Daddy, What do you got in your eyes?

Today's drive home was pretty uneventful, until we got about 10 miles east of Perry when Brayton informed us he had to go to the bathroom, specifically he had to go #2.

A few weeks back, he said the same thing but that time it was #1. We told him to try to hold it until we got home, less than five minutes. Well, that didn't go so well as about a minute later he told us he peed his pants so he got to sit in a puddle for the next four minutes and daddy got to clean up the mess.

Well, tonight we didn't want to risk telling him to hold his #2 for the next twenty miles so we decided to stop in Granger to let him take care of business. It seemed like a good time to get Lauren on the potty too, so we all piled out of the van and into the womens restroom at Casey's along highway 141.

Colette put the potty seat on the toilet, I plopped Brayton up there to do his deed. He sat there for about 10 seconds and then immediately became distracted from the task at hand by the toilet paper dispenser. There was nothing unusual about it, matter of fact it was exactly like the ones in our house except it had a stainless steel flap, what I call "the toilet paper protecter."

I thought to myself "why would they need a toilet paper protector in a womens bathroom?" I thought only mens restrooms had these because some men cannot control the urge to pee on the toilet paper and ruin it for any subsequent men that come along. There must be something infinitely satisfying about peeing on toilet paper that I am not aware of...but I digress...

So, Brayton is flipping up the stainless steel toilet paper protector. I decided I needed to step in to help him concentrate on the reason we stopped and all piled into this womens restroom in the first place.

I squatted down in front of him, took both his hands in mine and told him he needed to work on going #2. I asked him to concentrate...After a few strong pushes and grunts he looked at me and said:

Brayton: Do I get to pick treat for going poopie?
(we had to walk through the candy isle to get to the restroom)

Dad: Yes, but you've got to go poopie first, before you get any treats.

Brayton: Daddy, what do you got in your eyes?
(As I'm squatting and he is leaning forward on his potty seat, my face is about six inches from his)

Dad: Daddy has his contacts in.
(thinking he could see the outline of my contacts in my eyes, not realizing he could see a reflection)

Brayton (now trying to poke my eye): Daddy, you got a picture of Brayton in your eyes, do you got a picture of Lauren in there?

Once again, I learned another important lesson from my son. Never underestimate the ability of a 3 year old to observe even the most minor details.

Children see and hear everything, if only adults were the same.

A Conversation with Brayton...

A synopsis of the conversation I had with Brayton tonight, sitting on the couch just prior to bedtime.

Dad: Brayton, did you have a good time at Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Gordons?
Brayton: Zes, go to Grandma Coke's tomorrow.
Dad: Did you have fun riding in Grandpa's big red boat?
Brayton: Zes
Dad: What did you do on the big red boat?
Brayton: Drive
Dad: Did you see Grandpa's puppies?
Brayton: Zes
Dad: How many legs do the puppies have?
Brayton: (Using his fingers to count) One, Two, Three, Four, FOUR!
Dad: How many tails do the puppies have:
Brayton: (Using his fingers again) One, Two, ONE!
Dad: How are the owies on your fingers, do you need any band aids? (He has been scratching and sucking on his fingers causing abraisons that got infected recently)
Brayton: My fingers are pretty good, I don't need any band aids.
Dad: Brayton, I am really proud at how your using your words. You are speaking very eloquently. Can you say eloquent?
Brayton: No
Colette: Brayton, you can say "hippopotamus" you surely can say "eloquent."
Brayton: Hippopotamus
Colette: Brayton, can you say "elephant".
Brayton: Elephant
Colette: Now say eloquent...
Brayton: Eloquent
Dad: Brayton, now say "I speak eloquently"
Brayton: I speak eloquent. (missing the "ly")
Brayton: Want to go to Grandma Cindy's tommorrow. Go to Grandma Bernadine's house too.
Dad: I think it's time for bed now son.
Brayton: My blankent isn't stinky anymore (His blanket was getting stinky and we told him so while we washed it quick).
Dad: No son, your blanket isn't stinky anymore.
Brayton: My blanket smells GOOD! Is it HOT! (Colette had just pulled it out of the dryer, and instead of making at statement "It is" Brayton always says it as a question)
Dad: Time to go to bed and read books...Goodnight