More Rachel soundbites

Folks, our modem is broken so I have no Internet connection at home. We're researching whether to stick with Qwest or try to get a better deal with Comcast, so these posts will be brief until I can spend more time with the blog at home.

Until then:

Yesterday while we were in the car, I tried to tell Rachel that I was little once, too.
"No, you big!" she said.
"Yes, but I was little once," I replied.
"No, you big once!" she said, visibly disturbed.
"No, Mommy was little," I said, trying again.
"NO!" she said. "You big to me!"
And then she started banging her picture book against her car seat.

***

We're reading a book about all different kinds of animals, which she absolutely loves. Last night I tried to tell her that she's a mammal.

"You're a mammal, Rachel!" I said.
"I not a mammal!" she replied. "I Rachel DEE-Silver!"
"OK, who am I?" I asked.
"You Mommy DEE-Silver!" she replied.
Looks like I've got a new name these days! Mommy DeSilver. I love it!

***
When we arrived home, we had our usual quick dinner and then I started cleaning up.
I asked her to help me clear the table and to bring her cup of milk (without a top) to the counter.
"I worried I spill!" she said, a worried look on her little face.
"Rachel, it's OK if you spill," I said reassuringly. "But I need you to help me."
"I don't WANT to!" she said, clearly anxious.
"Rachel, if you spill it'll be an ACCIDENT," I said.
"Mommy yell at me," she replied.
"Mommy won't yell at you," I said. "But I want you to at least try. Sometimes you never know if you can do something unless you try."
After some more back and forth, she brought the cup to the counter without spilling. I of course praised her lavishly but reassured her again that it's OK to spill.
Whereupon she immediately went back to the table and grabbed her empty plate.
"I can manage it," she said proudly. And she did!