by mennodaddy on December 14, 2009
Levi
The small one has reached that phase in his development where his vocabulary really starts to blossom. Of course, he’s also benefitted from an older sister who likes nothing less than trying to get him to say certain things. His vocabulary has increased to the point where he’s not only saying a lot of new words but also using a number of mangled phrases: ”There you are!” “There it is!” “All done.” “I don’t know.” “Where is it?” And naturally, there are the classics: ball, keys, church, Papa, Mama, “Rorah,” ice, cracker.
But like his sister, he adopted quite a few words that are in his own language. Much like Norah with her ubiquitous “Da,” Levi had adopted “Hnn!” as his “yes.” As in: Levi, would you like to go to Granna’s house? ”Hnn!” Would you like a cracker? ”Hnn!” Would you like to go play in traffic? ”Hnn!”
Until recently. He’s replaced “Hnn!” with the ridiculously cute “Okay!” And the way he says it kinda makes it sound like a cross between the Geico Pothole Woman and <geekalert>the Peon from Warcraft II.</geekalert>
There are comedic pop culture possibilities here with training. (Levi – Dilute! Dilute! “Okay!” In what state does the Edwards family live? “O.K.!”)
Popularity: 6% [?]
by mennodaddy on December 14, 2009
Prescript:
Yes, I’ve been gone. For a long time. A long, long time. I make no arguments. Jason Avant over at DadCentric – a group of dad-bloggers whom I constantly steal ideas from am inspired by – recently posted that there’s no such thing as writer’s block – only ennui. And, well, I’ve had ennui in spades for about two months now. My Wordpress dashboard is full of stupid notes, half-finished posts, and the random detritus of an overly-fettered mind. Now I just need to figure out what ennui is and how to get rid of it. Damned French. It’s like they have a different word for EVERYTHING.
Church with a four-year old is an exercise in controlled multitasking. You simultaneously try and socially engage with people who don’t wear diapers or pony underwear, listen to the service, sing, keep the small one from knocking over the advent wreath and fetch him from the rock pit at the front of the sanctuary, provide snacks, stave off preschool ennui (there’s that word again!), and commune with God. And that’s just before children’s time.
Thank you, God, for sending your Son to be born, we ask on this third week of Advent. And for Crayola.
My daughter’s getting pretty good at the whole drawing thing by now, sketching pictures on her knees using the chair as a drawing table. She’s recently been joined by her three-year old cousin, a confirmed Mad Sribbler, and this Sunday they knelt side-by-side in front of their chairs, in abject worship of waxy color sticks and construction paper. Amen.
This mostly went unnoticed by me this past Sunday as I continued to retrieve Levi from the rock pit. After all, if they’re content, I can divert that segment of my brain to more important duties. Like removing Levi from the rock pit. Again.
Nothing really prepares you for that moment when your preschooler presents you with one of Those Pictures, though.
“Papa!” she shouted, over top of the scripture reading. ”Look at this picture I made you!”
Shhh, child! Inside voice! “It’s wonderful, honey.” Followed by the eternal question with regards to preschool art: ” …Aaaaaand what is it?”
“It’s YOU,” she stage-whispered, quietly enough for only three rows around us to hear, “on the POTTY!”
Awesome.
“I… see. And what’s this thing beside me?”
“A rocket ship!”
Okay, awesome! Nothing says “potty” like a picture of a launching space craft. Based on the giggles from the rows surrounding us, there were other congregants who thought this was as funny as I.
I’m posting her handiwork. It’s quite good. I’m concerned with the size of my belly button, and with the fact that she so effortlessly captured the essence of me on the crapper. But who can argue with a rocket ship?! I’m keeping this one.
Potty time is AWESOME! (click for full size)
Popularity: 14% [?]
