We're back!

The Stieber Family blog is back by popular demand! I thought I would kick off the blog's return with a quick recap of our little guy's vocabulary to date. As any parent knows, deciphering a toddler's first words is often like listening to the conductor announce your track at the train station... you listen intently and hope your instincts ultimately get you where you want (or in this case, the child wants) to go.

There's a mix of English and Spanish in here...

"Words"

* Alla (Allie, our dog)

* Mami

* Papi

* Agua (usually said in thirsty repetition)

* Up (or uppa) -- asking for access to the few things he hasn't already managed to reach

* Sit (pronounced with a hissing s and directed at Allie)

* Mmmmm... (either in anticipation of favorite food or after unexpectedly enjoyable food)

* Wow wow (apparently, 'spanish speaking dogs' don't say woof, they say 'wow wow') = all dogs (other than Allie)

* No (spanish pronuniciation - stated firmly in repetition, however, he can often still be convinced, especially at the dinner table)

* Alo (spanish hello -- spoken into cell phones, magnets, museum audio devices...)

* Caca = sometimes he's right on with his odiferous target, but often just likes the sound of it...

* Buh-bye (his departing words often seem to channel his non-existent southern roots, other than those transplanted Georgia cousins)

* Auto (spanish car -- we love pointing to cars almost as much as dogs)

* Ba (ball)

Animals that will elicit either a sound or gesture (or both!):

* gorilla
* monkey
* elephant
* shark
* chicken
* dog (still the overwhelming favorite, Allie has created a bias here...)