, all our fingers help us grab and hold things.

Zane: (grabbing something with only his pinky and thumb) See? I only need a pinky and a thumb.

Me: OK. Well, all the other fingers are extras. In case you lose a pinky or thumb. It's nature's way of having back-ups.

Zane: Or Jesus's.

Cookies!

Many of you may have guessed that I am a bit of control freak when it comes to cooking. For this reason, I am very thankful for two things:
1. My husband will eat and enjoy everything that I make.
2. My mother and Zane's teachers cook with him (which means I don't have to)(yet).

Nonetheless, on this cold, wintry night, after our dinner of fish bites (sustainable) and Ore-Ida fast-food french fries, Zane and I decided that a) we needed cookies (or Scooby snacks, depending on who you ask) and b) it was too cold to go out so we'd have to make them ourselves.

After trying unsuccessfully to convince him that making cookies wouldn't be fun and that he should just watch Scooby-Doo while I did it, I bit the bullet, went into Zen Mommy mode and baked with my child.

Yea!