Maddy (almost) 4.5

The updates for Maddy are a little harder to write mainly because her skills and interests are generally the same as six months ago. I do have a conversations that I'd like to remember for the future.

"Ontid Houses and Illtons"
This conversation happened in the car ride home from daycare between Maddy and Josh. Just to set the stage, it's Spring Break so the older 'school aged' kids are back during the day.

M: Papa, guess what today I went to a ontid house!
J: Where did you go Maddy?
M: A ontid house.
J: Maddy, what's a ontid house?
M: Papa, repeat after me...Ontid... House. Get it?
J: What is at a ontid house?
M: You know people dying, ghosts and illtons.
J: Oh you mean a haunted house?
M: Yes papa, a ontid house.

Later on in the conversation...
M: Papa, when you die do your eye balls fall out of your head?
J: ???????? (Josh is at a loss for words and at first start talking about about animals coming to eat you....then quickly realizes that's a huge mistake so he back tracks. He said in his defense he only mentioned animals because he thought the idea of bugs eating your body was too much. We later just used the word 'decompose' like turning back into soil, much like our compost waste. She was ok with that. Thank god.)
M: Like the illtons right?
J: The what?!?
M: Ill...tons. Papa, when your eye balls fall out and all your skin falls off.
J: Oh, skeletons!
M: Yes, papa illtons!

(Turns out they were at the park we used to live across from. There is a hospice there and Nicole, an older girl, told her that people that there are ghosts etc. there)

Oh, my word. Is this what's going to happen as she goes off to 'big kid' school? Her world is definitely opening up and we can see the wheels turning in her head as she puts everything in order. Not necessarily the correct order, but one that makes sense to her for now! So in the end, that evening we had a chat a about what we believe happens when you die, kept it very matter of fact and that it was part of the natural process. At one point she she exclaimed, "Papa if everyone dies, then one day there will be nobody left!!!!" Still a work in progress.

"Love is..."
This morning I had just finished getting ready, hair done, clothes on, make up...
M: Mama, I love you because you are so pretty.
Mom: Aww, thanks Maddy, I love you too, but remember it's more important to love what a person is like on the inside. Like having a good, kind heart and not just because they are pretty.
M: Yes, mama I know like how I love Papa.
Mom: (Trying not to laugh)
Josh: (Pulling the fake knife out of his chest)

"Certainly"
M: Mama I have the hiccups.
Mom: Oh ya? That's ok, we all get the hiccups sometimes. It's normal.
M: Yes, and most certainly when I'm sick.

I don't know where she's learned to use the word "certainly". It's always used correctly for the most part, it's just odd to hear her say it especially because we don't use it much ourselves.

We're having a great time over here with all these new parts of the world opening up for Maddy. Another reminder of how quickly they are growing up. I'm sure that once she's in full time school, it'll feel like we've gotten on the high speed bullet train. :(