April 19, 2007
That’s What He’s Talkin’ About
Life with a toddler is rewarding and demanding. Dawson is growing every day, yet he’s still “too skinny” according to my mother. She’s probably right. He will be three years old in September and he still wears pants sized 18 months. His upper body is bigger, but his legs and stomach are tiny. I envy his metabolism. The child can eat like a horse and not gain a pound. Ah…the life of a 2-year-old.
With the physical growth comes the intellectual development. Vocabulary and motor skills come to my attention more and more.
I’ve noticed lately that Dawson is talking much more than I remember and he’s often repeating the words that Doug and I say most often. He loves to tell us to “Stop It!” and says “Dawson’s naughty, he needs time out.” Can you tell we discipline his bad behavior a lot?
My child is like a sponge, soaking up vocabulary like water and storing it away in the pockets of his brain, just waiting to use his new words.
When Dawson was 10 months old I worried he was a late bloomer because he didn’t even babble like most babies. He just listened intently to the noises and voices around him.
Later, when he began talking at 22 months, I worried again that he wasn’t saying enough words. Bottle, Baby, Da-da and Puppy were the only words he knew. Children his age were saying 10-12 words compared to Dawson’s four.
Suddenly, I’m not worried anymore. It’s like a vocabulary explosion has happened. Little bombs of words being spoken and more often shouted at any moment.
He tells me about his friends at daycare and how Breanne sat on his car or how baby Lydia cried for her mommy. He talks about Auntie Rachel’s truck whenever he sees one of a similar color. Every school bus on the road is his Nonna’s bus (my mom is a school bus driver) and he wants to ride to daycare on it.
He loves to tell our dog, Murphy, to sit, speak and stay. He narrates the entire move, Cars. He asks for “Juice, please” and tells his father, “Daddy, put the juice in the fridger, kay?”
I can’t believe I was so distraught over his development, because now he doesn’t shut up. Not that I want him to shut up, just to not talk so much all the time.
But I know he’s learning and developing and I couldn’t be happier about that. I’m just amazed at the words he’s picked up.
I can hardly wait for the sassy teen years.
Posted by Dana @ 9:41 am • Uncategorized
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April 19th, 2007 at 12:28 pm, Violet the Verbose Says:
Yay! Isn’t it funny how we worry so much and then they always come through, in their own time. I worried that Sweet Pea would never learn to eat anything thicker than strained carrots without choking, that she would never learn to crawl or walk (she did the “army crawl” on her belly from 8-11 months, then finally started to crawl on hands & knees, and didn’t walk until 15 months), that she would never learn to sleep through the night or get potty trained. But all of these things happen, in the child’s own time. I think that language is one of the most fun!
April 19th, 2007 at 12:54 pm, Dana Says:
You are so right! The language skills are the most fun. I find myself laughing constantly when I hear the things Dawson says.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:00 am, Jessica Says:
I’m IN those sassy, teen years and I’ve got to tell ya - there are ups and downs (this is life) but I’m loving them - truly.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:31 am, Dana Says:
Jessica, I can only imagine those years. I’m told they’ll be here sooner than I realize!!
April 20th, 2007 at 10:25 am, Cheryl Says:
This gives me hope for Ben. Sure, he’s only 16 months, but sometimes I feel like he should be saying words. He verbalizes almost constantly though… and will have very serious conversations with me in his baby talk. I try to follow along and imagine what he could be meaning… but sometimes it just doesn’t work out and I give an enthusiastic “Oh really, yes, that’s wonderful” when I should have said, “Oh no, that’s terrible”.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:34 am, Dana Says:
Cheryl, don’t worry! I’m sure he’ll be talking soon enough! Just like my little chatterbox!
April 21st, 2007 at 2:34 pm, wisconsin mommy Says:
I can relate! Little J talks NON-STOP. If I start to drift off, he shouts “Mommy! I want to talk to you!!” The boy never had a thought he didn’t share! (Not that he gets it from me or anything…)
April 21st, 2007 at 8:37 pm, Leslie Says:
Kids are amazing. Julia recently told me, “Mom, I’m really frustrated with you.” I almost hit the floor. Frustrated? That’s a big word for a little girl.