As of today our two year old has the following words. Is he brilliant or what?

ball truck car Jay cookie cake mine I
no NO!! NOOOOOO! cat up down more please
(ba)nana book train oh! uh-oh! milk spoon ear
nose eye toast rock cup wa(ter) pen boat food
wash hands thank you dog

The pleasure of the new words burbling out of his mouth is indescribable. He’s so ready for everything he wants to say.

It reminds me of Dan Bellm’s incredible poem Before Words:

Before Words by Dan Bellm

A baby is singing in the morning
before anyone is up in the house

Before he has decided
which of all the languages he will speak
he is trying the sounds of his voice
in the first light

He hears a man
come up the street collecting bottles
just ahead of the garbage truck
straining uphill
to come throw them away

He hears the shriek of glass
It is like the vessels of Creation
breaking in God’s hands

He hears the wind around the house
and in the wind
every word he will ever say
and what will stay unsaid

and stops to listen to silence
and sings to it
the way the body addresses the soul
lending it shape
lending it comfort and sorrow

The body wants to be useful
and the soul is open so wide

This is the way we awaken
He remembers he is alone
and cries for us.