Like a fine steak...

The Child, as she is now to be called. You know, That One.

The one who will stare you down like a hawk who hasn't eaten in weeks.

The one who will flash a grin after moments of seemingly unending impudence.

The one who proudly proclaims her love every 10 minutes, and looks at you and strokes your cheek with her hand with gentleness never before known to man and declares you her 'best friend'.

The one who sucks her thumb as if she was trying to milk her most favorite flavor right out of the tip, who you can hear slurping across the room, and who complains when it actually gets sore. The one who was already admonished at her first 'unofficial' trip to the dentist, who continued to tick off the mom for admonishing her telling her to just "pull it out of her mouth" -- and saying "my child is that age and she doesn't suck her thumb." Incidentally: have you ever seen those "my dog is smarter than your honor student" or "my hamster could kick your honor student's ass" bumper stickers? While I have every hope in the world that my girls are honor students, it wouldn't bother me in the least to have one of those bumper stickers. And I don't even have a hamster. And because I do not think fast when I am faced with a potential moment for a smart comment, I stood there dumb without a response. Until later that night when I had a whole slew of em. I have, however, considered switching dentists. Not for her 'advice', but for her 'my child is already better than your child and I've never even seen your child' comment. Somebody get me a hamster.

So, we tried a "hey why are you sucking your thumb? You're almost 4. 4 year olds don't suck their thumbs."

"Yes they do."

"No, it makes you look like a baby."

"But you know I'm not a baby. I'm almost 4."

"Really, why do you suck your thumb?"(From the mouth of the person who sucked her thumb well until her first round of orthodontics at age 9...all the while knowing full well why she sucks her thumb. BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME that's why.)

I wish I could reiterate the seriousness of the reply, and the exquisite timing. Because following my last question, there was no eye contact, no grin, and not even a moment's pause in between before she most simply said:

"Because it tastes good."

And thus ends the Thumb-Inquisition of July 2009.