Foster Baby

Having Hailie has been such a joy and Aidyn has done so well with her. Usually she is saying, "I'm a good big sister," "That's my baby sister," or just "That's my baby." But last week at church someone asked her, "Is that your baby?" and she replied, "No, that's our foster baby."

I Wish...

Learning how to use a new phrase is always fun. Aidyn's new one is "I wish..." and it can take many forms: "I wish I could have a cookie, " or "I wish I could watch a show." The best one though was on the last day we were in California after Uncle Dennis's wedding. Uncle Dan, Auntie Jen, and Addison had already left and we decided to take the kids into the hotel's hot tub for a little swim. While in there Aidyn announced, "I wish Addison could swim with us."

Tuesday

I've been trying to teach Aidyn some common responses to questions that adults ask.
1. How are you? "I'm fine thank you" (we're working on it, she's getting better at being consistent with this programmed respnse)
2. What is your name? "My name is Aidyn" (pretty good response)
3. What is your last name? "Aidyn Mingo" (apparently the whole thing is the last name because that's the only time she'll say it. I just want her to know it right now in case she gets lost.)
4. How old are you? "I'm two. I'll be three at my birthday." (that is ALWAYS the response...wonder what she'll say after she turns three!)
5. When is your birthday? This is the new question we've been working on and yesterday afternoon I tried to quiz her in front of Daddy. The desired response is February 25, but she just said, "Tuesday." We just cracked up laughing. How does she know anything about what Tuesday is?
She is so smart it scares me and sometimes I am absolutely shocked and humored by the things that come out of her mouth.

The Pirate Captain

Last week we were flying to California for my youngest brother's wedding. The airport was an experience for Aidyn. Not that she's never been in one before...she's just now old enough to notice things (like all the jets for example). She kept noticing the airport-wide PA announcements. When we got on the plane and the captain did the welcome announcement she asked, "Hey who sayed that?"
"That was the captain." I answered. "Do you know what the captain does?"
Aidyn swiftly answered, "Yeah, he's the pirate!"

Leg Sleeves

Very good question of the day: why aren't they called "leg sleeves"? Because this morning Aidyn's pajama pants kept riding up her legs and she was starting to get frustrated with them. She's finally growing out of something! Anyway, she said, "Mommy! My leg sleeves are getting messed up!"

You Have Your Own Neck

I love to play a game with Aidyn where I try to tickle her neck with lots of kisses. She loves it, too, and just giggles hysterically! While we were playing it this morning I said, "Give me your neck!" and she replied seriously, "No, Mommy. You have your own neck."

I Had a Good Christmas

This year was the first time that Aidyn really understood a little bit about Christmas. She's been looking forward to opening the presents that were piling up under the tree for a couple of weeks now and learned to say that "God's Son Jesus was born" whenever we asked what Christmas was all about.
She had a blast opening presents and was a big help to the rest of us, volunteering herself to open all of our presents too! She even helped Hailie open her gifts before she opened her own. She got a piano from Mamie, coloring books, a doctor's kit, a doll with snap-on clothes, a magna-doodle board, Winnie the Pooh's Adventures dvd, a Cabbage Patch doll, a fish tank, some clothes, and more to come at our family Christmas in California this year. As we put her to bed last night she said, "I had a good Christmas, Dad."

Chicks Doing the Cha-Cha

As a Christmas gift this year Aidyn received a play doctor's kit complete with stethescope, thermometer, and an otoscope for looking in ears. She was trying out her new toys by looking in everyone's ears and when she came to Nana she looked in and Nana asked, "What's in there?"
"Chicks doing the cha-cha," Aidyn announced. Where does she get this stuff?

Where is Jesus?

About a week ago Aidyn and I were having a discussion about obedience. Here's the transcript:

Mommy: "When you obey it makes Jesus happy."
Aidyn: "But, where is Jesus?" [a good question, really--all the other people we talk about she's seen and talked to and played with]
M: "Jesus is by us all the time. Wherever we are He's with us."
A: "Can he come over and have a party with us? That would be fun."
M: "Well, someday He'll come get us and we'll all go have a party with him." [ok, so it's simplified doctrine, but on the whole it's true!]
A: "Oh! Ok! But...where's God?" [wow--what a connection...I'm not sure how she's made the connection that Jesus and God are related but not the same]
M: "God is by us all the time, too."
A: "Why can't I see Him?"
M: "Because we have to see him with our hearts." [what do you say to that question?!]
A: "Oh. But I can see Him if I look out the window in your room."
M: "You can?" [surprised, of course...I should try looking out that window more often!]
A: "Yep. Let's play guys." [guys are her term for her Little People and all of their various buildings and vehicles]

Teaching Aidyn about Jesus and God is such a big responsibility and such a privilege. I am looking forward to having to give many more difficult answers as she grows in her knowledge and understanding. But really...what do you tell your preschooler when she asks such deep questions?!

Pokynokyo

Aidyn was enjoying those Disney books on tape the other night and was listening to the Pinocchio one. Later we asked her, "Which one were you listening to?"
She said, "Pokynokyo."