Chatterbox

My little buddy is such a little person. Just a few months ago his conversation skills consisted of one-word utterances. He's come such a long way. For instance, last night he had a conversation with Sam. Andy got out of the shower, where Sam was waiting to lick the water droplets off him (I know. It defeats the purpose of a shower). Upon seeing Sam, Andy greeted him and initiated some conversation. "Hi Sam. Doing? Sam lickin me." Sam didn't tell Andy what he was doing, but Andy couldn't be deterred.

Andy's got some other verbal Olympics that are worth noting.

When you catch him doing something wrong, he'll respond with "Whaaaat?" He knows he's been caught, so now he's stalling. He won't admit it. I think he's hoping you forget what he was doing by dragging out the Whaaaaaat. Or he'll say "Hi, Mom." As if he's just doing something ordinary, not something to pay any attention to, something he's allowed to do.

He's learning "there, where, here." So right now, most things are over there. "My tractor. Ovah dere (head nod)."

He's also really into watching Toy Story these days. He talks about Woody like he's the Andy in the movie, talking about his favorite toy. So naturally he's picked up some phrases. He walks around saying "Buzz Lightyear. To the rescue!" Tonight he tried out a new one. He was sitting on the kitchen floor playing with the saute pans while he helped Mama "makin dinna" and said to his pans "stupid dog" And so it starts. When he said it again in the bathtub, I tried to tell him that we don't say stupid, but I don't think he gets it. At least he isn't calling Sam stupid (poor Sam. Sometimes he deserves it) so he doesn't know what it means, but still. Guess this means no more Woody and Buzz for Andy. Hopefully he'll forget about stupid.

Other than stupid dog, he also says silly dog. Sam will do something silly - roll on his back, making his horse noises - and Andy tells him, "Silly dog." Pretty cute in his little boy voice, with that Florida cracker accent. For Andy, its dawg and not dog. Or he'll say "come on, Sam" as he goes outside. Usually not needed as Sam pushes Andy out of the way to get out the door.

I'm not sure when he got so big or how it happened. Seems like it was just yesterday I was bemoaning the fact that his first word was ball (fitting, for our future David Beckham) and not mama.