May 19, 2004
Quinn's grasp of language
Quinn's language usage is growing at an amazing rate. Every day, she has a new word or sentence that will amaze me.
Driving has been constantly narrated in the past few days:
"I see another octagon!"
"What color is the octagon?"
"Red!"
"Does it have letters?"
"Yeah! White letters!"
"What letters are they?"
"Ess! Tee! Oh! Pee!"
"What does that say?"
"Stop!"
Imagine driving through residential areas with a 2½-year-old calling out every stop sign and fire hydrant she sees. "I see another fihydant! On a grass!"
Today was her crowning achievement in her short life. We were driving up the back way from Crystal Lake, past a couple of farms, hoping to see some cows. ("I like cows!", she reminded) We saw a big field with a fence and three or four horses, with a couple of them near the fence by the side of the road, on the right. Amy pulled over, and I hopped out of the passenger side of the car, where Quinn's seat is. We were about 10 feet away from the fence, and I talked to Quinn through the open window.
"Quinn, do you see the horses?"
"Yeah! 's bown!"
"Yes, it's brown, and it's got some white on its head."
"Yeah!"
"Do you want to go see the horses?"
Her eyes bugged in fear. She wanted to get no closer than her safe perch in the car.
"No." she said.
"Are you sure? Daddy will hold you."
"Daddy, get in the car."
I laughed in amazement at what it took to make that construction. To tell me to get in the car, to make the connection that she'd be less likely to be dragged over to the horses once I was back inside, it just made me all happy with excitement at her learning.
Posted by Andy at May 19, 2004 9:45 AM
Comments
This part is sooooo fun!! Watching them make the connections they do because they're good but sometimes slightly off which is charming and hysterical and so absolutely them--glad you're writing them down because they're too precious to forget........and as they get older, the things they say are just funnier.
Posted by: Karen Greenfield at May 22, 2004 4:56 AM
And her excitement at learning all these wonderful things makes you look at the world in amazement again. That's one of the great things about the little tykes - we stop taking things so much for granted. "A horse!" "Oh, boy, a real horse!"* Bless her sweet heart. I hope she always carries with her a love for learning.
Posted by: Quinn's fan in Montana at May 23, 2004 10:46 AM
Somehow I'm guessing that Andy will have to get used to Quinn saying (in a disgusted tone I can easily imagine) "Daddy, get in the car." It'll be even better with a roll of her eyes...
Posted by: Cinda at May 27, 2004 12:24 PM