Bedtime Conversation 3-9-13

Every evening around 8pm (or as close as we can get it), Zoe, Mommy and I begin our bedtime routine.  Sometimes we start with a bath or a shower, followed by a fresh sleepytime outfit of footie pajamas layered with a wearable sleep blanket.  Then we lay in bed together with warm ghala (milk) and read a book -- lately we have been reading 'Time to Pee!' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs.'  Sometimes we watch Winnie the Pooh or The Grinch (and his dog, Max) instead.  After milk/reading/Pooh time, we 'tickle our teeth,' turn out the lights and head for Zoe's bedroom to say goodnight to our friends.

Zoe's room is lined with box picture frames of cartoon animals, including a giraffe, a grey elephant (Zoe calls him Horton), a cow (moooooooo), and a baby monkey riding a pink elephant (Zoe calls this one Heffalump).  When we enter Zoe's room we hold Zoe in our arms and we all say goodnight to all of our friends: "Goodnight giraffe... 'night 'night Horton... see ya cow (moooooo).... goodnight monkey (oo-oo-aa-aa)... 'night 'night Heffalump."
On this night, as Zoe said goodnight to Horton, she also wished goodnight to her other favorite Dr. Seuss character, The Grinch (even though he wasn't around).  Finally, she said, 'Goodnight, dog.'  Nikki and I looked at each other and then looked around the room: was there a dog here we didn't know about?  We asked Zoe, 'What did you say?'  She said again, 'Goodnight, dog.'  We replied, 'Zoe, Mommy and I see a giraffe, an elephant, a cow and a monkey.  What dog do you mean?'  With a hint of a 'duh' tone, she looked at us both and stated quite simply, 'Max.'

Nikki and I looked at each other and thought the same things at the same time.  OF COURSE! MAX!  How could we not know this after reading and watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas literally 100 times in the last three months?  Zoe certainly knew it.  She's clearly one step ahead of us, as she will be for years to come.  We can only imagine what life will be like when she learns how to roll her eyes and actually use the word 'Duh' before she reminds us of our status as out-of-touch fuddy-duddies.  It was fun moment and we look forward to more!