This toddler age of not quite baby-not quite kid brings with it an array of entertaining and sometimes challenging quirks. For one, developing language skills can sometimes lead to great frustration on the part of all invovled in the attempted conversation.
Megan, although sometimes prone to the frustrated outburst (aka great big, throw myself to the ground and scream to get my way tantrum) has seemed to figure out a loop hole for herself. She adeptly mixes the words she can say with gestures as a means to communicate. Sometimes this means she'll say "Dora!" as she drags you by the hand to the refridgerator. This, we've come to learn, means "Get me that Yumster Yogurt now please. I'd like to eat it/paint with it/wear it/attempt to feed it to the dog."
A variation on this theme is when she opens the refridgerator door herself chanting "Dada!" over and over. This means she's about to emerge with a container of the blueberry Dannon yogurt Daddy eats on a regular basis. She will hand it to you as she requests a spoon - and occasionally her bib. Both by name.
Most recently she's mastered the nod. Not the head nod, mind you. She really has more of a full-body nod. Her head moves up and down vigorously as she bops and sways in time with the imaginary beat. The first time it was thought conicidence. The second time we knew she was clearly understanding our question and responding in the affirmative.
For example, "Megan? Do you want to take your bath now?" we'll ask.
Full body nod complete with wide, nearly toothless grin. "BATH! BATH!" she yells afterwards as she takes off down the hallway. By the time we catch-up to her (hey, we have to stop to get the towel!) she's standing outside the tub chanting "Wah-wah! Wah-wah! Bubble!" (Water, water, bubbles.)
"Megan, do you want to color?"
Big grin and lots of nodding. When you pull out the box of crayons, she starts to mutter "ca-her" (colors) and "paper."