Pumas and Numas.

Storytelling, "Watch me!" and Mispronunciations.

Storytelling. Emerson is becoming quite the storyteller lately. He has a lot to say, and really wants you to listen to what he's telling you. I love hearing his little voice, telling me little stories. Jason and I take an extra long time some nights putting Emerson to bed because we just can't bring ourselves to stop him from his nightly dialogue. He loves going over the past day, what he did, who was there, etc. The things that stick out to him are fascinating.

A few weeks ago, we participated in the MS Walk at the Zoo with some friends from work. He loves the zoo, and had a great time identifying every animal, their sound, and then telling me what they do, what they eat, and who eats them!



Emerson's current favorite animal, the PUMA BEAR! (We think it's cute and can't "bear" to correct him. Heyoo.)

 

Emerson had a doting audience, and decided HE was the post-walk entertainment.

It was "bone day" and we saw two female lions get into a fierce fight. It was great listening to Emerson, later that day, describe this to Jason. "They had bones, two lions, and they lick them, and then they, Rrrraaaawwwwrrr!"

"Watch me!" Emerson has also entered the stage of, "Mommy, watch me." We hear this multiple times a day, for everything from somersaults to sidewalk chalk drawings. Every one is met with praise. He's going to be the little one on the high dive in the near future..."Mommy, watch me!"

Mispronunciations. Like every little voice, Emerson has fun ways of pronouncing various things (see puma bear reference above.) Jason and I talk. A lot. So Emerson's vocabulary is extensive. He articulates most things very clearly, but definitely has made up some of his own. A few gems include:

• Tore-tool (turtle)
• Same-itch (sandwich)
• Inkees (Yankees)

And currently, most everyone is a "Poopay butt" or a "Schtinkerpants." (Could be worse???) Auntie Jessica is "Geeka" and may always be, as that's now what Jason and I call her. Uncle Jared is "Jaaaayed!", always with an exclamation point. Andrew, one of his favorites, is affectionately referred to as "Eedoo." Another one we won't correct.

Lots of other names are pretty straightforward. Mia. Poppy. Mimmy. Even Dzia Dzia. We had a new one, recently. My great aunt Norma (Emerson's great-great aunt) joined us for Easter last weekend. Emerson sees her at most holidays, but hadn't seen her since Christmas. When we were talking about who would be there, I told him, and he looks at me and says, "Numa?" So I said, "Yes, Numa."



Emerson delivering "Numa's" Easter basket.



In other Emerson news, we had poopage on the potty this week. We've always encouraged Emerson to do his pooping between 9am and 5pm (school hours). Until about a month ago, we'd been pretty successful at avoiding weekday poops. One morning this week, he asked to go on the potty, and did. We've had peeing on the potty for a while now, but poopage is new, and VERY exciting!