From Yesses to Esses to Ike

Punky's language development continues to amaze me.  I can't even begin to wrap my head around how it's even possible for a child so young to learn grammar, remember vocabulary, and understand the feelings and meanings conveyed by intonation and inflection.  It is simply fascinating.

How, for example, did she learn to recognize the change in pitch that indicates I have asked her a question?  It seems like something so subtle, yet somewhere along the way she learned that pattern and to respond with something...even if it's just a grunt.  Actually, about two months ago after asking her some mundane question and getting said grunt in return, I told her she needs to tell mama "Yes!"

Apparently she thought I meant it was the only thing she should ever say when asked a question.  For the next month, she responded with an enthusiastic "Yes!" no matter what the question.  In cases where the question was something like "Do you love mama?" it was the cutest, most wonderful thing I could ever hear her say.  But if the question was "Do you want milk or juice?" it was a bit frustrating.  And it was plain irritating when I would ask her something like "Is that ball green?" and she would tell me yes, even though she knew it was red.  Once in a while she'll shake her head no, but still doesn't say it.  Ever.  "Yes!" was recently replaced with "Okay!" so now that's the hot answer this month.  I'm sure "No!" isn't too far down on the list.  It's coming...

Another fascinating thing for me to witness has been her mastery of the letter "s"...  She knows the basics of plurals and possessives.  She learned to add the "s" if there's more than one.  No matter what the objects are, she adds it.  This will undoubtedly lead to things like deers, mouses, and gooses, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

She also knows that if something belongs to someone else, an "s" is required as well.  She knows to say "Mama's" when she points to my purse.  She knows it's "Grammy's pillow" when she's up visiting for the week.  She knows it's Daddy's truck, and she'll tell you "Ike's!

Ike.  Believe me, if I could explain it I would.  We have absolutely no idea where it came from but she's been saying it a few months now.  "Dada" is another one of those words she never learned to say.  The kid will say school bus, cracker, diaper, and even Wal-Mart...but somehow daddy has eluded her.  It must be hiding in the same corner of her brain as no...  

I think her dad was a little hurt when she first started saying it but eventually he saw the humor in it.  Lord knows calling him Ike has provided many a chuckle for others who hear her say it.  And, of course, they all want to know why.  Maybe someday she'll give us a hint, but for now it's anyone's guess.