Anyone in medicine knows many "Rule of [insert number here]" mnemonics. In an attempt to help us remember the frequencies with which certain things happen, we round them off to one number that explains several linked phenomena (which makes us appear smarter than we really are.) For example - pheochromocytomas have a "rule of 10" - 10% are malignant, 10% are bilateral, 10% are not in the adrenal gland. Etc.
With that preamble... I believe Noah has created a "rule of 2's." Not the terrible 2s (yet?), but in other ways:
- Counting: Of course, the most obvious is the fact that he loves to count "one, two - two _____!" as he points to two of anything. He's not crazy about "three" -- maybe on some instinctive level he knows it'll be a long time before he turns three?
- Plurals: He will often add an "s" if he's talking about multiple objects, though at the moment this includes "mens."
- Names: His original shorthand words are being replaced with more two-syllable names: "Dee" has been replaced by "airplane," and "Da" is now "choo choo."
- Differentiation: He seems generally dissatisfied with non-specific names for things he likes. Not just "truck," but "dump truck" (or fire truck, cement truck, semi truck, pickup truck, tow truck, trash truck, etc -- now I just need to get him into cars!). Not just "ball" but "soccer ball" (or baseball, basketball, tennis ball).
- 2 to 4-word sentences often starting with "Mama" or "Dada." "Kids off bus" (he watched them get off in front of our house), "fire truck hose water" (and then an adorable little water sound), etc. The other "Dee" shorthand is occasionally accompanied by the actual words "sit here." His favorite may be "Up me" (pick me up or help me, depending on context).
- Associations: Some objects/concepts are linked. He sees a ladder and says "ya-er - fire truck!" He sees a stove and says "tove - hot!" He sees a bed and says "night-night."
- Twins: Finally, some dear friends of ours have twin two-year-old boys who look just like their 4-year-old brother, Jackson. Carolyn happened to get a picture of the twins (who Noah sees at least twice a week), and now Noah asks to see it daily. He calls them "Two boys? Jackson! Two boys? Jackson!" We've discussed the twins' real names, but he seems stuck on the fact that they look like their older (and therefore inherently cooler) brother. At least Noah thinks it's very cool that there are two of them. He won't ever have a twin, but he's about to be one of "Two boys!?"
Very cute! We are stuck on the "one two" thing too. It think it is because he has two hands. He wants two of something so that he can hold it in both hands or because that's how many he can count by touching at the same time. anything after that is like this "one...two...two...two" LOL! He has said three on occassion but the concept still kinda blows his mind I think.
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