Ellen-isms

Quiet time quotes one day:
"Mom. I left 3 of my husbands with the babies and I'm folding laundry and then going to run some errands. It's a pretty busy day."
"Mom - I need help. Pocahontas' leg is stuck by her ear" (ummmmm ....)

Ellen: Mom - you have three jobs.
Me:  Oh, really?
E: Yes. 1. Genetic Counselor. 2. Taking care of the baby, me and dinner. 3. Cleaning the house.
Me: Yep, sounds about right.

We were at Whole Foods for some essentials (nutritious food for Georgia, cocoa crispy cookie for me) and we got too close to G's lunchtime and had to open a pouch of food for her to eat while we shopped. I dropped it in the parking lot while I was loading the car with children and groceries and told Ellen, "Whoops!" And she said ...
E: Mom - pick that up. Don't litter.
Me: I'll get it, don't worry.
E: You know who litters a lot?
Me: Who?
E: Cats.
Me: Really? I don't know that I've ever seen a cat litter.
E: Yeah, you know. Cat littered. Dogs, though, they usually follow directions better.
(I swear I can't make this stuff up).

"Mom - you know what's my favorite dessert that Grammy makes?"
"Pound pie"

Ellen - you are going to be really tired in Denver tonight because there is a time change and it's one hour different there.
"Oh, right, like kids have different bedtimes in different countries, right?"

Running errands in the car and a song came on the radio. Ellen sighed and said, "Oh, this reminds me of Dad."
Me: You really love your Dad, don't you?
Me: (teasing) Who do you love more, me or Dad?
Me: I know that isn't a fair question - you love us equally, just like I love you and Georgia equally, right?
E: Right.
Me: You love us for different reasons.
E: "Yeah - like Dad takes me on roller coasters and you let me do chores"

"You have the most politeful voice I've ever heard"

"I wish I was you. It is MUCH harder being a kid than I thought it would be when I was a baby."

One night during dinner, Ellen got up in the middle of eating and started walking like a zombie, arms out in front of her, eyes closed, and wandered around the family room.
Ellen - what are you doing ???
"Shhhh. Don't you know it's dangerous to wake a sleepwalker?"

One day during quiet time Ellen summoned me to the stairs with her loudest whisper. She had her baby doll and needed help dressing her (this is the doll that wears size 3 month clothing and has all of the girls' old outfits - it slays me). I told her to just toss the doll over the railing and I would catch her, but she refused, gently passing her to me. I sat down on the stairs to wrangle the doll's arm into the onesie and tie her sunhat on ... Ellen quietly came down the stairs to sit beside me.
Me: What are you doing?
Ellen (with the biggest smile): Just sitting here. With you. To-gedder.
Me: *overcome with love for my child*
We have our moments, to be sure, but this age of almost 5 just surprises me all the time - she wavers between grown up girl and baby girl and I'm trying to hold on so tight to the "baby girl" times because I know they are fleeting.