The truth about love

Tonight, while eating dinner off My Special Plate (which I've had since I was barely older than Dutch - it has my name on it!), I said "I love my plate!" and Dutch said dismissively but kindly "No, you don't. It doesn't have a mouth to talk."

When we tried to suggest that it was possible to love even nontalking things/animals/etc., she listened politely, but clearly wasn't buying it. When Cook pointed out that she loves Birthday Bear, and Birthday Bear does not talk (being a stuffed animal and all), she informed us (in the same, condescending little voice) that he does talk.