Judah's Economy of Words

That's what I said. An economy of words. He uses them sparingly. So much so, that when we were asked by the health nurse if he knew more than 30 words, Faith and I looked at each other and raised our eyebrows, and I said, "I don't think so." So when we counted the other day and came up with 40, we were a little surprised. I won't list them all for you, nor will they all seem like real words to you if they are all by their lonesome without corresponding actions and circumstances surrounding them. But they are Judah words. One. At. A. Time.

Micah is affectionately known as Kyka, Aslynn is Azzie (said with a cute little squeak at the end), and Faith and I are Mommy and Daddy. Faith thought he would never say her name for a while, but he does. Often when he's mad at Daddy and doesn't want to talk to him anymore. Grandpa is Papa, and so is Grandma.

Today at the supper table, he tried saying ice cream, but all that came out was ikey (with a long "i"). We thought it sounded a lot like icky too. Very close to his word for hockey, ockey. He did say Dadoo Daddy, or "thank-you, Daddy" and Daddy. Ikey. Peee? That was a heroic attempt to say "Daddy, may I please have some more ice cream?" Good thing we aren't potty training him yet. We'd be running every time he said "please".

All this to tell you an event that occurred after supper. Judah got down to play after getting his hands and face washed twice over from all the food he was saving there. Faith told him, "Judah, go put on your puppy." Here I'm thinking, Now what does that mean? Well, Judah brought me his costume for Halloween: Tigger. Apparently, Tigger is a puppy. Or so says Judah, knower of all things. So I got the cute 'puppy' dressed, and he went on his merry way. Faith and I were in the kitchen talking, and I guess Judah had walked in and out without my noticing, which you'd think would be difficult in a bright orange and black Tigger costume. Well, the costume was the classic cuteness diversion. He stole a turnover off of a plate on the counter behind my back and ran into the living room.

Micah alerted me to the crime, so I came into the living room to confront the little pastry thief. I caught him red-handed. Judah shouted, his eyes wide and mouth making perfect little circles "Cooka! No!" Which could be interpreted in a couple of ways: Don't you dare take my cookie! OR I knew I wasn't supposed to, but the cookie looked so good I had to! I believe it was the first one, because as soon as he said it, he started stutter-stepping like a football player and swung his little body back and forth looking for an escape route. Panic ensued. Daddy grabbed the little Tigger (AKA 'puppy') and returned the turnover with a bite missing to the plate from which he had absconded with it. He was so cute it was hard not to laugh at him when he protested. A mini Tigger-puppy? Super cute. But we needed to be firm. Right, firm...

Sorry you weren't here to see it. We'll post pics of his 'puppy' outfit around Halloween sometime. With him in it, of course. Thanks for the outfit, Joy.

- Mark