He Says She Says

Even at this early stage in Lola and Locke's language development, I could already write a post a day on funny things they say. But I realize that many of the posts would be funny only to me so I'm trying to be selective.

Being the outdoorsboy that he is, Locke got a little too friendly with some 6-legged friend and wound up with a few nasty bug bites on his ankles a while back. After determining that they were not life-threatening spider bites (which, as any appropriately paranoid parent will tell you, is the first concern), I started applying hydrocortisone cream a few times a day to them to keep the itching under control so Locke could sleep. After a few days of that, Locke evidently realized that the hydrocortisone made him feel better, so he learned to say "hy-dro-cor-tee-sone" so he could request a dose when the itching got to him. I couldn't determine whether he was a language prodigy or hypochondriac.

Then, yesterday, I picked up a zucchini muffin for their afternoon snack. I broke it into chunks and offered them pieces every so often as we strolled. Once, when I was asking Locke if he wanted a bite, I mistakenly called it a "pumpkin" muffin. He turned down the offer but couldn't resist correcting me, "zuKEEnee" muffin." Of course. That's what I meant to say.

Lola talks a lot more than Locke. A LOT more. But she's not as concerned about accuracy as he is. She figures that it's quantity that counts, not quality. But luckily she talks so much that, through much repetition, I've learned what she's trying to say. In most cases. And sometimes her mangled words are so darned cute that I can't bring myself to correct her. When she's getting really tired and loopy, she often adds syllables to words. For example, if you offer her an alphabet cookie, she might respond, "a-fa-be-ba-ta-coo-ca-kee?." And, although she can say "water" with some accuracy, she still prefers "wa-was," which I think is adorable.

One of these days I'll become technologically competent and put up a video or two. I have a hilarious one of Lola singing the ABC song. She's been able to recognize all the letters for some time now, and she can recite them in order. But when she sings them in the song, it's as if she's just singing the sounds she remembers from hearing it, not necessarily reciting letters in a melody. So the result is barely recognizable but extremely entertaining. It reminds me of reading translations of what children are actually saying when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance ("... and to the republic, for witches stand, one nation, uninvited...").

When they first started talking, Locke and Lola created versions of their names that they were able to say: her name is "Ya-ya" and his is "Yockie." They still call each other that. Kelly and I usually use their correct names when addressing them but I catch myself calling her Ya-ya from time to time. And I've heard Locke call her Lo-lo before (a nickname Kelly started soon after she was born) and I was both excited and disappointed. I realized that soon he's going to outgrow "Ya-ya" and start calling her by her real name. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I'm fairly ashamed to admit that once when he called her Lo-lo, I acted like I didn't understand him and responded "Ya-ya?"

Happy Annivers...

Locke and Lola in a quiet moment outside








Locke looking very handsome











Lola taking a peek at the patio













The mad dash continues













Lola and Locke's 2nd birthday was only one of the reasons we were in Texas on our recent trip. The other was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary party. My sisters and I hosted a party for this momentous and, might I say, impressive occasion. We got to see friends of my parents — some of whom I hadn't seen in more years than I'd like to admit was possible. And my parents got to show off their grandbabies. Well, sort of.

The party was held in the ballroom of a hotel. And, as exciting as the mingling of a ballroom-full of older people can be, Lola and Locke found a world of excitement in rest of the hotel to be more compelling. So, the afternoon went something like this: Kelly and I would carry L+L into the party, grab some food (hoping to entice them to sit for a few minutes to eat), sit down at a table, and then, just after we'd started a conversation with someone, we'd have to excuse ourselves and run after whichever toddler we happened to be holding at the time after they slithered through our grasp, onto the floor, and darted off. Then we'd follow them to something that caught their fancy — the house phone, an inviting sofa in the lobby, or, best of all, the ice machine. After entertaining them for a little while, we'd carry them back into the ballroom in hopes that they'd find something or someone as entertaining there.

We finally managed to keep them still long enough for a few quick hellos and a few bites of cake.

I heard from several people that the party was a success. I know L+L had a great time. And so did my parents, which is all that matters.

Kelly and I were just happy it was only three hours long. In the months prior, we'd been training for a half marathon which took place a week after the party, so we were prepared to run 13 miles. But we were in no shape to keep up with two 2-year-olds for three hours. We said our goodbyes and then went home for a nap.

We're Two!!!

Presents! Yea!!!












Is this really for me?













Locke enjoys his new train and tunnel.












Lola and Locke are now two whole fun-filled, action-packed, mind-boggling, thrilling, chilling, hilarious, wondrous years old. We celebrated the big event(s) with a 3-city party tour, kicking things off with a little playgroup birthday party. Then we took the celebration on the road (we actually flew) to Texas where we gathered my family for a pancake and real cake brunch party. And then it was off to Kelly's mom's house for the final leg of the tour -- a 4-day picnicking, hiking, Mexican food-eating extravaganza. Lola and Locke took all the fuss over them in stride. They appreciated all their new toys and clothes but their egos stayed intact and they're still the same sweethearts they always were.

Thanks to all of Lola's and Locke's family and friends for a wonderful birthday!