Talking points

The J-Dawg is learning words at an alarming rate. He's just getting the ability to repeat anything he hears. This marks the beginning of the phase that all parents love: the fake curse words phase.

"I am so freaking tired of President Bush!"
"Pick a lane, dorkhead!"
"We should get a sitter and go see the Hoo-ha Monologues."

Actually, "vagina" is a perfectly ok word for Jasper to use. He's learning his body parts and calling his penis exactly that. We're not going to make him use some silly phrase like "peepee."

Counting is going swimmingly. A few months ago, we were playing around and I said "one," totally expecting him to repeat the word to me. Instead, he said "twooooo". This continued for a while. And even now, he really prefers the even numbers. We take turns with the numbers.

The alphabet is coming along nicely too. We got a new toy a few weeks ago that perplexes me. When it sings that alphabet, it finishes with "w, x, y... zeeeee." Not "w, x, y AND z" Did someone sue the company for leading their children to believe that there's a letter called "and"?

We've also got foam letters for use in the bathtub. While the J-Dawg was taking his bath tonight, he grabbed the letter "W" and waved it around. I said to him, "That's W. Papa's name starts with W. But, I guess you didn't know that." I must have been 8 before I realized my father had a name other than "Daddy."

Ok, here's the last story about Jasper's verbal ability for today. I like to call him "Jasper-boo" I've singing that nickname to the tune of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll pt. 2" for months now. You know that song. It's the one you hear about sports events that goes, "Rock and roll.... HEY! Rock and roll." Just yesterday, I was idly singing it and he gave me the "HEY!" in response. Apparently, he just recognizes that tune, because you can sing anything to that tune and he'll give you the "HEY!" response. We've been rocking "Rubber Duck pt. 2" much of today.