I realize that I haven’t bothered to post about language lately. They both made huge advances in language during their 5-day separation. One-on-one grownup time does seem to really help them figure some things out. Emi basically speaks English now. She can bargain and argue and recite and tell jokes and of course, endlessly comment. She also loves imitating different pitches and tones of voice.

Tuck, meanwhile, has gotten the idea of putting words together to express what he wants or to talk about things he sees. He spontaneously says things like “More green gloves!” while looking in books, and imitates in his cute sing-song way a lot of the phrases the rest of us say. He also has some unique words of his own, like “mumpba” which means pretzel. I think that one is interesting because it has three consonants all colliding just like the t-z-l of pretzel; they just happen to be different consonants.

They are now separated at naptime and Tuck sleeps instantly, well and long. Emi sometimes sleeps, but sometimes just lies on her back reciting rhymes and lines from her favorite books (usually ones we have NOT read that day). Today it was:

"Round-and-round garden like teddy bear / Onetep twotep / Whodat under dere?/ Bear under dere!" (Repeated many times, with giggles at the end)

And

"Chickachicka boom boom – Oh no! All fall down!"

Yesterday we had a new person drop by, our friend Nicole’s younger sister Susie who just moved here. She stayed for tea, lunch, and a chat. When she left, I told her that the bus stop on the corner was better in the rain. Emi was listening, and seemed to be pondering something after Susie left. After a few minutes:

Emi: Susie getting on bus. Riding bus.
Me, surprised: Yes, she probably is getting on the bus now.
Emi: Seat!
Me: Yes, she will need to find a seat.
Emi: Susie, sit down! Susie, sit down!

This morning, Emi sat down at the children’s picnic table in the living room, where I was eating my cereal. She also had a bowl of cereal. She said, “Emi sitting wif Mama! Emi eating bowl cereal too.” Which is a 9-word utterance any way you slice it.

So, speaking English.