Zila, our first pet

Elise's teacher bought elise a small acquarium and a gift card to Petco so that we could buy a fish. Elise loves all of the animals at school and so she was super psyched for our first pet. We bought "Zila" on Monday and she lived a short 2 days. And yes, I was freaking out the whole time. 

Anyway, the reason why I'm posting is because tonight, Elise asked what homeless people so when it rains (we are in the middle of El Niño).  In this conversation, I explained to her that when people don't have homes or food, that we should think about giving them homes or food. And then she immediately said, "Ms. Courtney cared for us because we didn't have any animals and so she bought us a pet".  

Spilt Milk

Elise loves pouring milk into one of the tiny measuring cups but sometimes it will spill.  Just now, Elise kept asking Bry if she could pour the milk into the tiny cup, and he repeatedly said no.  She pleaded and begged for about 3 minutes, promising that she wouldn't spill.  Finally I came in and told Bryant that I actually let her do it a lot but that I do it with her.  So Bryant said that she could do it as long as she cleaned it up if she spilled, to which Elise responds, "I won't spill, Dada!!"  After Elise poured it (Bry and I were in different rooms), we heard her feet running to her bathroom and then I saw her carrying her step stool.  I asked her what happened, and she had this totally guilty look on her face, with her head cocked to the side and said, "I just spilled a little tiny bit.  I already wiped it with a wipe and now I have to get a paper towel to dry it".  I asked her, "Did you spill a lot?"  And she said, "No, just a little.  A little much.  A little a lot."

Christmas Surprise

Elise has been working on art project that involves ribbon, glitter, and other crafty things.  While she was making it, she looks up at me and says, "This is for Esther Eemoh" but says it in a really funny way and is about to burst into laughter.  The rest of the conversation:

Elise: (walks up to me): Actually, it's not for Esther eemoh
Me: Oh really?
Elise: (whispers) It's for someone else.
Me: OK
Elise: It's for someone really special who lives in this house.
Me: Is it for daddy?
Elise: No.
Me: Is it for me?
Elise:  NOOOO!!!!  (almost crying) It was supposed to be a surprise!  Why did you say that??  You're not supposed to guess!!  (falls to the ground rolling around)  You're not supposed to guuuueeeessss.....  Nooooooo....  I don't like you anymore....

Sleepover

Elise came home the other day and asked, "Can I sleepover at Robin's house?" (her daycare owner's daughter....the place where she spends all day everyday).  After I say "no", she immediately bursts into tears, which she NEVER does.  Since she almost never cries, I felt really bad and realized how much this pained her little heart.  She looked so cutely pathetic as the huge tear droplets were hanging off her long eyelashes and streaming down her face as she asked, "But whyyyyyy?!!!!  I wanna do a sleepover at Robin's!!!" 

You almost got me kid. 

The Land Before Time

Man, I loved this movie when I was young. We had the video and we watched it all the time.  I decided to buy it and show Elise, well aware that there is a scene where the mom dies in the beginning.  I've tended to avoid the whole death topic with Elise but thought that maybe this was a good opportunity to introduce it (beyond talking about bugs).  Well, man oh man, she was a wreck and cried her eyes out, especially at the end of the movie when she realized Little Foot would not be reunited with his mom.  Of course she started asking when I would die and she wouldn't believe me when I told her not to worry about it.  Finally I said, I will die when you become a grandmother.  She laughed at that because she understood how unlikely it was that she would in fact ever become a grandmother, haha!   She's watched the movie 2 times since and still cries at the end every time.

Still awake

It is 10:30 and Elise is still awake!!  I am working on my dissertation and she is next to me sleeping on a pull-out sofa in the office (don't ask).  She just turned to me and said in a very pedantic tone, "Momma, let me tell you something.  It is really, really hard for kids to sleep!"

If only it could be reversed.  Kids fall asleep easily and parents don't want to sleep so that they can get work done!

I care for him

Elise is already all about the underdog.  When we read stories or watch shows and there is a "bad guy", Elise will often insist, "But I care for him!" 

Hopefully this doesn't translate into dating preferences during the teen years.