I assumed that for a toddler, language acquisition would be straight memorization, and that his pronunciation would improve when he gained the motor skills to do it. But recently I've noticed Little Man practicing pronouncing things that are tricky to him.
Yesterday we were leaving church, and he asked me, "You have a la-lay-la?" Huh? "La-lay-la? Lum-lay-la?" Umbrella! The whole way home he pronouced, slowly and perfectly, "Um-brel-la." He even got the l's.
When he finished dinner he told me he was going to ride his "mozormichael." As I got him cleaned up I said, "You'd better go find that mozormichael." He knew I was teasing, grinned, and said, "No, Mommy, 'Mo-zor-mich-ael.'" Okay, so he can't quite fix that one even with practice yet, but he knows he doesn't quite have it right.
Later we were playing outside. He said, "I want some hock." Huh? "Hock. Hock. Ch-ock." Chalk! Instead of getting frustrated when I can't understand him, he's slowing down and thinking about it.
Which is not to say that he's mature beyond his 27 months. We're still working out the whole discipline thing, but the language acquisition thing is going nicely.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Independence Day
This morning Mimi taught Little Man to say "Independence Day," although he still thought the fireworks were for the Hokies.
Yesterday afternoon we went to Uncle J and Aunt L's house for a cookout. They're excellent grillers, and Mimi contributed two dishes that I don't make (broccoli salad and carrot cake) so T. was happy to have more food that we don't usually have around here.
B. brought sparklers.
Little Man had strong feelings about the sparklers. I like the way M. is looking at him. "You're disturbing the peace, kid."
Like Cinderella's pumpkin coach, the magic disappeared at 9:00 and we hit meltdown land. By the time we got home at 9:15 he said, "I need to go night-night. I need my blankie. I need cover-you-up." He was asleep before the fireworks started at 9:30.
Yesterday afternoon we went to Uncle J and Aunt L's house for a cookout. They're excellent grillers, and Mimi contributed two dishes that I don't make (broccoli salad and carrot cake) so T. was happy to have more food that we don't usually have around here.
B. brought sparklers.
Little Man had strong feelings about the sparklers. I like the way M. is looking at him. "You're disturbing the peace, kid."
Like Cinderella's pumpkin coach, the magic disappeared at 9:00 and we hit meltdown land. By the time we got home at 9:15 he said, "I need to go night-night. I need my blankie. I need cover-you-up." He was asleep before the fireworks started at 9:30.
Friday, July 3, 2009
A Day of Leisure
Still pregnant. That's the Baby #2 update.
We enjoyed a day off of work today. Little Man and I walked to the park to slide and swing in the morning, he helped Mimi weed in the morning and helped me weed in the afternoon, and he had Grandpa Jeff take him for a ride in the stroller in the afternoon. The adults also got a lot checked off of the honey-do list this morning.
Playing a duet with Mimi.
Daddy in full gear after a ride.
In other news, we got Guitar Hero World Tour for Daddio's birthday. It's a Wii game with guitar, drums, and microphone. It's being assembled as I type. Most excellent.
We enjoyed a day off of work today. Little Man and I walked to the park to slide and swing in the morning, he helped Mimi weed in the morning and helped me weed in the afternoon, and he had Grandpa Jeff take him for a ride in the stroller in the afternoon. The adults also got a lot checked off of the honey-do list this morning.
Playing a duet with Mimi.
Daddy in full gear after a ride.
In other news, we got Guitar Hero World Tour for Daddio's birthday. It's a Wii game with guitar, drums, and microphone. It's being assembled as I type. Most excellent.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
So They Say It's Your Birthday
Tuesday was Daddio's real birthday. Since his parents are in town, he got what every boy wants, dinner fixed by his mom. Lasagna. And chocolate cake.
Daddio had his party shirt on.
I love all 3 kids staring at the card with the butts on it. That's what uncles are for - butt cards. Or something.
Last night we think Little Man asked for boots. It's not quite clear, and I'm not convinced he would remember that he has snow boots. But I put them on him and he was pleased. He just needed his helmet and he was ready for a ride. I love this first one.
Daddio had his party shirt on.
Last night we think Little Man asked for boots. It's not quite clear, and I'm not convinced he would remember that he has snow boots. But I put them on him and he was pleased. He just needed his helmet and he was ready for a ride. I love this first one.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday Already?
We had a great & busy weekend! Friday night T. and I managed to stay up late enough to watch an ENTIRE MOVIE which we haven't done in a long time (the movie was "Taken;" it was entertaining).
Saturday we went to the nearest city to visit a motorsports store so I could try on helmets and eventually complete my motorcycle-riding outfit. Little Man had never been to the motorcycle store. For the first 20 minutes he repeated on a constant loop, "Don't touch it, Mommy. Don't touch the mozormichaels!" Then I put him on a 4-wheeler, and once he realized the extreme coolness of sitting on the merchandise, he couldn't get enough.
His reward for being patient while I tried on helmets was that he got to try on helmets.
Afterwards we got a fast-food lunch and took a scenic drive home.
Saturday evening T. went to get his parents at the airport. They normally live overseas and were just arriving to this side of the country. Little Man and I had a birthday party to go to at a local pool. It was so fun! He was cautious at first but eventually would walk into the water as far as he could. He sat on the edge and jumped to me. He even went down the waterslide twice, until I ruined that for him. The first time he loved it, but the second time I didn't do a good job of catching him and he "swam" for about 5 seconds before I pulled him up. Hopefully someday he'll forget and go down the slide again.
He worked up an appetite and ate an entire second dinner after cake, then had a late bedtime of 9:45.
He was very pleased to have two new playmates when he woke up - T's parents Mimi and Grandpa. T's birthday is this week so we got a small group together to go to a family-style southern restaurant in our area for a birthday dinner. A few of us had gotten there early, and T., Grandpa, and Little Man were bringing up the rear. A few minutes before they arrived I got a call that said, "Little Man got carsick. Be ready for us." I got seriously carsick as a kid and wondered if he'd inherit that from me. Thank goodness B. had an extra outfit for her boys, because I was not prepared (note to self: put an extra outfit in the car).
Little Man looked completely miserable (and didn't smell too good) when they arrived, but we got him cleaned up. He told me, "I spit it. I make a big mess. My tummy feels better now." The meal was delicious and the day was beautiful.
T. wanted to make sure I told this story: Often Appalachian Trail hikers will eat at this restaurant on their way through the area. There was a foursome of hikers sitting on this great wraparound porch watching the boys play after we ate dinner. Little Man climbed up on the porch and let out quite the gas. T. said everyone just sat there for a minute, then LM announced, "I toot!" The hikers were entertained and let him know that it's not healthy to hold it in. They were also the second group recently to remark on his left-footedness and encourage me to get him in soccer.
Then we all departed. I put LM in his carseat and buckled him in, and as I pulled the door shut he spit-up AGAIN. Thank goodness this was just a little one, and T. speculates that it was probably just the smell of my car that did it. It was certainly insult to injury.
We all enjoyed playing outside this evening after getting home. I still don't know how to set my camera to get decent photos at dusk.
Pulling weeds with Mimi.
Saturday we went to the nearest city to visit a motorsports store so I could try on helmets and eventually complete my motorcycle-riding outfit. Little Man had never been to the motorcycle store. For the first 20 minutes he repeated on a constant loop, "Don't touch it, Mommy. Don't touch the mozormichaels!" Then I put him on a 4-wheeler, and once he realized the extreme coolness of sitting on the merchandise, he couldn't get enough.
His reward for being patient while I tried on helmets was that he got to try on helmets.
Afterwards we got a fast-food lunch and took a scenic drive home.Saturday evening T. went to get his parents at the airport. They normally live overseas and were just arriving to this side of the country. Little Man and I had a birthday party to go to at a local pool. It was so fun! He was cautious at first but eventually would walk into the water as far as he could. He sat on the edge and jumped to me. He even went down the waterslide twice, until I ruined that for him. The first time he loved it, but the second time I didn't do a good job of catching him and he "swam" for about 5 seconds before I pulled him up. Hopefully someday he'll forget and go down the slide again.
He worked up an appetite and ate an entire second dinner after cake, then had a late bedtime of 9:45.
He was very pleased to have two new playmates when he woke up - T's parents Mimi and Grandpa. T's birthday is this week so we got a small group together to go to a family-style southern restaurant in our area for a birthday dinner. A few of us had gotten there early, and T., Grandpa, and Little Man were bringing up the rear. A few minutes before they arrived I got a call that said, "Little Man got carsick. Be ready for us." I got seriously carsick as a kid and wondered if he'd inherit that from me. Thank goodness B. had an extra outfit for her boys, because I was not prepared (note to self: put an extra outfit in the car).
Little Man looked completely miserable (and didn't smell too good) when they arrived, but we got him cleaned up. He told me, "I spit it. I make a big mess. My tummy feels better now." The meal was delicious and the day was beautiful.
T. wanted to make sure I told this story: Often Appalachian Trail hikers will eat at this restaurant on their way through the area. There was a foursome of hikers sitting on this great wraparound porch watching the boys play after we ate dinner. Little Man climbed up on the porch and let out quite the gas. T. said everyone just sat there for a minute, then LM announced, "I toot!" The hikers were entertained and let him know that it's not healthy to hold it in. They were also the second group recently to remark on his left-footedness and encourage me to get him in soccer.
Then we all departed. I put LM in his carseat and buckled him in, and as I pulled the door shut he spit-up AGAIN. Thank goodness this was just a little one, and T. speculates that it was probably just the smell of my car that did it. It was certainly insult to injury.
We all enjoyed playing outside this evening after getting home. I still don't know how to set my camera to get decent photos at dusk.
Pulling weeds with Mimi.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Don't Box Me In
Garden Update:
The ground cover (weeds) is taking a strong hold. We clearly have a "seeds in our compost pile" problem. Next year we will have to attack it. But the vegetables are doing well, also!
I'm 38 weeks pregnant today, so attention to the garden will fall off sharply soon. The front center section is potatoes. They are completely out-of-control. I'm hoping they'll stop growing once they're done blooming. The zucchini, squash, and cukes are always out-of-control, and we have some baby yellow squash which will probably be ready soon. Peppers, green beans, and tomatoes all seem healthy.
Hubby (that's Daddio to you) got me a gift today: a motorcycle jacket! Which you can see will fit better once I get rid of the huge bump.
Oh there's my pincushion, I was just looking for it tonight. Good thing we took a picture.
"Why is Michael Jordan on my jacket?" Apparently he owns a racing team. His number is 23 and his color is Carolina Blue. Naturally. It's a leather jacket with armor in it and it weighs approximately 87 lbs as far as I can tell. It's a good thing Daddio found me trying to take a picture of myself 'cause I can't really bend my elbows in it and I couldn't take it off by myself. Yes, I have street cred'. I got matching blue and black gloves, too.
The ground cover (weeds) is taking a strong hold. We clearly have a "seeds in our compost pile" problem. Next year we will have to attack it. But the vegetables are doing well, also!
I'm 38 weeks pregnant today, so attention to the garden will fall off sharply soon. The front center section is potatoes. They are completely out-of-control. I'm hoping they'll stop growing once they're done blooming. The zucchini, squash, and cukes are always out-of-control, and we have some baby yellow squash which will probably be ready soon. Peppers, green beans, and tomatoes all seem healthy.Hubby (that's Daddio to you) got me a gift today: a motorcycle jacket! Which you can see will fit better once I get rid of the huge bump.
Oh there's my pincushion, I was just looking for it tonight. Good thing we took a picture.
"Why is Michael Jordan on my jacket?" Apparently he owns a racing team. His number is 23 and his color is Carolina Blue. Naturally. It's a leather jacket with armor in it and it weighs approximately 87 lbs as far as I can tell. It's a good thing Daddio found me trying to take a picture of myself 'cause I can't really bend my elbows in it and I couldn't take it off by myself. Yes, I have street cred'. I got matching blue and black gloves, too.
Big Kid Shoes
Crocs were on-sale last week (50% your whole order if you ordered more than 1 pair) so we all got new Crocs. Yes, we pride ourselves on being 3 years behind an ugly-shoes trend.
Little Man needed new summer shoes, so I got him a pair of sandals. Apparently Crocs' sizing is completely different from other children's shoes, because they're way too big. But he loves them. He calls them "big kid shoes."
Little Man needed new summer shoes, so I got him a pair of sandals. Apparently Crocs' sizing is completely different from other children's shoes, because they're way too big. But he loves them. He calls them "big kid shoes."
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