Perfected the Asian Accent

Kids are sponges.  That is a fact.  They see and hear things around them and are able to remember them...whether they choose to respond, is their own decision.

Since we  left Pittsburgh, Riley has been really missing my dad.  It honestly BROKE my heart when, on the way to the airport to go back to Tampa, I turn around and see my mom bawling her eyes out and Riley leaning against her, quietly wiping away the tears.

We arrived at the airport and while my dad and Ryan began to unload the van, Riley completely lost it and couldn't hold back the tears.  And there she said it, she didn't want to leave Grandma and Grandpa.  Well, my dad started wailing, pulling his hat down over his eyes, hugging Riley so tight, you could practically see her body go limp.

We all said our good-byes, hugged and promised to call when we got back home to Tampa.

We did.  The plane landed, we exited the plane and I started dialing back to Pittsburgh. Grandpa asked to speak to Riley.  She grabbed the phone and said nothing.  She nodded (which she doesn't quite get that they can't see/hear on the other side of the phone) and after she finished the "conversation" with my dad, she gave me the phone and said, "I didn't talk because I was trying to swallow my tears."

*gulp*

Which brings me to yesterday.  Riley hasn't talked to my parents in a week.  Not because she doesn't want to, it's mostly because of my work schedule and missing each other's phone calls. But yesterday afternoon, I witnessed Riley doing her best impression of an Asian accent.

My dad asked her questions about what she wanted for Christmas.  She responded with "I dohn noh" which, if you can follow, means, 'I don't know."  And I heard a lot of "oh kayah, grang pa" -- again, 'Okay, Grandpa."  

I don't know where she gets it but when she starts to talk to them, it's like this little Asian Riley comes out and she does the accent.  Best part, I think they understand HER better when she does it...