Big Big Duck

Most kids no matter what the age want to be understood.  They are never so blatant about this desire as when they first start talking.  They repeat words and phrases over and over until someone acknowledges what they're saying.  Gregory is no exception, though the more he has to repeat, the louder and madder he gets.

We'll be in the car and he'll say, "Duck ess bokin.  Duck ess bokin."  I take a stab at what I think it could be.  'Yeah buddy, the duck is honking.'  

It sounds close, but God help me, I left my Gregory-speak to English dictionary at home.

"Duck ess bokin.  Duck ESS bokin."

"The truck is honking?"  He's really getting worked up and spitting as he yells.

"DUCK ESS BOKIN!  DUCK ESS BOKIN!"

I'm driving.  I have no visual clues on what he could be talking about.  He is getting louder and repeating duck ess bokin incessantly.  Finally, I switch lanes and notice in my blind spot a tow truck pulling a pick up behind it.  Ah ha!

I yell out, 'TRUCK IS BROKEN!!!!  TRUCK IS BROKEN', like I just solved the bonus prize puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.

This scenario happens every day on our drive to Charlie's school.  Although as his language development progresses, some mornings we're lucky and figure out what Gregory's saying on the first try.  Other times, we have to listen to him endlessly yell the same thing for 15 minutes, all of us frustrated at our ineptness to translate.  

This morning Gregory started in immediately saying, "Big, big dog" over and over.  It wasn't that I couldn't understand him, I had in fact seen the big, big dog as we drove out of our neighborhood.  I was just incredibly tired and didn't feel like talking, so I ignored him.  

Charlie is in the back, equally annoyed because his brother's yelling is making it impossible for him to listen to 'his' Dave Matthews cd.  After 2 non stop minutes of, 'BIG, BIG DOG!', I'm tempted to pull the car over and toss Gregory into the drive thru window at the coffee place.  Turns out Charlie comes to my aid to end all of our suffering quickly and painlessly.  He says, "Geez Louise, Gregory, we heard you.  We all saw the big, big dog, just BE QUIET." 

"Awight, Charlie.  Mommy, have snack?"  I get that one.