Law Students

A Horse Named Dog

By Andrea

As I've mentioned before, Becca has been "saying" a few words for several weeks, especially "DA-DEE", "HAI!" and the occasional "MUM-MUM" and attempts to mimic something you just said. But they aren't clearly directed at the right object, so we don't say she "talks" yet. Until Monday.

Dan's boss gave Becca a small black rocking horse with a hairy little mane and tail. I brought it out of the car and put it in the middle of the living room, where I showed it to her. At first, she was anxious, because she'd just spent the weekend with two golden retrievers larger than her who kept trying to lick her head. She put one hand out, touched the horse quickly, and drew her hand back, trying to figure out if it was alive. I petted it to show her it was okay. She touched it a little longer, then a little longer, and finally, she stuck out her hand, petted the horse, and proclaimed, "DAH-GEEE!"

Dan and I just about fell over. And then she did it again, and again, and again. She must have said "doggie" to that horse forty times. In fact, as I write this, she's out there saying it again.

So first of all, MY first word, 26 years ago, was "doggie." Life is so silly. And second - would you have the heart to tell her it's a horsie? I've been telling her's it's a "horsie that seems like a DOGGIE, YAY!" just to get her to keep saying it because it's so cute. I'm sure she'll work this out some day.

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on January 01, 2009 (boomark / email).