I heard the tell-tale thud on our front porch and knew that Christmas had come early for BigHugs. A brand new phone book! I set the package on the table and began unveiling it from its plastic wrapper.
BigHugs: A new phone book? Where’d you get that?
Me, pulling out the mini yellow pages: And look, it comes with a baby phone book. Do you like the baby phone book?
BigHugs: No.
Me: Why not?
BigHugs, flipping through the pages of the big one: I don’t know. I don’t want it. ‘Cause I like this one the best.
Me: O-K.
BigHugs, with awe: Ooooh…This is a cool phone book. Turning more pages. Yessss! I love it!
Later, I’m fixing dinner for Mr. T who pushes the phone book aside as he plops down in his usual spot at the table.
BigHugs: Mom, Mr. T moved the phone book!
Me: It’s OK.
BigHugs starts leafing through the pages again while Mr. T eats his dinner.
BigHugs: Mom! Mr. T’s looking at the phone book! Then, laying across it protectively, MY phone book!
Mr. T: It’s like Lord of the Phone Book. Then in his best Gollum, My precious! And then they have to like throw the phone book into the paper shredder at the end.
I’m going to be so bummed when she’s over this phase.
10 comments
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June 19, 2008 at 9:37 am
kamillivanilli
Her obsession with phone bugs is truly fascinating. Does she mostly just like the yellow pages, or does she adore the white pages too? Or does she just like the smell? I have to admit…I like the smell of phone books….
June 19, 2008 at 10:26 am
jumbo shrimp
That is hilarious! I love Mr. T. Gollum impression. What does she like about the phone book?
June 19, 2008 at 10:35 am
Julie
I love Mr. T’s indulgence of her obsession. And I will mourn the loss of that phase, too. It makes for very entertaining posts.
And I love the smell of phone books, too.
June 19, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Alison Wonderland
I love that she loves the phone book. it’s so strange. Not that I”m calling your daughter strange, it’s just… Oh, hey look, What’s that?
June 19, 2008 at 2:13 pm
madhousewife
Why would she want a baby phone book? Baby phone books don’t have enough pages. They are obviously not as smart.
June 19, 2008 at 4:19 pm
bythelbs
kamilli—She has a particular fondness for the yellow pages perhaps because there are pictures?
jumbo—I asked her about that before and posted about it (there’s a link in this post), but she basically said the pages are “smart”—she likes looking at the letters, I guess.
julie—Yeah, we’re all a little too indulgent, actually. And I think I’m with you and kamilli—a nice, fresh yellow pages is a lovely smell.
alison—I have no problem with my children being considered strange. Nothin’ wrong with strange. But nice distraction there!
mad—Good point. I just thought maybe the portability of it would carry some of its own appeal, but apparently not.
June 19, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Susan M
Maybe she has it confused with a dictionary? If only dictionaries smelled good and had neat pictures and super thin paper and weren’t used to kill the most giantest spider you’ve ever seen.
June 19, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Julie
For your sock monkey viewing pleasure…or um….well, it’s sock monkey related.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_11&listing_id=12709077
June 19, 2008 at 11:14 pm
bythelbs
Wow, Julie—that’s totally bizarre. I’ve never even heard of those. I’m a little disturbed that our beloved sock monkey is being subjected to this kind of abuse.
June 20, 2008 at 8:49 am
cheryl
My favorite part is Mr. T right on cue. I swear, your kids are always on cue. Are they prompted? I sometimes wonder, but then I remember that their mother is always on cue, too, so it must be genetic.
Julie, that whole premise is crazy. I mean, are we really, really, really that desperate to be green? Also, I have to assume that the women wearing those have the lightest flow, ever. I wouldn’t last 10 minutes with one of those. Yuck!