Today, this blog was brought to you by the letters M and E and by the number 3

Rosemary is fond of the number 3 at the moment. When faced with 'Just one more... ' (e.g. '... book', '... rock-a-by-baby', '... episode'), she is now responding with 'No, three more.' And, actually, for the most part, she is satisfied when she has had the three more whatever it is. If she isn't, and you say 'But that was the deal. Remember? Three more...' she generally complies.

And talking of the word 'remember', she's taken to using that herself now. I frequently use it when I'm reminding her of a deal we have made (e.g. 'you can play with the playdough now, but you have to get dressed after'; 'you can watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but when it's finished we are going to tidy the living room', etc.). When we've finished whatever it is, she will usually try to do something else, and I usually have to repeat the deal and say 'Remember?' Now, when she wants to do something, she'll say something like 'I will play with the playdough now. Remember?' or 'I will have Cheerios now. You know? Remember?' She's not quite got its use correct yet, of course!

I'm wondering whether most of Rosemary's surprising/interesting developments are actually in the realms of language, or whether it's just that we notice that more because we're both interested in language and linguistics and language development, etc. Are there lots of other things that we should be noticing and blogging about?

You're so cute

Some new things Rosemary's been saying recently:

• You're so cute/Aren't you cute?
• How are you today?/How do you feel?/Are you well?
• I feel fine.
  

The first time she used the first one (to my knowledge), we were walking home from somewhere and I was carrying her so that she was facing me. She grabbed hold of my cheeks and put her face very close to mine and said 'You're so cute.' I laughed so much that she kept on saying it all the way home.

She's starting to ask and answer questions and is working out how to answer in the affirmatively or negatively without just using 'Yes' and 'No':

• R: Are you cute?
• T: No, I don't think so. Are you cute?
• R: Hmmm. No. I not cute.
  
• T: No? Are you pretty?
• R: I don't think so.
  
• T: OK. Well, are you clever?
• R: Yes, of course, Mummy!

She does change her mind about most of them, of course, so sometimes she's very cute, sometimes she's pretty, sometimes she's ticklish, sometimes she's happy, sometimes she's sad.

Ah yes, and talking of being sad, she now has a very funny fake cry, which she uses and then adds 'I'm crying', just in case you hadn't noticed.

I like, love, want, need...

Rosemary has recently developed more of an ability to express her opinions about things, foods, people, etc. Until recently it was just 'Have it.' when she wanted/needed something and 'I no like' when she didn't like/want something. But now she can use:

• I like it.
• I don't like it.
  
• I love it.
• I really do love it.
• I want it.
• I need it.
  
• I really don't like it.
  

Probably two of the most common uses of these are:

• I want some mummy milk.
• I want some ice cream.
  

Last night, Chris and I found her increasing desires for ice cream quite amusing.

• R: I want some ice cream.
  
• T: Eat a bit more dinner, darling.
  
• R: I really want some ice cream.
• T: Well, she's eaten quite a bit, and she's not feeling too well. What do you think?
• C: Yes, she's had a fair bit. What's the magic word, Rosemary?
• R: Ice cream! I want the ice cream!
• T: What do you say?
• R: Ice cream!
• C: When you want something, what's the word you say?
• R: I really, really need some ice cream!
• T: Puh, puh...
  
• R: Puh, puh, please.
• T&C: Well done, Rosemary!

It was the needing ice cream that amused us, of course. And after she'd gone to bed, I discovered that I also really needed some ice cream. :)

Children say the funniest things

Now that Rosemary's speech has developed so far, we get to note down cute/funny/silly things she says. I wonder how long we will continue doing that?

Yesterday, while pushing one of the dining room chairs around the room:

'Come on, chair. Let's go over there.'

Last night, in her sleep:

Contented sigh... 'My daddy.'

The other night, in her sleep:

'No, no, no... No shoes!'

(As you can see, she has inherited her mother's habit of saying bizarre things while asleep.)