Presenting Psyduck and Psyduck

Miguel's first official pets. Fished them out of Uncle Benny's pond last Saturday, with Ate Chloe. Which also marked Miguel's first official fall into the pond. It just so happened that I was trying to take pictures of the cousins together when it happened, see....

These are red swordtails, and there were 4 of them in the beginning, 2 for Miguel and 2 for Chloe. I even instructed them to name their fishes. Chloe decided to call hers "Blue" and "Goldie;" taking his cue from her, Miguel decided to call his "Bluey" and "Gold."

But on Saturday one must have jumped out and slid down into the nearby sink. And on Sunday, I found another one dead on the floor in spite of the glass cover that I placed on the fish bowl. (Cue in Chloe and Miguel arguing, "YOUR fish was the one that died!" "No, YOUR fish!")

Anyway, it all started with the acquisition of a fish tank (advance token of the Grade 1 field trip to Bio Research on January 26th), which led to the acquisition of the fish, which led to the acquisition of a bigger fishbowl, an air pump, plastic sea plants, and a canister of fish food.

Somewhere along the way Miguel changed the names from "Blue" and "Goldie" to "Psyduck" and "Psyduck." One day when he has a son, he even wants to call him "Psyduck."

He can call the fishes anything he wants, as long as he leaves my grandson out of it.

Well yesterday he arrived from the field trip with a gold fish. I suggest that we call him "Golduck."

Conversation with a dog

Saturday night my brother's Minipin Hitler was pawing my mom for food at the dinner table. Seeing him, I said, "I'm sorry Hitler, but it's bye-bye for you." "What do you mean?" Miguel asked. "Well," I said, "now that they have a real baby, Hitler's not going to be their baby any more." I was referring to Dennis and Essie and their new baby Jose Yolo, a.k.a. Jyo. I went on to explain to Miguel that our Jackrussel terrier Rover used to be like a "son" to me. But when I became pregnant, I knew that I would be too busy to pay him attention because I was going to have a real son. "Do you know that before you were born, I had to sit down and say goodbye to Rover?' I told Miguel. "I wanted to explain to him that I would be very busy with my new baby. That's what I meant when I said that it's bye-bye for Hitler." As soon as I had explained this, Miguel got off his seat and said, "Mommy, can I wash my hands after this?" Miguel went over to Hitler, crouched on the floor beside him, and stroked his head. "Goodbye Hitler. I'm gonna miss you. You're cute. I'm gonna babysit now. Okay. Goodbye. I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna be babysitting now. (Pause) Wish me luck." And with that he got up, went to the kitchen, washed his hands, and then got back in his seat to finish his dinner. Now that's what I call closure.

What the...?

With Miguel, a regular conversation isn't always "regular." This one happened right after I told him that it was time to go downstairs for lunch.

Miguel, picking up his Command Wolf zoid: Mommy, are dogs and wolves enemies?

Me: No, in fact they're related.

Miguel: How?

Me: Well, wolves are a kind of dog. Wild dogs.

(We arrive at the dining room and Miguel puts the Command Wolf in front of our Jackrussel terrier.)

!?

Me: What are you doing?

Miguel: I'm seeing if Rover will fall in love with the wolf.

Well, the sparks weren't flying between Rover and the zoid. But I suspect that Miguel would have been happier if the dog attacked the wolf.

And, uh, I think that he needs a playmate as well.