Knock Knock...Doo Da?!

Celia and Mikey have discovered the wonderful world of knock-knock jokes.  God help us all.  I made the mistake of teaching them the Interrupting Cow joke one day.  You know, "Knock, knock.  Who's there?  Interrupting cow.  Interrupting cow...MOOOO!"  They finally got the comic timing down on that one, so it's actually funny...to someone hearing it for the first time.  For a long time, Mikey would just moo after someone said, "Interrupting cow who?"  And that was just confusing.  Anyway, they sometimes shake it up by being an interruping duck, cat, or zebra (also confusing).  But what they really like to do (and this is no surprise to anyone with preschoolers) is make up jokes that make no sense.  They laugh at themselves like they should have their own late-night show or something, while I stand by shaking my head and trying to muster a fake guffaw.  Even Mikey has started imitating my fake laugh after jokes.  Now, THAT's funny!  The nonsense jokes often go something like, "Knock knock.  Who's there?  Car.  Car who?  Car on your head that fell in the cereal and landed on the floor and then poo pooed!"  You see my problem.

Anyway, a truly hilarious side effect of all of these horrible jokes is that Xavier is actually starting to mimic them.  To this point, at 11 months, he really just babbles a bit, saying, "Mamama" when he's upset and "Dadadada" when he's happy.  Yeah, that's right.  That's the thanks I get for changing 99% of his diapers.  Sigh.  Anyway, it's cute and sweet.  But back to the jokes.  Celia and Mikey probably say, "Knock knock.  Who's there?"  more than anything said in this house except maybe, "Mooooom, it's MY turn!"  So, Xavier has started picking up on it.  When the big kids say, "Knock knock," Xavier replies with "Doo Dah?" with perfect inflection, clearly trying to say, "Who's there?"  It's really just about the cutest thing ever.  No really.   Those pictures of puppies and kittens cuddling...forget it...they're a pile of garbage compared to my adorable son trying to get in on the joke!

Celia's first word was cat.  She came downstairs with me every morning and we greeted our pet cat Roma.  Mikey's first word was book...well, really it was guk, but we knew what he meant.  It would crack me up if Xavier works out "Who's there?" as his first word.  And it makes me wonder what other unusual firsts he might have with his early childhood influenced by his crazy siblings.  What will he be motivated by for his first steps?  Probably Mikey encouraging him to come and see the monster poop he made in the potty.  Sigh...sad but true...the kid is amazed by his own...umm...projects.  His first tooth will probably make its appearance when Celia encourages him to take a nibble of her "Mr. Torty Head" sandwich.  (She likes to roll up lunch meat and cheese in a tortilla.  They were inspired by Toy Story 3 to name the sandwich Mr. Tortilla Head but mispronounce it.  If you don't understand the reference, please come to my house and watch the movie with my children while I go shopping).  So, yeah, I'm eager to see what other fun and funny influences the big 'uns have on the little 'un.

While I may not get the humor, Xavier thinks his big brother and sister are the funniest two people on the planet.  I have to work pretty hard tickling just the right spots, making silly faces.  But Celia and Mikey have his number.  Celia can just open her eyes really wide, and he'll crack up.  Mikey has this frenetic dance that sends Xavier into hysterics.  Wait til they're all teenagers and get the same jokes that I don't have a clue of the reference. I'm getting a little taste already.