"Dabbit dabbit"

George is increasingly embracing the world of words. Since moving house in the summer his babbles have turned to words, words to simple sentences. As such, Alby's tellings have now been joined with George's and Mark and I are enjoying instructions in stereo from morning til night.

When I say "words" I mean George's take on the English language which has a definite bias to the 'd' sound. So rabbit becomes 'dabbit', tractor becomes 'dactor' and, following logic only he understands, postman pat becomes "daddy dat."
Last week's new phrase was "stop it" or rather "dop it". A little influence from Alby and I and we quickly progressed it to "dop it daddy". Sadly he's too smart for us though and within 24 hours we've had "dop it mummy" and "dop it Alby". Alby thinks it is hilarious.
Typically the language follows his favourite or most needed things: digdig (for digger), dolly, dink, more, Alby, where are ooo, dout (shout), bye bye ev-i-one. In fact, everything gets the bye bye treatment: bye bye wet car, bye bye Nee nah, bye bye toot toot, bye bye bed or even bye bye boing bed.
Words are still mixed with an awful lot of signing. Thanks to the brilliant Mr Tumble he now knows more signs than us which leads to some cryptic, drawn out interpretations but has definitely helped with his manners and he is quick to say sorry, thank you and share. Understanding what share means however is still a work in progress...

*disclaimer - I wrote this post two weeks ago and it's taken me an age to upload it. In that time George's vocabulary has doubled and his mimicry is worrying. Anyone coming into contact with him please watch your words. I've done the swearing toddler thing once already, am hoping history doesn't repeat itself on this occasion.

**I've been updating the blog through my mobile which, annoyingly, won't upload photos or videos.  I don't have footage of the "dabbit dabbit" days but I do have this film from November showing Smalley when he is first working his way around words...