It never really occurred to me that I gave birth to a tape recorder. Josh repeats back to me things I have said to him, with the exact same tone I use. It’s scary.

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While I was working on the computer the other day, Josh came in to the den, closed the door behind him, and said, “I have to make a phone call now. Can you please be quiet for a few minutes, Mommy?”

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Usually he gets to press the elevator buttons in our building. The other day, I got into the elevator with him, and without thinking, I pressed the button for our floor. He looked up at me with his teary eyes, and I realized I forgot to let him push the button. I said sincerely, “I am SO sorry, buddy. I totally forgot. Will you please forgive me?”

He does the index finger waiving thing, and said in a stern tone, “Mommy, please don’t ever do that again. Do you understand what I just said?”

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I was about to step out for a photo shoot, and I asked Josh to come give me a quick kiss. He sat at his art table drawing on his paper pad, looked up at me and said, “Mommy, I’m busy with my photo shoot.”

I said, “Oh yeah? What kind of photo shoot?”

He points to Savanna and said, “I have a photo shoot with Savanna. I don’t have time to give you a kiss.”