I'm amazed

sometimes at what the kids say or know. On my dresser are pictures of loved ones: three-month-old Mijo in his first professional photo; Jory and Sasha in their first professional photograph; Auntie Em's picture of weeks old sleeping Jory; and some others.

As I was putting up clothes, the baby was looking at the photos.

"Mommy, who this is?" she inquired, phrasing her question exactly like her sister.

I did a quick glance at the picture she was pointing to and said, "That's Grandpa."

"That not grandpa."

"Yes, it's Mommy and Grandpa."

"No," she said insistently.

I went over to her and sure enough she was right. It wasn't the picture of Mommy, Oma, and Grandpa at our family reunion. The picture were I'm upset because one, I was awakened from my nap to take the family photo; and two because Oma was not a happy camper I had decided to take a nap at the 4th of July picnic with my five-month-old baby cousin. I mean, who in the world would want to take a nap on a cool blanket with a sweet baby while being shaded from the mid-day, July, Houston sun? Did I mention I was bored too? Ahhh, Omas. But I digress.

The baby was right it wasn't that photo she was looking at.

"You're right baby that isn't Grandpa, that's Uncle Brandon, Auntie Heather, and Mommy at Uncle Brandon and Auntie Heather's wedding."

Who knew between the two pictures casually placed throughout the house, the baby could recognize Grandpa?

And the surprises kept on coming on Saturday when Mr. Will told me he was going to hand Rowan back to me for a while then start the baby's swimming lessons. He's found it's better if he takes them one at a time because occasionally the baby decides to mimic her older sister which means there's not one but two crying Irish twins in the pool. Though praise God Layla's cries can't and don't get to that high pitched screech her sister's does. I informed Mr. Will the baby wasn't swimming today.

"You're not swimming today, baby?" Mr. Will asked.

"My nose runny," she answered, pointing to her nose.

Wait, she knows her nose is running? Wait, she knows her nose is running and that's why she's not taking swimming lessons today? Are you serious? I didn't tell her that.

"Your nose is running?" the swim instructor continued.

The baby nodded her head.

"Next week, you'll swim, right?"

"Okay," she said, nodding her head.

She knows her nose is running. I find that amazing. Who told her that? Have we been saying it so much that she knows? But how did she know to answer Will's question like that? It's like my baby is getting older.


Children get older
I'm getting older too


And sometimes I'm surprised what comes out of my mouth. As we were walking to the car after swimming lessons, the following convo took place.

"Mommy, I want to go to the park," Rowan declared.

"Mommy, I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese," Layla announced.

"We've already been to the park, Rowan. We're not going again," I answered. "And we can go to Chuck E. Cheese on Jory's birthday." I really try to go to that place once a year, maybe twice but that's it.

"Mommy, I want to go to the park," the older of the two repeated.

"Mommy, I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese," the younger of the two insisted.

"And Mommy wants to marry George Clooney. But these are all things that probably won't happen today. I'm 99.9% sure they won't happen today," I responded.

Was that really necessary? There was a bit of sarcasm in there. I've got to watch my tongue. But my answer was successful in stopping all talks of the Mouse and the park.