Just Pretend

Ezra spends a good deal of time in the Imagi-Nation lately.  His creativity and conversations with Bear and others are so fun to watch and hear.

Ezra likes to "go to work" with bag slung over a shoulder and his "cell phone" (Daddy's shaver cord attachment).  His "work" involves skyping at the computer and talking on the phone.  Bear is his silent and studious co-worker.

Ezra is "working."  The computer is off, but his imagination is not.

Mimicking animals is another favorite activity.

"Ezra tiger.  Roar!"
"Ezra whale.  Splash!"
"Ezra bunny.  Hop!"
"Ezra horse.  Neigh-neigh!"
"Ezra baboon."  He wasn't quite sure how to act for that last one, but seemed very pleased with himself for coming up with it.  Dallin and I thought so too!

 For the past three days, he has been making "mango soup".  We haven't eaten mangos in this house for several months, so the recipe was completely his own.  Give him a mixing bowl and a spoon, and he is in earnest.  His soup kitchen is open to all.  He is constantly perfecting the concoction; he cups his hands and measures out various imaginary additions that are added to the bowl and stirred in (pepper, milk, ham and cheese, among others).  I am one of Ezra's taste testers, and I give my compliments to the chef--he makes a very tasty mango soup.

Bear is Ezra's "yes" man.  Ezra speaks for himself and Bear.  The funny part is Ezra changes the tone in his voice slightly when he answers for Bear in the affirmative, as if Bear really were talking with him.  Conversations go like this:

"Bear eat mango soup?"
"Yes."
"Bear poop, need change?"
"Yes." 
"Bear listen story with us?"
"Yes."
"Bear like mac-cheese.  Have some?"
"Yes."
"Bear love Ezra?"
"Yes."

This morning at bath-time, I stepped out of the room to change Maren.  A minute later I heard Ezra choke and sputter on some water.  I peeked into the bathroom.

"Are you alright?" I asked.
"Yah...No issues mommy.  No issues," he said with a grin.
I bust out laughing.  Where did he pick that up? 

Ezra, Bear, and the "little friends" (two small bears, a monkey, a frog, a rabbit, and a rubber duck) hang out in Ezra's crib during nap time.  Often, Ezra wakes up and will play with all these friends in his crib, chattering on contentedly for more than 30 minutes post-nap.  The other day he was so into his play that I walked into his room and stood next to his crib before he noticed me.  He screamed in surprise and then giggled excitedly.

Ezra having a picnic with Bear and the little friends.