A visit to ........ Dr. Seuss????

I never thought a two year old could be so entertaining but ours keeps us in stitches quite often. Friday morning presented such an occasion. As a precursor, I have to add that Xander LOVES to read before bed and constantly begs for just one more story. We recently introduced him to the sing songy rythyms of Dr. Seuss. Taking that into consideration, this is the conversation that took place friday morning in the Hughes household.

Jon having recently returned from leading a group of jr. high/high school students on a ski retreat, thought he may have injured himself in the process. He'd had a pain in his chest since he got home and we finally deduced that he may have a cracked rib. Friday morning he finally decided it might be time to call the doctor and have it checked out. Xander, being the astute and observant toddler that he is was taking in our conversation about going to the doctor. After being home with dad a few days that week, because he was sick, he deduced that we must be going to the doctor for him.

As we were getting ready for the day he started saying, "I don't want to go to the doctor." ( He actually LOVES our doctor and loves going to see him.) I told him that was OK because daddy was actually the one going to the doctor. We started talking about the doctor and I asked him what his doctor's name was. He looked and me and said,very matter of factly, Dr...... Seuss. I cracked up laughing and of course at that he continued to answer the question with the same response. He was so matter of fact about it, Jon heard me laughing and came to get in on the conversation. He later shared it with our doctor who also thought it was hilarious.

On another note - I think we must have the smartest toddler in the world (doesn't every parent think so). Xander read to me Friday morning. Well, maybe not so much "read" as recited words that he probably memorized from hearing the same story over and over and over. He has recently become very attached to the Eric Carle story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". I enjoy the story too and read it to him a lot before he goes to bed. Friday morning as I was getting the kids dressed he asked me to read it. Being the big brother that he is and, at this point, the only child who can talk or make any kind of decision, I often let him decide if he wants to get dressed first or if he wants Avery to get dressed first. He ALWAYS wants to go first.

So, when he asked me to read the story I explained that I had to get Avery dressed first and that maybe he should read it to me. ( I didn't really EXPECT him too). He opened the book to the title page and said, "the very hungry caterpillar". He then proceeded to recite nearly every word on the first page - "In the light of the moon, an egg lay on leaf." He turned the page "the sun, POP". For those of you who aren't familiar with the story, when the sun comes out the little caterpillar pops out of the egg. He continued reciting some of the fruits the caterpillar eats along with, "Still Hungry". When he finally reached the page of Saturday, when the caterpillar eats all kinds of junk food he said "sing mommy, sing." Mind you I don't really "sing" but I do try to recite the page quickly and without taking a breath - he seems to like it best that way. I was very impressed. So much so that we invited Jon to share in storytime later in the day and for a special treat - Xander read the story!!! What a big day for our little guy!!! I can't believe that we could enroll him in preschool this fall if we wanted too. Of course, he has to decide to be a real "big boy" and go pee pee on the potty first - Another story for another day!!!