Manos

We hired a Colombian nanny (Elba) in the hopes that our children would be able to learn Spanish organically, in the same way that they learned/are learning English.  She speaks to Evie exclusively in Spanish and works on Spanish words and phrases with Henry.  She's been less successful with HT because he thinks she's messing with him when she tells him what things are called in Spanish.  For example, she'll point at an airplane and say, "avion," and he'll say, "no, Ms. Elba, dat an aiw-pwane."  Anyway, yesterday, she told me that GK (who is now 7 months old) understands 'mano.'  I thought she was crazy but this morning when I was changing her diaper, I said it to her a few times.  Each time I did, she gave me her hand.  I'm not entirely convinced it wasn't because I was reaching toward her, that maybe she's reacting to my reaching rather than the word, but it was pretty cool to see.  And it made me think that maybe our plan is working!  I don't expect them to come away from the experience fluent in Spanish or anything, but even just the exposure at this age has to help with their mental flexibility, I would think.  Or at least hope.  Henry told me yesterday that the Spanish word for 'apple' is 'azana.'  I thought that was pretty good for a 2.5 year old.  Manzana is a big, hard word.  Though, he's been saying 'excavator' pretty well for the past week or so, so maybe I shouldn't be so impressed.

Evie - 7 months

"Wha shoo bake-a fo me?'

We stopped giving Henry afternoon snacks in order to ensure that he eats a good dinner so now, he's generally quite hungry around 5 pm.  The other day, he came out to tell me that he was hungry.  When he saw me making dinner, he said, "Mommy, I hun-gee.  Where my din-nin?  Wha shoo bake-a fo me?"  I about lost it.  What you bakin for me?  hahaha, oh that boy.

ABCs

I always sing the ABC song when we wash Henry's hands and have done it since... forever, I think.  On this day, just because, I asked if he wanted to sing with me.  Rather than sing with he, he took off on his own and sang the whole song.  Beginning to end.  I had no idea he knew it.  I shouldn't be surprised because I've sung it to him multiple times a day since he was born, but I was really shocked.  So I grabbed the iPad and asked him to do it again.  That's what you're seeing.  He laughs a bit in the middle, I think because he's a little embarrassed that he forgot where he was or what comes next, but once I get him back on track, he just keeps going.  I love this.

"Dop yaf at me!"

Again with the whole, "I don't know where he gets these things" thing.  Matt, Henry, Evie and I were sitting in the living room the other evening, just talking and playing and spending a bit of family time together before bed time.  Matt told a funny story and we both started laughing when dear little Henry stopped what he was doing, got very indignant and yelled, "Dop yaf at me, Daddy!"  We both stopped laughing and looked at him for a second before I lost it completely.  Matt laughed a bit but composed himself very well and told him, "I'm not laughing at you, buddy."  Laughing, I assured him that I WAS laughing at him and he got soo mad!  He looked almost like he was going to cry before I started tickling him and got him to forget it.  But where would he have heard that?  Why does he know the concept of "laughing at someone"?  Doesn't he seem a little too young to know what that is?  It's crazy what a clever clogs that boy can be sometimes.  :)

"Thank you so very much"

Henry loves a British cartoon called Peppa Pig.  He likes all of the characters but I think Daddy Pig is his favorite.  Being British, they obviously speak English but they have some different sayings than we do and it's so funny and wonderful to hear Henry use them.  Most recently, it's been Daddy Pig's "thank you so very much" or "you're most welcome."  Imagine thanking a 2 year old for listening and having him respond, "you're most welcome."  It's such a delight.

Naughty Mr. Dinosaur

Henry loves his dinosaurs.  Specifically his T-Rexs.  I wrote before about the Grandma dinosaur with the booboo on its side, but Santa also brought him a big T-Rex for Christmas.  That has been his new obsession lately.  It's kind of taken on the life of Henry's alter ego and is responsible for all of Henry's evil deeds.  If Henry is accused of making a mess in the living room, he points out that Mr. Dinosaur has done it.  If Henry spills his spaghetti on the floor, he assures me that Mr. Dinosaur is responsible.  Usually, Mr. Dinosaur is kind enough to apologize with a deep voiced, "saw-see, mommy" but one day, he was being particularly naughty and Henry decided that Mr. Dinosaur's apologies just weren't enough.  So he got sent to time out.  I cannot describe to you how darling it is to see a 2 year old put a dinosaur into a chair in the corner and tell it that it has to sit there until it is ready to follow directions and listen to mommy.  Three times Henry sent Mr. Dinosaur to time out that day.  And he hasn't misbehaved since.