She Speaks

"Matilda, what kind of cake do you want for your birthday?"

"Num-num."

"Yep, it'll be good. What kind do you want? Elmo? Cat In the Hat?"

"Melmo. Go go go go go."

"Elmo AND Cat In the Hat? Which one do you want?"

"Num-num."

"Yes, but what do you want it to look like?"

"Cake."

Done.

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"Mama! Mama!"

"What?"

"Oh, Mama. Oh, NO. Mama, DOWN."

"What fell?"

"Down, Mama! Down!"

I follow her into her room to find a book on the floor. I put it back in her bookshelf.

"Tain too, Mama. Nice."

I live to please.

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Sam, Eric, and I sat around the dinner table and discussed our Christmas lists. Suddenly:

"No!"

We all looked at Matilda in surprise.

"No! No. Shhhhhh!"

"Wha -" Eric started.

"SHHHHHH!" Matilda hissed, covering her mouth with her finger. Stunned into silence we all stared at her for a moment.

She nodded, satisfied. "Shhhhhh," she said again, and continued eating.

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And a few translations:

"Mama, show-show and brush." (Mom, take a shower and do your hair, you filthy creature.)

"No Sam! No shut! Mine! MINE! AAAAAAHHHHH!" (Sam, please open your bedroom door. I left something of mine in there.)

"Milk an' num-num an' fork." (I would like a bowl of cereal.)

"Mama! Towel!" (I have made a huge mess and need this cleaned up.)

"Shhhhhhoooooooopppppiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg!" (We just dropped Sam off at school - let's hit the stores!)

"Go. Socks. Shoes. Coat. Go." (Let's get out of this house!)

"Mama brush." (Please put my hair in a ponytail and get it out of my face.)

"Tub-tub. Bubbles. Book. Down." (I'm ready to do our evening routine and go to bed.)

Deesh-deesh - TV
Bubba - friend/loved one
Butt - diaper/bathroom
Eeeeewwww - any of us, at any given time
Bee - Grandma Bay
Papa - all grandparents
Neckdice - jewelry
Pus - puzzle
Song - all music, instruments, radios