Cloning

It is always kind of freaky to hear my kids repeat my exact words and my exact tone of voice. Do I really sound like that? On the other hand, at least I know they are listening sometimes - even if it isn't always at my best moments.

It is especially startling to hear my daughter do it. She just sounds so much like me.

The kids were doing homework while I was making dinner. Five-year-old asked for a drink, and then asked again and again when I didn't stop what I was doing to give it to him. Lil' girl puts down her crayons, leans across the table to get right in his face and says: "Did you hear mommy? She said just. a. minute. You need to wait!"

And then there was here endless jabbering to Daddy while he was putting on his shoes to go to work. "Daddy. . . .Daddy. . . .DADDY! I'm asking you a question!"

She wanders around the house with her baby doll on her hip and toy phone stuck to her ear. All I can think is: "Oh look. It's me."

And then she comes up with some stuff completely out of nowhere. Flipping through the pages of a book while I change her sister's diaper. . . "Mommy, you know what butterflies have? Know what kind of heads? Eeeevil heads. Butterflies have eeeevil heads. And wings. Butterflies have eeevil wings. Eeevil heads and eeeevil wings."