A few reasons my kid makes me smile

A recent conversation after dinner:

J: "I'm finished my apple Mommy. You can have the last two."
Me: "Okay. Thanks for sharing with me."
J: "Thank you Mommy for taking good care of me."

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J was not thrilled to be at the pool on Saturday for her lessons. She was whimpering and generally not a happy camper.

Me: "J, what's the matter? Does your toe hurt?"
J: "No. Whine whine whimper whimper."
Me: "Are you cold?"
J: "No. Whine whine whimper whimper."
Me: "Do you have an owie somewhere?"
J: "No. Whine whine whimper whimper."
Me: "Are you hungry?"
J: "No. Whine whine whimper whimper."
Me: "Do you miss Daddy or Christine?" (Alex has been taking J to lessons, but was at an appointment. Her swimming instructor Christine was home sick, so we had a substitute and J wasn't sure about her)
J: "No. Whine whine whimper whimper."
Me: "Well what's wrong then? You sound like you're unhappy."
J: "Mommy, I'm whining. You told me if I whined that we would have to go home."

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J: "Mommy, we have to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW. The pee wants to come out of my bladder, but I told it not yet and it doesn't want to listen."

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We occasionally bribe prompt J to eat her lunch or dinner using a book. For every bite (or two or three or whatever), she gets to have a page read to her. Except she outsmarted us. She was having baked beans for lunch and she started eating them one at a time... "That IS one bite Mommy!"