8/12/07

Month 15: New Words

A Crash Course in “Miles-ese”:

Mo: “more,” as in “more food”; can also mean “That ice cream looks good,” “I don’t care if it’s hot coffee laced with jalapeno, I still want some,” or “I am auditioning for the role of Pitiful Starving Orphan in a toddler production of ‘Oliver’.”

Daw: “dog,” pronounced with a Southern drawl; also used to refer to large cats and pictures of groundhogs.

Ow: “out,” as in “Get me out of this car seat”; can also mean “up,” “down,” or “in”; basically, “I wish to change my location immediately.”

Moo: what a cow says, duh! For some reason, this is the only animal sound that has caught on. Apparently, horses and pigs also say moo, according to Miles.

Pop: what the grandkids call my father-in-law; however, since Miles also calls his other grandfather Pop, it seems to be a generic term meaning “any older man related to me.”

New words this week include “boat,” “bird,” and “pool,” which is how Miles referred to the large body of water otherwise known as the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition to expanding my son’s vocabulary, we have other results to show from our vacation. C. worked on what he’s dubbed his “Neopolitan tan” -- brown forearms, white stomach and red shoulders. I slept until almost 9 a.m. (!) one morning, and finished an entire novel.

Like most new moms, I don’t have a lot of time to read. When I do, it’s usually People magazine or “What to Expect the First Year.” I do enjoy reading actual books, though, particulary about themes that relate to my life. So Gwendolen Gross’ “The Other Mother” was a perfect vacation read. It describes the tricky relationship between two neighbors, one a veteran SAHM of three and the other a working mom who’s just had her first baby.

The book does a great job of showing the subtle and even subconscious ways we judge other moms. Both characters claim they respect the other’s choice to work or stay home with her children, but each privately believes she’s doing it the right way. They form a complicated friendship that goes awry. Maybe it’s not a bad thing we’re only on “smile and wave” terms with our neighbors!

So even though I spent my vacation reading about other moms, it was still an escape. I didn’t check e-mail once, and glanced at the TV and newspaper only for the weather report. I had no idea what was going on with Lindsay Lohan, AND I WAS OK WITH THAT! Now we’re back home with mounds of laundry to tackle and nap schedules to resume. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some “mo” coffee.

TIP O’ THE WEEK: If you’re going on a long car trip, I suggest leaving at your baby’s regular bedtime and driving through the night. Sure beats seven hours of plying him with books, snacks, and DVDs while you try to get him to sit still and stop kicking the back of your seat.

Also, more toy recalls.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

My son also is into the "moo" sound as well. Just this very evening he informed us that a lion says "moo".

That book sounds really interesting and I've added to my list of future reads. Sounds like you had a nice vacation too.

When we traveled out east this past winter (a 20 hour drive), we left late at night and our son slept a good 4-5 hours before we had to stop. We'll be doing an 8 hour drive in November - this time with a 17 month old and a 2 1/2 month old!

Mom2Miles said...

oh my goodness, it's been awhile since I caught up on your blog, then! Congrats on the new one, Dooneybug!!

Anonymous said...

Somehow I found this "blog" (I'm way behind the times and barely know what a "blog" is...). Needless to say, I am thrilled to discover you doing so well! Your baby is adorable. Tell C hello (if he remembers me).

Remember our themed dinner...Oh Say Can You Si?? Good times.

K.

Anonymous said...

He talks heaps! You should be proud of yourself. He is actually talking quite a bit more than some of the babies at my mums group and they are all around 17mths!

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