That's a lion! And that's a Cheetah!

Tonight we went to a movie. All three of us. It was awesome. Just what we needed. Glenn's been out of town this week doing training and will be gone next week too. I was worn out and tonight was so perfect.

We decided to take Tate to see African Cats. He loves animals and we thought he'd really enjoy it. We were so right. He's had a little problem the last few weeks in church of not being able to stop himself from talking. The boy is sweet and happy, but somehow completely unable to comprehend the complexity that is a whisper. We had this fun animal book out last Sunday and we had to hide it because he kept naming all the animals one by one in a normal full voice. He was so happy. He was excited. He was just too loud!

So tonight, in the movie it was more of the same. Glenn and I went back and forth between embarrassed and trying to discipline him, and laughing so hard it hurt because Tate just could not stop talking.

"That's a cheetah! That's a baby cheetah! That's a lion and he's walking in the grass. That's a crocodile. He's swimming in the water. The lions are hugging. That's so cute! He he he he he he. That's a hippopotamus. That's some water. Those are waves. Those lions are swimming in the water with the alligators. That's a wildebeest! Wow, look at all those wildebeests! That's a pink ostrich. That's a big lion. He wants to run. He wants to wrestle. That's a gazelle. That's a turtle. Hi Daddy! That's mommy! Those are some trees!" On and on and on. He kept talking when we were whispering in his ear to stop talking. He kept talking through our hands covering his mouth. He was so enthralled in the movie it was like he physically couldn't keep his mouth shut.

At one point Glenn took him out after several warnings that he needed to stop talking. He later told me their conversation in the hall went like this,

G - "Tate, you need to be quiet or you can't go back into the movie."

T - (still completely happy and chatty) "Where did mommy go? I want to see the movie."

G - "Tate, would you like to go back in to the movie?"

T - "Oh yeah!"

G - "Tate, can you be quiet?"

T - with a little smile, "Ummmmm. I don't know."

G - Tate, we have to be so quiet if you want to see more of the movie."

T - "Ummmm. This is my tummy, and this is my back." (master of distraction)

We really did try to keep him quiet. Popcorn, fruit snacks, orange juice were all utilized and still the kid just couldn't contain his excitement. Luckily we were three of maybe 8 people in the movie theater at the time and most of them kept laughing at little man.

It was so sweet to see him completely lost in the movie. There is something so precious about the pure, innocent joy that children find. I just adore being a part of it. Tonight, I love being a mommy and being able to witness that pure bliss all the time. It reminds me how spectacular this world is. How blessed I am for all the little things he notices and finds wonder in that I so often overlook. It was a good night.

Next week we're going to get Oceans on netflix. I have a feeling he'll just LOVE that.