the doctor is in

I do not feel well today. Last night a cold developed in my chest, leaving me feeling achy and miserable. Luckily Dr. Garrett has been taking good care of me -- at least, as well as a 23-month-old untrained physician can. He took a good nap today, which allowed me to rest also. During our waking hours, he has let me recline on the couch rather than dragging me around the apartment by his needy little hand, and he's kept his tantrums to a pleasant minimum. And, sweetest of all, he's frequently leaned in to give me get-well-soon kisses, and has even read me a few stories from his personal collection of favorites.

Occasionally the storyteller has permitted his patient to read to him, which is a recent development and happily now recurring feature of our days together. Up until a couple of weeks ago, he slammed the books shut every time I tried to read to him. Now, however, he brings me stories he wants to hear and stands at my lap to look at the pictures or snuggles next to me on the couch. Because he is the offspring of avid readers, he has many books in his collection to pick from. I find, however, that I read him the same few over (and over, and over) again.

His current favorite is Freight Train.*

For those of you unfamiliar with this lovely little picture book, let me recite it to you. From memory -- which is what is bound to happen when you read the same book to your child dozens of times a day.

A train runs across this track.

Red caboose at the back. Orange tank car next. Yellow hopper car.

Green cattle car. Blue gondola car. Purple box car.

A Black tender and a Black steam engine.

Freight train. (This is the part where I ask Garrett what the train says, and he responds with a quiet and high-pitched "choo choo!")

Moving.

Going through tunnels.

Going by cities.

Crossing trestles.

Moving in darkness. Moving in daylight. Going, going...

gone.

I'm telling you, this one didn't win a Caldecott Honor for nothing. It's a classic, and I don't mind constantly reciting -- err, I mean reading -- it to my transportation-loving little boy.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to the couch to put my feet up. And probably read Freight Train to Garrett again.


*Other favorites ranking high on his list these days include:

• Moo, Baa, La! La! La!
• Doggies: A Counting and Barking Book
• Noisy Farm
• Dinosaur!
• The Cheerios Play Book (he likes to pretend to take Cheerios off the page and feed them to me)
• Dr. Seuss's ABC