More random Rachel

Here are some random Rachel quotes for your night's enjoyment:

As we were getting into the car this morning, Rachel informed me that she had heard the rain last night. "I heard it on the deck," she said. I love that image, of her listening to the rain, half-drowsy, feeling secure and loved.

"I think the sound of rain falling is one of the loveliest sounds there is," I said. I hope she agrees!

***

At the park tonight, we met a little girl named Ava. Ava had long curly brown hair and lovely face and blue-green eyes, but she was about 6 and still in diapers. And while she laughed and smiled, she couldn't speak. So, there's obviously something different about her but I didn't want to ask her father what it is.

She went to the tetherball pole while we were there and grabbed onto the ball. Rachel was a little perturbed (although she didn't fuss) and Ava's father persuaded her to give the ball back. She did.

Suddenly, Rachel looked right at her and said, "what a beautiful smile!"

Ava's dad responded, "what a beautiful voice!"

I was speechless. "Rachel, that is so nice of you to say," I said. And I looked at Ava's dad and said, "That was totally unexpected."

Seeing Ava reminded me how fortunate we are that Rachel is growing and developing normally, which I hope continues.

***

As I was making dinner:
Me: Do you like my long hair, Rachel?
Rachel: You don't have long hair!
Me: Well, I'm trying to grow it long.
Rachel: If you grow it longer and longer, you'll look like a princess!

***

At dinner tonight Rachel said, "what's a sample?" After I had used the expression, "here's an example," to explain something to her.
"Example," I said. "An example is...something that sounds like what you're trying to explain."
"I have an example," she said. "Grownups eat whatever they want."
"Well, that's true, Rachel," I said. "But by the time you're a grownup, you don't eat whatever you want. When I was a little kid I couldn't wait to be a grownup and eat whatever I wanted and play all the time. But by the time you get to be a grownup, you don't want to do those things."
"Why?" she asked.
"Well, because if you eat too many cookies and cupcakes, you get sick," I explained. "And you don't want to play all day because...I sound really boring, don't I?"
"Yeah," she replied.
I settled on the example of how as a grownup I don't like milk chocolate anymore, just dark chocolate.
"I like milk chocolate AND dark chocolate," she said.
"Well, milk chocolate tastes too sweet to me," I said. "I just like dark chocolate."
Translation of the entire exchange? I'm getting OLD.

***

As I put her to bed tonight, Rachel announced totally out of the blue, in that singsong-y voice of hers: "I'm ready for kindergarten! I wanna go to kindergarten!" I was completely taken aback!

***

"Goodnight, Rachel, I love you," I said as I left her room.
"I love you too," she said. "Have a nice dream! What are you going to dream about?"
"I don't know, sweetie," I said.
"I'm going to dream about a bathroom," she announced.
"A bathroom? Why are you going to dream about a bathroom?" I said.
"I'm going to dream about someone going potty," she said.
"Um, OK," I answered, and shut the door.