The Mouse Family Blog

Lauren is practically obsessed with being outside these days. Her pool, the park, her deck, picnics, or any plan that gets her outside -- except a trip to Home Depot or Jewel Supermarket, because even toddler obsession has its limits of reason.

Tonight when I got home from work, we headed out the deck to enjoy the weather and take-in the neighborhood all we can before someone comes along to snatch up the place and we have to move on. Once out on the deck, Lauren will usually invoke any number of reasons why we need to stay there, such as "the plants need water" or "the birds need me to tweet to them," or "I need to say hi (to the people that come by)" or today's random quote. We're not sure where she gets these things from, or even if she fully comprehends their meaning, but she certainly seems to say most of them in the proper context.

As Liz mentioned, Lauren is also developing her imagination. Currently, it involves her pronouncing that she is a "little" animal of some sort, and you are a corresponding "big" animal.
Tonight's dialogue after dinner: "There is brown dog. I am a little dog. Do you want to be a big dog? ('Okay') Can you bark like a big dog? ('Roof') I am a little dog. I bark like a little dog. Woof. Do you need a pet like a big dog? (Lauren pets.)" And then, just as you're getting bored... "Do you need to poop like a big dog?"