best. things. ever. volume 7

• The way you say yellow: yay-yo

• How you throw your towel off seconds after I dry you off and run streaking and screaming through the upstairs.

• How you sing along when I sing "Hush Little Baby."

• The way you say watch: wash

• Your penchant for imagination. Whether you're pretending to be this guy. Or this girl. Calliou. A spraying skunk. Or Ming-Ming in his cage.

• The way your brother (Norman) walks so slowly, careful not to pull, when he knows you're the one holding the leash.

• The way you point out orange for me EVERY TIME you see it, "Here's some orange for you, Mama." Because you know it's my favorite color.

• The look you get on your face when you're about to say something hilarious and how you sometimes get stuck and stutter performing the mental/verbal gymnastics of your joke.

• Your enthusiasm for playing fetch (or "Puppy Elian") that rivals Norman's -- especially when you have to lay down because you're too tired to run or because you have a sore hip like your brother.

• The way you say smoothie: smoovie.