What's in a Name?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Duke and I travelled to Mecca (JoAnn Fabrics) this past weekend to pick out some fabric for Judd's sheets and changing pad covers.  So, when you see his room please keep in mind that I had input from other sources.  (Of course, I realize now that I should have taken his choice for the changing pad cover... but oh well.)
We are checking out and Duke is talking to the lady at the cash register.

"My name is Duke."
"How old are you?"
"I'm 3."
"I have a grandson that will be three soon."
"I have a new baby brother that's going to come out soon.  His name is Judd."
I interject and say that we also have a sissy at home and prompt him to tell her name.
"Sissy's name is Lilly."
"How old is your sissy, is she older or younger?"
"She's 1.  Sissy is 1."

There was some silence, or what resembles it in Duke (him mumbling and generally living on his own little planet), while I finished the transaction.  As we are walking away from the counter, he very earnestly is trying to tell the woman something.  I stop to give him the chance.

"This girl's name is Mommy," he says.
Gotta love it.

Lilly

Monday, February 7, 2011

We had Lilly's hearing tested when she was about 16 months old because she didn't say anything.  Didn't even make many sounds other than "Abet abet abet."  Since the hearing test for children consists of the child holding perfectly still while someone is putting a probe in their ear for 2 minutes, you can imagine that the results were inconclusive.  Rather than have a more lengthy (costly, dangerous) procedure done requiring anesthetics, we opted to wait till she was closer to 2 years old to see if it was an issue.

I am happy to say that her hearing must not be a problem.  Her speech is rapidly taking off.  While her pronunciation isn't perfect, she sure likes to say a lot of things, even sentences now which are usually prefaced with her favorite word No.

"No, I don't want to."
"No, mine mine mine."
"No, me me me me."
"No, I do it."
"No, I hold it."

You get the picture!  While she is slightly contrary and definitely has a little red-headed mind of her own (where on earth does she get that from!?!?!?!) she is very sweet, and seems to grow so more each day.  Maybe now that she can "express herself" verbally she's able to be a little sweeter physically (thankfully for brother, who hasn't had any bite marks in a while...).  She LOVES to help.  In fact, she won't take no for an answer.  Whether you're doing laundry, carrying something, unloading the dishwasher, etc. it's "I help".  And while a 20-month old isn't exactly helpful, I just hope that she keeps the desire to help for a few years when it will come in handy!