CHRISTMAS CHEER

So how is it that my husband is out tonight on his 2nd out of 4, yes FOUR, Christmas parties, and despite the fact I appear to have been working my guts out recently I don't have a single work christmas party to go to? Stanley has been sh*t at organising something...and surely it is his job to organise something for me right? So motherhood is my new job, yet despite the hours I put in I don't even get the obvious night out of a Christmas party. This cannot be fair....right Mums? Anyway so you all don't start screaming bah humbug at the computer and leaving my blog in droves I'm leaving you with this little christmas sparkle in the form of Stanley singing "Twinkle twinkle Little Star" it looks like I've been training him for weeks, but I really haven't!

footnote: we haven't got round to decorating our tree yet, just flug up lights at it, but it is happening tomorrow - i'm not that minimal.

CATCHPHRASE

My little mister is a chatterbox, a parrot, a babbler, a windbag, a copycat and very talkative. He is definitely communicative, stringing together all sorts of words he knows to make up various short sentences. He's getting pretty vocal indeed and pretty good at communicating what he wants from life! (Read bossy boots!)

Favourite phrases are:
I do that || I like that || this way || that way || cup of tea || mummy shower || mummy cup of tea || mummy do that // mummy big yuddle // yuddle Mr.Moo Mummy (his cuddly cow toy) || that one on // that one back // bye bye bin men || that one daddy's/mummy's/stanley's || NO betty || it in mouth (when he's finished eating) // I wuv you // daddy bicycle, vroom vroom (Ben goes to the train station to work on a bike!) || I like "....." and then a various amount of things he likes, the most popular being 'cake' 'biscuits' and 'homebase' which for those of you not living in the UK is a DIY store??!!!

"1,3,8" is his method of counting. Everything. He seems really against the number 2. And no matter how matter times I say 1, 2, 3. He will always reply with 1, 3, 8?!

He repeats almost everything I or anyone says to him. We are having to be so careful round the house with what we say and what language we use! (I've always been a keen swearer I'm afraid!) He's pretty good at "please" and "thank you" now which is nice. In fact just recently he's been saying 'thank you Mummy' really clearly if I set down a treat, or a snack, or help him with something. Completely unpromted to do so - it's so heart warming! He struggles to pronounce his 'c's and his 'k's' which I guess is pretty normal. So some words like cuddle come out as "yuddle". And milk is pronounced more like "malt"! I find most of these developmental stages fascinating, but this language for me has been the most interesting. I can almost see and sense him practising words and short phrases. No wonder it is a good idea to teach children another language at an early age as they have no fear about failing and are happy to go round chanting little things until they get it absolutely right. I'm just a bit miffed I can't teach him a second language!

Between 18 months and 2 years they are supposed to be constructing 2-3 word sentences, and that is certainly what Stanley is up too. They are supposed to understand as many as 200 words, many of which are nouns, and learn up to 10 new words a day! It makes me wonder if I should try and expand my volcabulary a bit. In stead of just saying, "yes what a big truck". Should I perhaps say what an enmoromous truck. What do think, do any of you with little ones try and be more inventive with how you describe things. I am in my day job quite creative with language (and of course imagery) but I feel like I almost should be teaching him a wee bit more now. Perhaps I need to read up on some pre-school teachings. Maybe some Montessori style activities and learnings. Do any of you have any good recommendations? I certainly don't want to go down something tedious and stern (for him or me) but I would like to improve his language and skills in a fun way, especially as he seems to enjoy it too.

PARROT TALK

Stanley is currently a chatterbox. He is repeating almost EVERYTHING I say to him, to myself and to other people. He attempts every word even things like 'bulldozer' & 'helicopter'. He manages to repeat little 3 word sentences like 'a bit better' and, 'cup of tea'. He is using 'yes' and 'no' in the correct context more and more. He manages 'please' and 'thank you'. Mainly when prompted, but he is realising that a 'PEEASE' will get him pretty much what he wants! He says a particularly cute 'I WUV VUU' and I'm finding it amazing at all the things he can say and remember from one day to the next. I know every child is different, I mean he didn't bother walking until 15 months, so this is really not a competitive Mum post (I am not one for those as I hope you know by now!) but he seems pretty keen on learning words. I'm loving encouraging him but I'm pretty sure it will come round and bite me on the arse when he can answer me back or he picks up a swear word I think he didn't hear. Still for now it's pretty cute to hear him chat away, it's nice to have someone answer you back when for 18 months I've felt like a mad women blathering onto him like he knows what the heck I'm on about. Well now it seems he really does!

Below is a little video, I hope you enjoy!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

So Stanley turned 18 months two days ago. I mean - where the heck did all that time go? I'm finding this age just THE MOST FUN! I know people say that about every age. But  seriously if I'd know this now I'd have had an 18 month birthday party for him instead and scrapped the one year one. I reckon he'd enjoy it a lot more now! He is saying tonnes, a proper little chatterbox. Sometimes I can humour him and we'll appear to have a long in depth converstaion. He can do all animal noises. Point to all body parts and even say a few. He repeats many words but doesn't nessarily remember them the next day....I'm really having to rein in my swearing now! He is a master at saying "BEER" much to the amusement of most people (thanks a lot Dad and brother for teaching him that one!) The most recent thing he can say is "I WUV YEW" it is a heart melter, plus he looks all coy when he does it. Totally wrapping everyone round his finger. He's no fool! I'll leave you with a hilarious picture of him at 6 months...it amazes me that he is the same little being - it really does feel like a lifetime away.

WORDS

i'm not a big one on worrying much on development levels at certain ages. on when stanley can do something. like recently - well in the last week or so, he's only learnt to walk. i know there is no 'normal' as such and i'm really not a competitive mumma. i am however enjoying his language development though. i find it interesting on seeing what he picks up, what he remembers to the next day, and how he says things in his own little way. here's a little list of how we are doing so far. so lovely to be able to communicate a bit with him!

eeow - whenever he sees our cat or anything related to the cat.
bettesh - betty the cat
ome - home. he says this now when we get home, or even near. and he also says it when we go round my parents house or my in laws house. very sweet.
teesch - teeth
dadee - daddy
mumma - me!
up - for things that are up, or when he wants something to go back in it's correct place. this was his first word, and other than meow his favourite!
all - ball
oof oof - woof woof for all dog spotting
apple - apple. weirdly this is the one thing he's says 'properly'. and yet it's not really something i go round saying a lot?!!!

then of course there is all sorts of general screaming etc to get anything else he might want ;) but i'm enjoying working all these things out. it is sweet and nice to teach him new things.