English

Just before our son turned two, he started putting 2 words together. It's a good thing too, because that is one of the 2-year milestones according to the questionnaire at the Dr's office. Some kids don't have any trouble speaking, but as far as our son and all of his little friends in Alaska . . . well, they just seem to be doing about average in the language department. For what seemed like forever, he would just repeat the same word over and over like a broken record until acknowledged. The words he repeated were usually "mum mum" (momma), "da ee" (daddy), "papa" (grandpa), "mama" (grandma), "bolk" (milk), etc. Then, all of a sudden one day he told me "mum mum down" so that I would get off of the picnic table and walk with him in the snow. Now, two weeks later, he's exploding: "boosh (moose) poop," "dog poop," "baby poop." This morning he surprised me with "kank you (thank), mum mum" after I gave him things he asked for. I wish I could take credit for these manners, but it wasn't me who taught him this. I've worked on "please" a lot, but he usually doesn't say it unless asked to say it. While writing this, he asked me for "hot coffa (coffee)." I gave him a mug with hot water and now he's dumping his juice into it and stirring it with his hand. I asked him to pull up his sleeve. We'll clean that up later. He also knows all of his colors, so those are common adjectives he uses when putting two words together. Anyway, he's definitely capable of absorbing multiple words per day even when we don't try to teach him anything. He's saying "read book," and pulling at a box of books, so I better sign out. This little sponge will be fluent in English one of these days.