I’m taking a break from blogging this month and sharing some words from friends, some posts from the past and other assorted bric-a-brac. This post was originally published on July 29, 2010 as “Evenings with Petey.” I can’t believe how much he’s grown in the last two years.

Pete wouldn’t go to bed? Here’s some more of the conversation we had before I finally got off my hindquarters and took him back upstairs.

Pete: Remember what happened when they fell down in that dark basement? Maybe that’s not good.

Me, somewhat alarmed: Who fell down in a dark basement?

Pete: Wonderpets did that. They fell down in dark basement. They won’t see anything down there. Remember what happened to that? I’ve never seen “Wonderpets All Began.” Can I put “Wonderpets All Began” on my wish list? Can I please?

Me: Yes.

Pete: Maybe we should get a new one. Maybe we should get a new one. Maybe we should get a neeeeewwww oooonnnneee.

Me: OK.

Pete: That’ll work. [turns attention to poor, long-suffering Marsha] I’m gonna get you kitty. A-poke poke pokey poke. [Marsha runs under couch; Pete gives chase] Down there? I’m all done taking naps. [He picks up a photo album.] Let me see this picture of this, Mama. Let me see this picture of this. Oh. Oh, there’s the cars. There’s Mater and McQueen and Dinoco McQueen. Oh there’s McQueen Dinoco Mcqueen, and there’s Petey and peas. There’s Petey and peas, Mama. There’s Poppy and Addison, and there’s bubble playing time, and there’s Mommy and Daddy, and there’s Lightening McQueen and Dinoco McQueen and that’s the pictures. Let’s look at them again. [rinse and repeat] Well, it’s time for me to wake up. I want to watch a cartoon.

Me: It’s time for bed, honey.

Petey: But I already take one, Mama.

Me: It’s time for night-night, all the way to morning. [Do I really talk that way? Sometimes. Whatevs.]

Petey: But it’s too late. But I was asleep. I wanna lay in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. I want to Mama. I really want to. Meow. Meoooooow. Meow meow.