My children are starting to speak. Oh how I longed for the days where words would accompany wants instead of the ‘guess-what-this-scream-means.’ People without kids can never appreciate the hilarious and sometimes mind-numbing conversations of those with few words.
Having toddlers is like having a parrot. A parrot who sometimes answers your questions. It’s amazing hearing phrases that you use coming out of this tiny person, and you wonder, “Do I really say that?” I must say it a lot because it’s all I hear coming from them.
When I ask Lucas to do something and he says, ‘No,’ I’ve learned that my common counter question is, “Why not?” He doesn’t know what this means so he’s started to add it to different phrases, like this:
Me: “Lucas, do you want to take a bath?”
Lucas: “No! Why not?”
Another phrase, which I think originated from my mother-in-law is the exclamation, “Oh my,” before various phrases. “Oh my, a train!” “Oh my, a car. Oh my.”
Lucas has also started this strange growling speech that almost sounds like the kid from The Shining saying, ‘Red Rum.’ It kinda freaks me out but he thinks it’s hilarious. I must have used it when trying to make him laugh and it stuck. Just imagine that kid counting to ten in the red rum voice and then laughing hysterically.
Penelope is using more and more words and even phrases. Christmas has been a hoot with her because she loves to impersonate Santa. His bearded mug is all over our house. Penny will go and point and say, ‘Santa!’ followed by a jolly, ‘Ho Ho Ho!’ Then, she tries to climb the dining room chair to see the lego holiday village we started to point out the ‘Christmas tree.’
Penelope loves to talk to the tv. She loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. When Mickey asks her, “Do you want to come inside my clubhouse?” she responds with an emphatic, “Nooooo,” which is a really good answer if she is ever asked that question in the outside world.
She is talkative and has a big personality. That’s code for bossy. For example, she has a hokey pokey Elmo. She loves her Elmo and will spin in circles for a good half hour with him. But, she also likes to push him down to hear him say, “Oopsies! Can you help Elmo up please.” Again, she replies with, “Noooo.”
She has always been very articulate. I remember going into her room to get her up in the morning and being greeted with a, ‘Hello.’ Yeah, she said the whole word. I don’t think most adults use both syllables of that one.
Penelope loves her shows, her babas, gooks, night night, mama, daddy, jenny, shoes, and cookies. Most recently, she’s started giving kisses and huggies on command. We have a cute video of her and Lucas hugging and kissing after Ty prompted them.
That’s part of the joy of parenting: hearing those little voices talk to you so sweet, even if they are just asking for a drink. Of course, Penny already thank you after you give it to her. The best is asking for a kiss and getting a sweet peck from that tiny little face. It makes everything else seem not so important.
