A rainy Tuesday...

Me: So, Henry, what do you think we should do today?
Henry (very matter of factly): Go to store.
Me: Oh, do you want to? What store should we go to?
Henry: a BIIIIIG one!!! a BIIIIIG store mommy.
Me: Really? Well, what do we need to buy at the big store?
Henry (again, matter of factly): Groceries.
Me: No, we have groceries. What else do we need?
Henry: ummm, a pillow...a CHOOCHOO pillow!!!
Me: A choo choo pillow?? I'm not sure if...
Henry (cutting in, sing-songy): It'll be fun. Mommy...will.be.fun!!

Would it surprise you if I told you that I sometimes convince Henry to get in the car to run errands or go to the store by telling him that it's going to be fun? Little copycat stinker. Speaking of him being a copycat, Jared and I have learned a very important parenting lesson these past few weeks. Here it is: DO NOT respond to your child's incessant questioning with anything but 'yes' or 'no' - no really, don't.

An illustration: Henry has a fascination with having his diaper off and asking if it's okay to pee-pee on things. Just stay with me, okay...you'll see where I'm going. At first, it was sort of an adorable game. Pee-pee floor? No, Henry. Pee-pee couch? No. Pee-pee wall? No. Pee-pee James? No, Hen. You get the idea. Well, after him asking to pee-pee on a gadzillion different things, we got lazy. Pee-pee shoes? No. Pee-pee counter? No, Henry. Pee-pee chair? No. Pee-pee feet? No. Pee-pee pool? No, Henry. Pee-pee TV? Nope.

**sound of record screeching as music comes to abrupt stop**

Fast-forward a few days. Henry, it's time to put your shoes on. NOPE! Henry, seriously, we have to go. NOPE! Henry, come get in your seat. NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! Henry, stop throwing things at James. NOPE! Eat your dinner, buddy. NOPE! And, just since this weekend, he's tacking on an adorable "don't want to" to the end of his nopes. On that note, if I figure out who taught him the ever-charming "don't want to"...well, I'm just gonna...well...nevermind.

In other news, James has all of the sudden found his voice. He's been serenading us all day long, and Henry and I are loving it. Henry gets so tickled, because James looks right into his eyes and squeals and screams as loud as his little baby pipes will let him. He told me today that James is actually singing to him, so a few times, when James was extra loud, Henry would chime in with a few words to songs he knows.

For all you math people, here's the equation. Screechy, excited baby + tone-deaf song-happy toddler = Truly joyful noise.

The weather is humid and drippy, so we're making memories inside until that passes over...you know, in, like, September. :) By the way, it's a big birthday month around here. James will be 3 months old on the 10th (I know, I can't believe it either), and in some even more unbelievable birthday news, someone in our house - ahem - may or may not be changing her front number before the month is out. Let's all hope that what they say is true...it's the new 20, right? :)

More on that later...