Don't Blame Me - November 2010

Eli:  Sean’s daddy died. He’s no longer on this earth.

Mama: Oh no, that’s really sad.  Did you tell him you were sorry and give him a hug?

Eli: Well, I didn’t kill him!

White Blood Cells

Eli has a cough.

Eli: Mama, I slept last night, so my cells (white blood cells) were able to fight the germs. As he says this, he is pretending to punch.

Dolphins

While watching a football game, Eli sees the cheerleaders come on TV.

Eli: What football team is that?

Mama:  The Dolphins.

Eli: I like that football team.

Mama: Why?

Eli: The girls.

Mama: What do you like about the girls?

Eli:  They are pretty.

My Job -December 2010

Riding home from Day Care

Eli: Daddy I don’t like my job

Dad: What job is that Eli?

Eli: Going up stairs and letting Okie out

Note: There was never anything mentioned about this being his job.

The Girls Love Me Best - December 2010

Mama had taken Eli to school a little later than normal because of a doctor’s appointment.  When we came into his classroom, one little girl helped him take his coat off and then hugged him.  Another little girl told him what they had been doing (practicing the letter L on the board.) Eli goes over to practice and four little girls are now standing around telling him what a good job he is doing.  Eli is grinning the entire time. All the little girls proceed to give him a hug.

At dinner that night:

Dad: So, I hear some little girls were hugging you today.

Eli: Yeah. (as if it were completely normal)

Daddy: Do they like you?

Eli: I guess.

Mama: Do they hug Matthew?

Eli: No.

Mama: Do they hug Fedy?

Eli: No. I guess they like me best. (Grin)

Mom Disappearing - January 2011

Picking the boys up from school.

Eli was in his seat but not buckled. I buckled Caleb in and then came around to buckle Eli in.

Eli: Mama, what if you disappeared right now?

Mama: What would you do?

Eli: I would go find another mommy and say “I need you to help me find my mama.”

Mama:  What would you do about Caleb?

Eli:  I would get him out and carry him like you do.  When I got to the other mommy, I would say “You have to hold this baby, because I can’t hold him any longer!”

Christmas December 2010

While visiting Pa Pa for Christmas

Eli: My daddy was crying.

Pa Pa: He was.

Eli: Yes, he is sad because his mama died.

Pa Pa: Yes.

Eli: She was really sick.

Pa Pa: Yes.

Eli: I’m sorry you’re all alone Pa Pa.

Later in the car on the way home. 

Eli: Mama, when is Pa Pa going to leave that house?

Mama: I don’t know Eli. Why?

Eli: Because he lives too far away from me. He needs to leave so he can be closer.

Yogurt Spill - November 2010

While eating yogurt at the dining room table, Eli spilled some on the table.  There were four drops side by side.

Eli: Mama, I wish this was my house, this was Pa Pa’s, this was Jacob’s, and this was Grayson’s so I could see them all the time.

Hard Worker Traits - October 2010

Eli, Mama, and Caleb in the hall bathroom.  Mama is washing her hands. 

Eli leaps from the door towards the toilet and pushes Caleb out of the way.

Mama:  What are you doing?

Eli: Caleb was getting ready to put his hand in the toilet.

Mama: Oh, well thank you.

Eli: That’s my job. And I will never stop doing my job!

Eli September 2010 Right before turning four

Riding down the road in a 35mph zone.

Eli:  Mama, go faster.

Mama: I can’t go faster.  It’s not safe and I don’t want anything to happen to you boys

Eli:  Nothing will happen to me, I’m tough.

Mama:  Well, something could happen if I was speeding, so Mama is extra careful when you boys are in the car. 

Eli:  If a car hit us, I would be ok.

At this point, we are pulling into our parking lot. Eli is quiet for a few moments.

Eli: Mama, if something happened to you, daddy, and Caleb, I would be all alone. Huh, I started crying when I said that. 

Big tears are coming down his face as the gravity of that hits him.