You never know what a young child is going to say. Christopher is no exception. I've captured some of his better quotes here. Enjoy.
6/99
I'm always telling Christopher how "great" he is. Smart, handsome, big, etc. Yesterday, he had done something, and I said "You're so big!" He looked at me and said "I'm handsome too!"
When I put Christopher's helmet on to go bike riding, sometimes when it's difficult to put on, I'll say "You have a big head like Daddy." Today, he already had his helmet on from riding his bike. When I put my helmet on, he asked "You have a big head like me?"
8/99
When I was dressing Chris for church Sunday - he didn't like the shirt Robin picked out for him. He said, "I don't like that shirt. I'm not handsome, I want to wear the other one (shirt) and be handsome!"
When we were eating dinner Sunday - Chris didn't want to eat much and Dad asked if he was going to be a baby and not eat. He said, "I'm Mommy's baby." Dad asked where is Daddy's baby? Chris replied "I'm Mommy's baby and Daddy's big boy!"
This morning as I was getting ready, I asked Robin if Chris was awake. She said "yes." Then Christopher said "Yes sir! You say Yes sir to Daddy!"
I was laying on the floor with Chris, and propped my feet up on his bed. He said "Awwwww, I'm telling my Mom." (probably got that from daycare). I said, "Well I'm telling MY Mom, and my Mom is Grandma." He said, "Well MY Mom is Mommy."
I was getting Christopher dressed, and he was squirming all over the place. I told him to hold still, and he replied, "I am! Goodness!"
Robin was talking to Chris about being sick, and saying she hoped she didn't get mono from someone. Chris asked what, and she said mononucleosis. Then she told Chris to say it, and he replied "I don't want to say mononucleosis." and pronounced it almost perfectly.
9/99
Christopher thinks it's funny sometimes to wipe off any kisses anyone gives him. We were playing, and I'd kiss him, and he'd wipe it off. After about the 4th time, when I went to kiss him, he raised his finger and said in a sharp voice, "That's enough!" I wonder where he got that…. :-)
Robin was in the bathroom applying wax to her braces, and Chris was kneeling on the toilet watching her. I came in to use the bathroom, and said in my best monster voice, "Get off the toilet please!" Chris looked at me and said matter-a-factly, "If I get off the toilet, I can't see Mommy." I couldn't fight that logic, so I went downstairs. :-)
I stopped by to see my parents on the way home from work. When we were leaving, I told Chris that Pop and Grandma were going to see Aunt Janice, and Uncle Eric and his cousins. Chris said "No! I don't want Pop to see my cousins." I asked him why, and he replied, "Because they're MY cousins. That makes me sad."
I had Christopher sitting on the toilet (where he really didn't want to be), after a while, he looked at me and said, "You're probably driving me nuts!" I wonder if one of the teachers at his daycare told him that. I can see it happening. :-)
I was getting dressed, and Christopher came in and asked me to pick him up. I told him not right now, because I was putting on my shirt. He asked me, "Are you being lazy again?" Where does he get this stuff?
I was getting Christopher dressed for church. I told him he was very handsome, and that I was going to take his picture. He replied, "I'm going to take your picture first. Wait for your turn."
Christopher had a good day and a half with potty training, so I told him how well he was doing, and how proud I was of him, and that he was Daddy's big boy. He replied, "I'm not a baby anymore! YES!"
Christopher always likes one of us to put him to sleep. (usually me) I was laying beside him on the floor, and he said, "I want Mommy to put me to sleep." I said, "Why don't you let Daddy finish putting you to sleep?" He said, "You already did. Now it's Mommy's turn."
10/99
When we were coming home from daycare, I told Chris that Mommy was going to be gone for a few days. He replied "We're going to have fun!" I said, "Of course we're going to have fun."
I was playing with Chris on the floor, when suddenly, he grabbed my hand, wiped it across his mouth, and said "I have a napkin." I replied, "I'm not a napkin.", and he said, "You're a big napkin." I don't think that's a good thing…..
I told Christopher that we were going to the dentist to get Daddy's teeth cleaned. After he heard that, he was ready to go. He said "Daddy, I'm ready to go bye-bye." I asked him where he wanted to go, and he replied," To brush your teeth."
I was in the room with Chris, putting him to sleep, and I kissed him. He said, "I wiped your kiss off." I asked him why, and he said, "That's what kids do."
11/99
We were having family prayer, and it was time for Chris to pray, but he didn't want to, so Robin and I offered to say it with him. Well, we said it, and he didn't. When I told him I didn't hear him, he said, "You and Mommy said it out loud. I said it silently."
Sometimes if Chris wakes up before us, he'll come and get in bed with us. He did this one Saturday, and we were just laying there looking at each other. I said, "I love you." Chris replied, "Stop making that noise. I love you, but stop making that noise." :-)
I was sitting beside Chris while he was eating dinner, because he has trouble staying focused on eating sometimes. I asked him if he wanted salad, or meat & sweet potatoes next, and he said, "Actually, I want that." (pointing to a piece of salad) It was the first time I'd heard him use the word "Actually".
Chris was in our bed, and he asked me if I had enough room. I told him I did. Then Robin asked if he wanted to know if she had enough room, and he replied, "No, just Daddy." :-)
Quentin: "Do you want some ice cream?" Chris: "Where?" Quentin: "Downstairs." Chris: "No, it's probably stale." Of course he changed his mind in about two seconds. :-)
Sometimes it takes Chris a while to wake up, and he doesn't want to be bothered until he's fully awake. One time, he kept telling us to leave him alone. I told him I couldn't help being around him, and looking at him because he was so handsome. He replied, "I know I'm handsome, but leave me alone."
12/99
I was looking in a mirror, and Chris said , "I want to look in there." I handed him the mirror, and he said, "I'm cute." I asked him, "Who told you you were cute?" He replied, "Miss Cathy." (His teacher at daycare.)
Chris and I were at Wal-Mart, and he saw a Scoobie-Doo calendar. Chris said, "We don't watch Scoobie-Doo." I said, "No, Mommy is afraid it will scare you, so we don't watch it." He replied, "When Mommy goes bye-bye, THEN we watch Scoobie-Doo." :-)
All three of us were laying on the bed, and Christopher said, "Never forget tomorrow." (I have no idea why he said it.) I said, "Never forget tomorrow. That's profound." And Chris said, "Yes it is!"
The last Christopherism of 1999: Robin was off work with Christopher all week. When I got home today (12/31) I asked him if he'd done a good job for Mommy. He replied, "I did a good job a little bit while, but I didn't do a good job a lot." At least he was honest.
1/00
I was downstairs, getting some laundry out of the dryer. Christopher called out, "Dad, are you downstairs?" I said that I was, and he came down to see me. I asked, "What are you doing?" And he replied, "Just running around to find you."
Chris and I were playing, and when I needed a short break, I asked him for a hug. He gave me a big hug, and I said, "Thanks, you give the best hugs in the whole world." He replied, "I sure do, Dad!"
As I was typing the last Christopherism, I told Chris I loved him. He said, "I love you too, but I don't love you too much." I'm not sure if that's good, or bad. :-)
We were eating lunch at home, and Chris changed his mind, and decided he wanted his french fries. I got them for him, and he said, "Thanks Dad. You're my best helper."
Christopher and I had just returned home from work/daycare. After we went in the house, I told Christopher, "I'll be back in a minute." so I could bring the trash can back into the garage. Christopher said, "I'll be back in a minute too." I started laughing, and said, "You have to be with Daddy, don't you?" He replied, "You can't be without me!" I guess he's right. :-)
Chris and I were about to go the grocery store. I told him "bye", and pretended that I was going to leave without him. He said, "You can't leave without me!" I told him I wasn't going to leave without him, and he replied, "You were trying."
2/00
Robin was about to leave for the mall, and I was about to go grocery shopping. I asked Chris if he wanted to go with me or Robin, and he said me. When we were in the car, I told him I was glad he wanted to go with me. He said, "But sometimes I go with Mommy." I said, "I know. I'm sure it makes Mommy happy when you go with her." He said, "When I get bigger, I'll go with you all the time." Works for me. :-)
3/00
We were putting Chris to bed, and I told him I was going to miss him tomorrow since I had to go to work, and Robin took the day off. Robin said he was going to spend the day with her, and Chris said, "That means it's party time!"
During dinner, Christopher informed me, "Daddy, I have a lot of work to do." I asked him what work he had to do, and he replied, "I have to play on my computer, and watch TV, and play leggos." I wonder where I can find that kind of "work."
It was after church, during choir rehearsal, and Bro. Pete, one of the other men in the choir, was holding Chris. Chris saw my Dad, who he calls "Pop" because I do, and said "It's Pop!" Bro. Pete said, "Pop? Don't you mean Grandpa?" Chris said, "No, it's kind of like grandpa, but it's Pop."
5/00
I was working on the computer, and Chris came down, gave me a hug, and told me he was sad. I asked him why he was sad, and he replied, "Mommy makes me crazy." :-)
Chris: "You know what?" Q: "What?" Chris: "I'm a very handsome, handsome boy!" Nothing wrong with a little confidence. I guess he's listening to what I tell him. :-)
6/00
Robin had just told Christopher that he couldn't watch TV for a day because he wouldn't listen to her. I was explaining this to Chris, and I told him that it would make me very happy if he would listen to Mommy, and do a good job by doing what she says. He replied, "I don't think that's a good plan, but I can if you want."
7/00
I took my parents over to see our new house (as it was being
built) yesterday, and
Chris decided to stay home and play....
The next morning:
Chris: Daddy, did you and Pop see any monsters at the house?
Q: No, honey. We didn't see any monsters.
Chris: Well, if you see any, call me on the phone, and I'll help you fight
them when I turn ten.
8/00
I had just arrived home from work, and Chris had been home with Robin all day. I asked him about his day, and he told me that Robin had to spank him. I asked for a little more detail, and he said," Mommy told me to put my toys away, and I got an attitude." :-)
9/00
Christopher is a very strong willed child, and his new preschool teacher is just as strong willed, which he needs. We've had several discussions about how he needs to listen to his teacher, and do what she says, or he will get in trouble when he gets home. The last time we had the discussion, he said he didn't want to listen, and I told him that he had to, then he asked me, "Daddy, when you were four, did YOU listen?"
I had just told Chris that I was proud of him for something he had done, I don't remember what. Chris: "Did I do a good job?" Q: "Yes you did." Chris: "So, I don't get a spanking forever?" Q: "If you do a good job forever, then you don't get a spanking forever."
And my recent favorite: I met my future daughter-in-law. One day when I picked him up at daycare, Chris informed me that he had a girlfriend, and that they were going to kiss and get married when they turned 11. I told him that 11 was still a little young to be getting married, and asked him if that was his idea, or hers, and he said both. A few days later, when we were leaving, he said "hi girlfriend", and she came over and told me the same thing, that they were going to get married when they turned 11. On the bright side, Chris could do a lot worse, she is very friendly, and quite pretty.
Chris woke up early one morning and said he was hungry, so I took him downstairs for a quick and early breakfast. I asked him if he wanted waffles or applesauce, and he replied, "Are those the only two choices?"
10/00
Chris and I were coming home from work/preschool, and out of the blue, Chris asked, "Daddy, are you pondering what I'm pondering?" I asked where he learned that word, and he said, "From Pinky and the Brain."
I was getting Chris ready for church, and when I was brushing his hair, he said I should brush my hair. I took this as an opportunity to play, and said, "Hey! I don't have any hair! Where is my hair? Did you take it?" He replied, "Maybe Jesus didn't want you to have some hair." Then he said, "Maybe when you were four, you had hair, but when you got bigger, you didn't."
11/00
I was sitting in the middle of the bed, and Chris hopped up and said he wanted to sit in my lap. As soon as he was in my lap, he reached up, patted me on the head, and said, "You're a good pet." Did I miss something?
01/01
When we were coming home from work/pre-school, Chris said that he was going to die in ten days. I told him I didn't think he was going to die, and told him it would make me very sad if he did. He said he wanted to die. I asked him why, and he replied, "So I can go to heaven and give Jesus a hug!"
03/01
Chris wanted an apple with his dinner, and he wanted the "skin off." I told him to go ahead and take the skin off, and he said, "Are you sure you want me to have a knife?"
Chris didn't have a good nap, so I told Robin when we got home that he would have to go to bed early. Around 7:00 PM, Robin told him it was time for bed, and he asked why. I told him Mommy wanted him to go to bed early because he hadn't had a good nap that day. He replied, "You told her?! I'm so angry with you!"
07/01
We were coming home, and Chris asked what street we were on. I replied "two O four." Chris immediately said, "It should be two ZERO four because two and four are numbers, and O is a letter, so they don't match." I was so proud of him.
09/01
I was in the office working on the computer when Chris walked in. C: "Something stinks!" Q: "Did you pass gas?" C: "Did YOU pass gas?" Q: "No." C: "I guess it's me then."
12/01
I was giving Chris a bath and as I was washing him, I was making a squeaking noise. Chris said "Stop making that noise, it's annoying." It isn't that funny, but I didn't even know he knew that word.
04/02
We were at Christopher's swimming lesson. One of the instructors was trying to get him to float on his back, but he kept lifting his head. She told him to just lay back like he was in bed. He replied, "I don't want to get my hair wet." That got more than a few laughs. :-)
07/02
We were at Robin's cousin's home visiting, and Chris was bored and wanted to play Robin in chess. Robin told him he should play me so he could get better. (I taught him to play, and he's teaching Robin, and he can still beat her 99.9% of the time) He said to Robin, " I want to play you so YOU can get better."
01/03
Chris asked me if I knew what "abrose" (pronounced ah-brose) meant. I said I didn't. Then he asked Robin, and she didn't know either. Then Chris said, "It means body." Robin asked, "In what language?" And Chris replied, "I don't have a clue."
02/03
We have Chris read to one of us almost every day. I told him it was time to read, and he asked if he could read to Robin today. I told him that would be fine, and he replied, "Good, I feel like reading to a woman this time."
07/03
Robin went to the store to get some juice about the time I was
having Chris get ready for bed. Chris was kind of
bummed that she missed family prayer, and didn't understand why she couldn't
have waited 15 minutes. Actually, I didn't understand either.
Anyway, he was telling me how Mommy was yelling at him today (Robin took the day
off and kept him home) He said, "Mommy doesn't have much patience, her or
Grandma. It's mostly the ladies who don't have patience."
09/03
I was looking at Christopher's school work. He had 100% on each of his papers, so I told him he was doing a great job. He replied, "Thanks Dad, I deserve that compliment."
Chris and I were going somewhere, and we saw a person with a sign asking for money. Chris asked if he was homeless, and I told him I didn't know. Chris noticed that he was wearing glasses, and then decided that if he could afford glasses, he probably wasn't homeless because glasses are expensive. Not bad logic for a seven year old. :-)
06/04
Chris had already watch his limit of TV for the day, but wanted to watch more. I told him if he read for half an hour, I might give him another 30 minutes of TV. He said, "Might? If I have to read, I want will, not might."
