"YOU"

Sophie is pretty particular about the bedtime routine. We always have scripture and prayer with Daddy then Sophie and I rock and read one or two stories (I try to make it just one, she sometimes tries for two)....then....and this is when I gets very specific...we first put Elmo in the corner with one book on each side of him (always a book with pictures of babies, like Kisses for Mommy, and either a book about Pooh, Clifford, or Horns and Toes and In Between). Then, Mommy has to give a kiss to elephant and have elephant kiss everything else in the bed and she wants me to put elephant next to the books. Then she takes out her binkie and wants it next to elephant. Then I cover her with a blanket and tell her "I love you. Goodnight." A couple nights ago she started saying "you" back. My heart leaped when she said it. What a sweetheart! Now she's got it down and whenever Daddy or I say "I love you," we get a "you" back.

Here's another little fun routine thing we do. Since Daddy works from home, we are privileged to interrupt his work day only when Sophie is going down for a nap and needs a goodnight kiss. Every time Sophie gets a kiss from Daddy, and then she's back in my arms, she immediately pushes my face to Daddy's and says "Mommy," meaning, "Daddy, give Mommy a kiss," and we have to kiss. She thinks it's the funniest thing. She tries to push my face to his over and over so I can get more kisses. Such a loving baby!