Sitting on the porch, chatting with Joseph while watching the sun set, he kept talking about the “green tractor over dere” and how it was plowing and mowing. It got darker and darker. Finally he said, “look at the tree tractor, mommy,” and I realized what he was seeing was a tractor shape in trees silhouetted against the sky.

“I want my Grandma Nanners! I’m going to go get her then put her in the car and turn on the air conditioning and turn the steering wheel and drive to my new house!”

Joseph falls off his little stool in the kitchen. I spin around and scoop him up. There’s a long pause, his face contorted in prep for bawling…BWAAA! He’s not hurt but we go sit down to cuddle and soothe. “Joseph, where did you get hurt?” I ask. “In the (sniff, sniff) kitchen. Bwaaa!”

(from March of this year, found jotted in a notebook)

Me: What color is mommy’s shirt?
J: Grey!
Me: What color are mommy’s pants?
J: Blue!
Me: What color are mommy’s eyes?  (I open wide.)
J: (looking)  White!
(I laugh)
J: Mommy’s mouth is white too!

Joseph is sick with a fever, chills…curled up on grandma’s couch. I rub his back and try to soothe…

“Joseph, my sick little buddy. Do your ears hurt?”

“Naaa,” he says meekly.

“Does your tummy hurt?”

“Naaa,” he says, eyes halfway closed.

“Are you cold? Do you want the beary blanket?”

“Yeaaah,” he says, wriggling under the blanket.

“Can I get you anything?”

“A cupcake.”

Joseph has “water play day” every other week at school…this involves delivering one suited and slathered up Joseph to school ready to splash and pour in a bunch of kiddie pools in the side yard of the school.  He loves it.

This morning, at grandma and grandpa’s house, there was a robin in the bird bath.  I said, “That robin is having a good ol’ time out there.”  Joseph looks out and says, “He’s having a water play day!”