Every night, or at least when he’s willing to sit in my lap that long, Robbie and I say prayers.  We say thank you for all the good things that happened that day, ask for good night’s sleeps and safe travels if Justin is traveling, and bless everyone we know.  It’s the same list every time.  “God bless Robbie, Mama, and Daddy.  And God bless Grandmama and Um-Papa and Nona and Pops.  And God bless Aunt Hilary and Uncle Hunter and Uncle Jarrod and Aunt Jarnetta.  And God bless Barkley and Oscar and Elmo and Grover and Cookie Monster and ‘Ish.  Amen.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

Lately, Robbie has started taking over prayers on his own.  He repeats what I say for the first part and then goes into his list of blessings.  Tonight it went a little something like this: “God bless Grover (the cat closest).  Okar.  Barkley.  Ish.  Okar.  Ish.  Cookie.  Elmo.  QiQi.  Mama.  Daddy.  Nona.  Pops.  Hal-a-ree.  Hunter.  Papa.  ‘Ma.  Jarrod.  ‘Netta.  ‘Men.”  He usually corrects me when I ask God to bless Robbie by throwing in a “QiQi”.

And then we signed off with the sign of the cross.  I said, “In the name of the Father”, which Robbie repeated.  “And in the name of the Son.”  This is where we got a little held up.  Robbie repeated, “Name of the QiQi.”  Great.  A two-year-old with a God complex…