The Why? Why? World

As anyone who has spent ten minutes or more with Tyce lately knows, he asks a lot of questions. Pretty much a continuous stream of questions all day long. Laney has even learned to ask "Why?" Usually in response to me telling her something like "Lane, you can't use my contact case as a spoon to drink from the cats' water bowl!" Here's a little excerpt from our drive home today:

Tyce: Why do Tiger Sharks eat garbage?
Me: Your book says that they'll try a bite of anything, but usually they just eat fish meat.
Laney: Sharks eat candy?
Me: No, Laney, sharks don't eat candy, they eat fish meat.
Laney: Fish meat, Tyce.
Tyce: Are animals afraid of being meat?

I can't wait until his Aunt Amanda is in town to explain all the humane treatment of animal stuff to him. I think she's better prepared for it than I am. While I am hoping he is a sensitive and empathetic little guy, I'm not quite ready to prepare all vegetarian meals yet. Luckily, he was quickly distracted. As we drove across the blue-bridge:

Tyce: Can I climb a bridge?
Me: No, Tyce.
Tyce: Why not? (I really should have seen that coming)
Me: Because bridges are really tall and have water underneath and you might fall a long ways down into the water.
Laney: Water in your nose, Tyce.

These conversations were followed in quick succession by more questions: What do staple guns do? Why does the moon shine? Do we smell, wear, or eat groceries? Why does the Earth turn? What do 'maderato' and 'adagio' mean? Why can't we drink germ juice? (What???) Why can't chicks swim? Why are sisters bossy? Why do dinosaurs roar sometimes? Do sharks live in the deep water because they are big, big fish? (Really into sharks right now) What does 'gallop' mean? Why don't grown-ups have snuggle blankies to sleep with? (Hey, why don't we?)

That was all from tonight, I took notes ("What do you think you're up too, Mom? Do grown-ups like writing all that stuff?").

Our family is excitedly anticipating the arrival of two new baby cousins very soon. Laney just loves babies. She loves patting them gently on the head, much to the horror of most new mothers, while squinting down at them and saying "sooo cuuute". She loves to hold babies when their mothers are brave enough to let her (or if the mother has to go to the bathroom and I sneak the baby out of its carseat and into Lane's lap). But, last week she got me into trouble with her questions... Outside of Tyce's preschool, she walked up to a slightly overweight woman who was also waiting for her preschooler, patted her belly and asked "Baby in there?" I hope that Todd enjoys picking Tyce up from preschool every day for the rest of the year because I can't go back now.

Tyce is also fascinated with the new babies joining our family. When I told him that soon he is going to have two new cousins he exclaimed, "But, what will happen to our old cousins?" He was quite delighted to discover that he gets to keep all of his cousins. But then he wondered, "Why do they want a baby that poops in its own bed?" Well, when they grow up to be kids this cute, who wouldn't want a baby? Even if it poops in its own bed.