Really Back to Normal and Language

Today, Mike had to go back to work! Ha!


That means it really is back to normal for us. Ché seemed fine with the idea and was quite excited to see Grandma walking up the driveway to the door.

I've been really amazed at the language development that we are seeing. Ché turned 2 on Nov. 18. He was talking before this, but just a words. He had a vocabulary of over 50 words, which has grown exponentially. I'm pretty sure it's over 150, and I probably should update the word list.

We keep a list on our refrigerator of the words he says and we add to it whenever we hear something new. Sometimes he only says things once and then we second guess ourselves on whether or not he actually said it. For example last Sunday we were putting together a light dinner with Ché grandparents, and his Aunt and Uncle and we were making salads. Aunt Emily reached and got an avocado. Ché had been pointing to them all evening and we had told him what it was and when Aunt Emily grabbed it he said "avocado."


I wouldn't have believed that he actually said it except that 4 other people heard it too. Of course, Ché wouldn't say it again, but we're pretty sure he really did spit that one out.

I've noticed among kids that there are different styles when it comes to speaking. There are kids that are Myna birds, repeating everything you say no matter if it comes out right or not, and there are kids that are mute and then all of a sudden come out with a whole sentence in correct pronunciation. Then there's Ché, who studies the way your mouth forms, practices it at night (when he thinks no one is listening), and comes out with words that are near to correct pronunciation.



I find it really interesting watching the development of language around or house. The now 2-3 word sentences when before everything was "dhis" (this).


Coincidentally this is still pronounced dhis.

How did your child start talking? Were they perfectionists? Blabberers? Late to the Game? Does your child whisper some words and shout others like Ché?


By the way, Ché does enjoy using this:

It was developed by special ed. teachers as a way for kids with speech impediments and hearing impairments to hear themselves talking. (I wouldn't recommend using this to listen to yourself sing, that can be SCARY!)
It lets you hear what you are really saying and the sounds that you are making instead of what you think you are saying.
Ché uses it like a telephone, and since he hears himself, things he's talking to someone. It's an amazingly simple piece of technology that started out as PVC pipes and has since been marketed. Check it out if you have little ones. They are great, and cheap. Ours was around $6 from a local teacher store.

Back to Normal

I had to go back to work today, and Mike is going back tomorrow. This gives Ché one more day of staying home with a parent. Tomorrow Grandma will come, and Friday it's off to Nana's.


Luckily for him and us, we have some awesome parents. Mike's mom watches Ché 3 days a week, and my Mom watches him 1 day. This only leaves Mondays. Mondays are "school" days where Ché goes to a Presbyterian Church for the day. We call it school, and even though it started out rough, with a lot of crying and tears, both on his part and ours, it is really an enjoyable place.

We just had a holiday lunch at his "School" right before Christmas, and I have to say that I was really impressed. They had 2 year olds singing Jingle Bells, and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. The older kids had other songs that they sang, and then they had a turkey dinner for everyone that attended.

Ché is still in the toddler room. They didn't do anything at the program, just ate and drank. He'll be in the toddler room for a bit, since they have a grace period, and the toddler teachers don't want to give him up. I honestly don't have a problem with him hanging back awhile. He's small, and often gives in to bigger kids, not that I want him to be a bully or anything, but sometimes you have to take a stand, I mean especially when it's the cool toy in the room. No honestly, we have no problem with him being mild mannered, but sometimes you do have to stand up for what's right.
I'm sure they'll be a bit of seperation anxiety involved when we move to the two's room. He has really gotten used to Miss Angela and Miss Rose and even has to give them hugs and kisses byebye when I pick him up. Sometimes he isn't really ready to leave either which makes me think that this really must be a great place for him to be.

On another note, Mike and I are seeing an RE this Friday. It's only a meeting and will last about 30 minutes, but it's a step closer to seeing what's going to happen. I'm afraid of daily injectibles, but you have to do what you have to do.

I'll keep you posted!