amelia's a fast runner

(we're pushing really hard to get amelia to eat breakfast.  we've tried different tactics.  the sticker reward system bottomed out after only a week.  negotiating puts the power in the child's hand, and so we're trying a more scientific approach.)

when i arrived this morning amelia had not woken up yet.  once she did, dad brought down the groggy, tow-headed two year old girl.  she was clad in pink pajamas that were spotted with purple unicorns.  they hung off of her small frame.  "look who's here amelia!"  she saw me and smiled a toothy grin without dropping her pacifier.  after dad set her on the ground and went to go fix her breakfast, amelia went into a quick recount of something i couldn't understand (the pacifier still firmly gripped between her lips).  "ah wuff rnnning... an larkin, an ...fssssstt!"

i looked to her dad to translate, "oh yea, she and larken were running around last night racing each other.  it was hilarious."

"i run really fast!"
"yes, you do amelia!" i said.

the conversation continued as amelia, dad, and i each enjoyed a bowl of cereal, us at the dining room table and her from her highchair.  (we have been consciously modeling healthy eating habits.)  "amelia, do you know what would make you an EVEN FASTER runner?" i asked.  she shook her head and exclaimed again, "i run really fast!"  it was hard not to smile back at the genuine pride that exuded from her proud grin.  "i know you do!"

ben, the dad, piped up, "show her what you showed us last night, what helps you run so fast."  i knew this was a joke set-up of some sort based on the tone in his voice.  i turned to amelia in mock amazement, "what helps you go super fast?  can you show me?"  she nodded, set down her spoon and from her highchair moved her arms back and forth as fast as her little limbs could go.  her elbows pumped forward and back, forward and back.

ben snickered behind his spoonful of cereal and i uttered "oh wow!  look at you go!  i'm sure that DOES make you go SUPER fast!  but do you want to know what will make you go EVEN FASTER than using your arms like that?  a good breakfast!"

amelia stopped moving her arms, cocked her head to one side and looked at me in disbelief.

"it's true!  amelia, food gives us energy!  it gives us the energy we need to run SOOOOO FAST and play all day.  if you ate a good breakfast, you'd get lots of energy and run EVEN FASTER!"

you could tell she didn't buy it.

she changed the topic.  she spilled out her blueberries and used the bowl as a phone, "aunt stephanie?"