The Rain in Spain

Talking has to be the most interesting developmental experience for me to witness. Unlike other skills, learning to speak involves years and years. While Will is beginning to put meaning to sounds and stringing some together, Carter, a few years down the road, is fine tuning pronunciation and most appropriate verb tenses. In all honesty, Carter had us worried. We've casually asked a couple speech therapists about him not saying S and some blends, like SL, were distorted.

Will's strides are exciting and fun. Just a couple of days ago, he actually said bear rather than making a growling roar. He said "bur", true to his Harlan County roots. Nathan and I loved how he said it so much that we asked him to repeat it about 15 times. Now, he thinks it's particularly entertaining to say "bur." After all, he says it and everyone laughs and claps. Last night, he recited his entire repertoire to his Mimi on the phone. She asked him to say some words that were kind of unrealistic, but he really tried to say them. Still, though, my favorite is when he's asked "Will, can you say cat?" He stretches his lips wide and says "Neeeeooooow."

Carter's recent strides are more bittersweet. We were driving down the road and he said "I'm kind of sleepy." The realization of what just happened smacked me in the face. I asked him to repeat what he said. Again, "I'm kind of sleepy." For at least two years, it was "squeepy." I began to wonder how long I had missed it. When had he suddenly turned into a little boy from my preschooler? Then, just this morning, he said "I also...." and a tear welled up in my eye. No longer is also - "auswee." At least we still have "skank you" for thank you. Every time he prays, Nathan and I bite our lips so we don't smile too big as Carter starts out, "God, skank you...."

Carter had his kindergarten check up this week. He did great and Dr. Mack declared him to be a delight. I was surprised that his weight was in the 50-75 percentile! I expressed this surprise to the doctor and instructed Carter to show him his muscles. Carter sucked in his belly as far as possible, revealing all his ribs and to the trained eye some internal organs, I'm sure. Dr. Mack said "Wow! Look at those muscles! It's frightening!" That was the perfect response to the sight we all beheld. Skank you, Dr Mack.