Oh, boy!

I was sitting on the porch outside with Olivia last night. We weren't doing anything special. It was raining and dark out and we were just chatting. In the last few months I have been able to do this with her, and that is a huge thing since she really took a long time to develop in the speech area. Everything we talk about it still very basic. What color is this? How was your day? You know, nothing really in depth but I do enjoy her ability to answer my questions these days accurately. A few months ago if the answer wasn't no to everything, she just wouldnt respond at all.

So we're sitting outside, chatting about nothing really when she looks at me and says "I like Ian." I ask her if Ian is a friend from school and she replies yes with the tiniest little grin on her face. You know, kind of like the one you got when you had your first real crush in middle school? Yeah, it resembled that one. And she proceeds, "I like Alex." Oh dear. I ask is that another friend from school? Again, she shakes her head yes with that cheesy little grin that lets me know that I am really going to be in trouble some day. Then there was a moment of silence and I could tell she was thinking...hard. She looks up at me and says "They my boyfriend." Yup. There it is. I can not believe I am dealing with this at the tender age of 3.

This morning we go to daycare and I ask the teacher which one Ian is, who by the way isn't named Ian at all. His name is Aiden. She points out this little blonde hair blue eyed boy. And I ask the teacher about Alex. She replies "Alex isn't here today. Why do you ask?" So I explain the whole boyfriend conversation the night before. When I look around I realize Olivia has made her way over to the computer and is sitting next to her best (or is he the 2nd best?) boyfriend Ian. I lean over to give her a kiss and she promptly pushes me back with a stern "Leave me alone!". Apparently I cramp her style.

I make my way to the door of the classroom feeling a little deflated from the obvious and very public shunning from my 3 year old and just as I turn the knob I hear "Mommy!!". Here Olivia comes running across the room and asking for a kiss. I lean down, kiss her and just in the lowest voice she has she mumbles "I love you".

Ah, she may be 3. And she may have 2 boyfriends. She still loves me though. I am not sure what I am in for, or how many more of these boyfriend conversations we'll be having throughout the years but I am sure of two things. One, even when she doesn't want her boyfriend to see it, she still loves me. And two, one day Alex, or Ian, or whatever guy happens to really make her grin, will be a lucky guy indeed. She really is awesome.