Little Dude says…
Have you had a “dog cone” lately? You are not familiar, you say?
Introducing the dog cone.
Or, as the rest of the world knows this popular food-on-a-stick, the corn dog.
The past few months have flown by and I feel guilty for not writing down more of the fun phrases and terms used by Little Dude as he grows and learns. The dog cone is just the latest, and one of the most fun phrases.
Currently, he uses the following Little Dude terms:
- Puckuter – Computer
- Noculars – Binoculars
- Paperizer – Vaporizer
- Lighping – Lightning (usually in connection with Lightning McQueen)
- Hot pool/cold pool – Hot tub/swimming pool (explanation given to us during a recent overnight stay at a hotel)
- Big blue straw – Breathing treatment tube, used during the recent emergency room visit
- Fodder – Father
Overall, his speech and his ability to express himself and converse with us has blossomed incredibly over the last several months. He now tells us, in great detail, everything that happens to him throughout the day.
We have been amazed with his ability to repeat phrases, stories, songs and more.
In other excitement, within the last couple of weeks, he has developed the ability to identify/read and spell the words “go,” “stop” and “up.” He also knows and spells his name, recites his street address and can tell you the first names of his Mom and Dad.
He makes us laugh as he recreates stories using his toys, and we are amazed at how engrossed he can get in some of our favorite shows. At this time, he loves Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Super Why (in approximately that order).
His favorite song to hum/sing is “Rondeau,” by Jean-Joseph Mouret. (Yes, I have a classical music lover on my hands.) That being said, he stops in his tracks to listen to “Pressure” by Billy Joel, and rather likes any music. We frequently break into “Jungle Boogie,” by Kool and the Gang, whenever he asks to “get down.”
We created our own version of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and he loves to sing it non-stop, at night. Our version is about his dump truck nightlight:
“Twinkle, twinkle little dump truck, you’re bright and yellow like my duck. Driving down the bumpy road, watch out for that big green toad. Twinkle, twinkle little dump truck, you’re bright and yellow like my duck.”
Our version includes bouncing for the bumpy road, croaking noises for the toad and of course, quacking for the duck.
As for other milestones, Little Dude just went on his first field trip and was delighted to ride the school bus for the first time. I volunteered to chaperon and was thrilled to share this experience with him, even though he informed me he had to sit with his favorite female school companion (an adorable blue-eyed, blond-haired little girl) on the bus, leaving me to sit in my own seat across from them. (Better spot to take pictures of both of them, however.)
Thankfully, in the midst of his growing vocabulary, we’ve only had one word come up that we are working to eradicate – “stupid.” My guess is that he is hearing other kids use this word, as he uses it when he is frustrated with something.
Every day, we are amazed at how blessed our lives have been by Little Dude, and even though the Hubby and I are frequently tired, short on time and energy, and frustrated with “toddler attitude,” we are delighted to have such a wonderful character in our lives. He delights us in so many ways, bringing us smiles and laughter.
Overall, all is well in our household. Except for the death of my camera. Yes, my gorgeous Canon PowerShot A720 IS, my 2008 Mother’s Day gift, has decided to malfunction in such a way that my only options are to replace or send it in for repair. We checked the price on a new one to see what it would cost to replace it, and nearly fainted from sticker shock. They are now more than $600! We didn’t pay anywhere near that price a year and a half ago – it was pricey then, but not that pricey. It appears I will be using a less-expensive point-and-shoot camera for the moment, as we pursue the repair route.
(See? I promised an update in the near future. Now, have you entered the AJWright contest? We’ll be doing the drawing for the winner soon!)
Those ARE fun days – trying to figure out what the latest sound actually means.
Shortman’s stumper was “Tuppow” for Pillow. Of course, the day he asked why Mr. Hot was taking the tuppow diaper off (he was removing the pillowcase), was the day it became cemented in our vocabulary for all time.
I think I’m loving the diaper that goes on the pillow, or rather tuppow! So funny!
I’ve been doing really good lately at keeping things written down in a notebook that just floats around the house. I personally LOVE dog cones Little Dude!!
Thought about just doing the floating notebook, but I know me and that notebook will be used for something else and the notes will end up lost. As for dog cones, I’m a fan as well…
I’m glad you wrote these down. You do forget these cutenesses eventually!
And I’m always amazed at how quickly these moments vanish, too. Just last night, he said I had a “cool computer.” Not “puckuter,” which has been a word we haven’t been able to change, but “computer.” Granted, without saying “cool” in front of it, I think he will still call it a “puckuter,” per normal.
How exciting to see and hear a child grow so quickly! Congrats Little Dude on your milestones!
RC – sorry about the death of your camera, what a bummer! I hope that you can get it fixed/replaced soon!
Andrea – I am just thrilled that you and I both have such great young men in our lives, so we both get to go through these fun milestones! (Thanks for the wishes regarding the camera. I have my new, less expensive one, which I’m discovering is a pretty good little camera. Hoping to get a nicer one someday!)
Kids are SO MUCH FUN at that age, aren’t they? So cute too! You have a bright little man on your hands.
Sorry about the camera, I would be seriously bummed about it!
Julie – I know you would be lost without your camera, too! And yes, this age (even with the toddler difficulties) is A LOT of fun!
How fun! There are some words that I will sure miss when they are gone. I currently LOVE the way JJ says “Yellow” as “yeah-yo.” But, he has been working hard at his L sounds and I am sure that heya-yo won’t last long
Isn’t it amazing how we work with them to learn the correct pronunciations, but then we miss these unique words and phrases later – after they have have conquered all the sounds?
I’m glad you recorded Little Dude’s sayings on your blog. Now they’ll be remembered forever. Kids can come up with the cutest ways of saying things! One of my daughters called peanut butter “brown butter” when she was little, and another daughter called her diaper her “bapoo.” I miss those day. *Sigh*
I love bapoo! Cute! Doesn’t it make you wonder where some of those words that sound nothing like the original word come from?
Poor lad, He gets to sit next to the Hot-Chick on the bus only to have his mum riding on the opposite seats taking photos
Has your hubby has taught him the fake yawn trick yet?
Nothing you wouldn’t do to your own kids, Mr Geek!
I have pictures of them hugging and holding hands, so no fake yawn was needed. My child is a charmer.
My niece is like this, too. My favorite of her words: “Pinecone” the “porky-pie,” which is her name for my stuffed hedgehog puppet (she thinks it’s a porcupine). So cute!
Adorable! I just love how kids think and talk.