Wanna Be, Wanna Be... Like Daddy

Remember that slogan for the famous, tongue hanging, hoop jamming MJ? We've got some of that going on around here too, but with our own household name... DJ. Minus the whole tongue and hoop thing, that is.

(Though, these days, he can play a mean Little Tikes hoop from three point range. Brings down the driveway every time. And, DJ... Daddy Joe. Yep. Delirious. It's been quite a week).

Anyway,we've been getting cracked up at the subtle bits of conversation Hope seems to remember, the way her childlike radar hones in on things, the way she wants to know every morning, "Whhhyyy do you hafta go to work???"

Just two days ago, in fact, they were having this exact-same-millionth-time conversation as Joe explained how he works so that he can provide for us, specifically mentioning so that we can have a home. That's when Hope chimed in, "I'll pay for the house Daddy!"

Mercy, that child.

Also recently, she discovered that Daddy really likes Calvin and Hobbes. So she carries a volume or two around with her practically all the time while giving me news flashes like, "Me and Daddy weally yike these. I'm vewy caweful since these are Daddy's. These make me and Daddy yaff!"

This would explain why I checked on her during naptime to find this:

They share special cartoon time on Saturday mornings, with the Looney Tunes Anniversary Collection, if I must let it all hang out. Then Hope asks him about all of his favorites, then makes him ask about all of hers. They have tickle weasels and cheetahs and heaven knows what elses as part of their bedtime routine. They are a park duo that cannot be matched, and it takes my breath away to watch them slow dance.

Perhaps most importantly to Daddy, though, was this little conversation not too long ago.

H: I need to grow up, Daddy.

J: Why's that, Hopey?

H: So I can watch Spiwder Man.

A child after his own heart.