You, at Two: A Dictionary

As I've mentioned before, Joseph did not speak until he was two and a half years old. I worried, agonized, waited on tenterhooks for his words. I was overjoyed and astounded when he finally began speaking, in a voice clear and quite sophisticated for his age, as though he had purposefully waited a little longer to begin because he could not deign to use baby talk.

Henry has kept to a more traditional developmental pattern, his babbling giving way to "words" over the past few months. My husband and I have joked that it seems strange to us to hear words coming from such a small fry after our experience the first time around. Given our limited frame of parental reference, hearing a toddler talk just seems odd and implausible, like a monkey playing an accordion. And although it's getting a little clearer, we have to really put forth an effort to decipher his language.

With his second birthday fast approaching, I thought I'd treat you to a rough interpretation of my toddler's vocabulary. In his own words, here's what Henry's telling us:

Mo': I'm going to need more of that.

Mow-ah: I know I still have a half a bowl, but I'm just telling you now I'm going to need more.

Ban-banes: Technically, pancakes. Loosely used for any other round breakfast items such as waffles, biscuits, etc. We can argue semantics while you serve me Mow-ah.

Peemie: Not 100% sure what's up here, but I think I'm onto something. Anything peemie-related gets a big reaction. Daddy always winces very dramatically when I twist-pull my own peemie, or see how far I can stretch it out. Brother always squeals when I manage to pull his. And just so you know, my mom and the dog were born without peemies. Sad.

Danta: A large, bearded fellow who is charming in children's literature but absolutely terrifying in person. And his beard smelled funny.

Tiddy! Come on, cat! Just because I was born does not mean you have to live out your fifteenth year of life under the bed.

Do dat: Watch me closely and then follow my example as I color/ attempt a somersault/ drink from the bird bath.

Bool-bah: Oh MY GOD! A school bus just went by my window! Did you see that thing? I bet the kids riding that bus feel so lucky this morning.

Butt-butt: Please pull up your shirt. I'd like to jab my pointy little finger in your belly button.

My-yeen!: Bless your heart! You didn't realize that I've touched/breathed on/thought about/ that object you're holding. Let's just hand that back to me, so I won't have to punch you in the butt-butt.

Bubbah Milk and Duddy: You just keep right on reading that child development book while I polish off this bottle and suck my pacifier.

Thanks for reading Henry's guest post! He will send you an autographed picture he dolored with his Dayons.