Heptadecagon

Question and answer time with Zoe and Talia. Zoe: Why do you have so many sperm cells? Me: Because they have to make such a long trip, most of them die before they even get to the egg. Me: How big are they [sperm cells]? Me: They're tiny. You'd need a microscope to see them. Then the girls asked whether or not I can feel them wriggling as they, um, leave me. I don't think the word "ejaculate" is part of their vocabulary yet. No, I answered, they're so small I don't feel their tails swishing or anything. Z&T weren't clear on how long sperm cells persisted. I explained that three different packets (didn't know what else to call them) of sperm cells that were delivered at three different times were involved in making them, Aaron, and Melina. Talia: So, nine months before Melina was born, you and mommy did it? Me: Yes, we did. Talia: But we were ALIVE then! Zoe: So do you do it in the bathroom? Me: No, we don't. Zoe: In the water? Me: No. ...

Aaron was drawing a rainbow with his markers. Excitedly, he says, "Mom! My favorite colors are primary colors!" I don't know about you, but I didn't know what a primary color was when I was four. Gotta thank dad the physicist for that one. **** I was feeding Melina in the kitchen, and she started to put something in her mouth that was just too small for her mouth (as in, she could choke). I took it away, and instead gave her the Fisher-Price baby Jesus, that came with the nativity set . Me: Here you go, Melina. Play with this instead. Baby Jesus won't mind if you put him in your mouth. Talia: Mom, Baby Jesus won't mind because he is a toy . **** And just because we talked about everyone else, I need to put a bit about Zoe in here. I had to laugh yesterday. She was supposed to be doing her homework, and instead, I found her reading something. She hid what she was reading, and then came to the table to do her homework. It wasn't until later that I as...