Can I Tell You This?

Madeleine's latest catchphrase seems to be "Can I tell you this?"

Everything she wants to say must be preceded by "Can I tell you this?"

For example:

MADELEINE: Mama?  Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: I'm just SO excited for opening presents so people can OPEN what I made for them!
ME: I know, it's fun giving gifts, isn't it?
MADELEINE: Mama?
ME: Yes?
MADELEINE: Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: I can't wait to watch Julia OPEN THE PRESENTS I made her!
ME: What did yo make for her?
MADELEINE: I don't remember.
ME: Oh.
MADELEINE: Mama?
ME: Yes?
MADELEINE: Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: The thing I like LESS than the other things is books and pictures.  I like TOYS the best.
ME: You do?  I really LOVE books.  I love to read.
MADELEINE: Well, I love books too, but I love TOYS the most!
ME: Oh.
MADELEINE: Mama?
ME: Yes?
MADELEINE: Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: The days before Christmas...like, the days that are really close to Christmas...like, FIVE days, they go by SO fast that we might not even have TIME to buy presents!


Sometimes Madeleine asks me if she can tell me this without even knowing what she wants to say:

MADELEINE: Mama?  Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: I don't really know what to say right now.


And sometimes she has something to say but then loses her train of thought along the way.

MADELEINE: Mama?
ME: Yes?
MADELEINE: Can I tell you this?
ME: Sure.
MADELEINE: When...when...when we opened the piñata at Lilly's birthday party, so, what happened is...that...um...so...(literally, a minute of silence) Mama?  What was I gonna tell you?


Madeleine, can I tell you this?  I can't read your mind, so I really don't know what you were going to tell me.