Bedtime Conversation

Erik and I want to start the practice young--even now, when Joshua barely talks--of using bedtime as a way to connect with our children on their day. The joys, the disappointments, the successes. So lately, more and more, instead of telling Joshua what we did today, I've been asking him. Here's how tonight's conversation went:

M: Joshua, what did you do today?
J: Mmmmm .... unintelligible strings of words.
M: Did you go to Ms. Shawn's house? (Daycare)
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: What did you do there?
J: Mmm...thinking hard...Um....*makes hand motion for digging.*
M: Oh, did you play in the sand?
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: At the park?
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: Did you play with Grayson? And Gracie?
J: Yesh. always with the emphatic head nod.
M: Do you like to go to Ms. Shawn's and have lots of fun?
J: head nod.
M: We thank Jesus for Ms. Shawn because you love to go there, and you feel safe!
J: silent, considering my statement, and then ... Yesh. head nod.
M: Then, did we go to Target? The store? And ride in the cart?
J: Yesh! Yellow! pointing at his tongue (Joshua calls Icee's at Target "yellow"--why? I have no idea.)
M: Yes! We did have a Icee. And did we buy a basketball?
J: Yesh. Eh eh eh *putting fists to eyes*
M: Yes, and you got new sunglasses and a new swimsuit!
J: Yesh. pulls down quilt to point to pajama shorts Eh eh eh
M: Tomorrow you can wear your swimsuit and play in the pool. Did Mama set up your pool today so you could play in the water?
J: Yesh. el-le-el-le-el-le-la *makes noise for fishy*
M: And we got the fishes and you put them in the pool! That was fun. And did we go to pick up Daddy from work?
J: Yesh. Car. Daddy.
M: And did it rain while we were in the car? Was the water hitting the car?
J: thinking very hard ... Mmmmm.... Yesh. head nod.
M: What else did you do today? Oh--did you go to breakfast with Daddy?
J: Yesh. Mmm... peew-peew-peew!
M: And you watched a Spiderman?
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: And did Uncle Mike come for a quick dinner? And wrestle with you?
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: Do you love Uncle Mike? Are you happy he can come visit so much?
J: Yesh. Turtles. Bop.
M: Yes, Buddy, the turtles and Grandpa love you too.
J: Daddy, turtles, Bop, T.V., peew-peew-peew-peew!
M: Yes, Daddy, turtles, Bop, T.V. and Spiderman all love you. And Grandad, and Grammie, and Grandma, and your aunties and uncles and cousins--
J: Mama!
M: And Mama--we all love you very much. And Baby Girl loves you too.
J: says name for Baby Girl and turns around to pat and kiss my tummy.
M: Very nice Joshua. You're going to be a very good big brother.
J: Yesh. head nod.
M: It was a good day and Mama is very proud of you!
J: Yesh. head nod. Ror!
M: Yes, lion. Sleepytime baby. Night night. I love you Joshua. Say I love you?
J: Ah-do, Mama.