Benjamin's first Easter egg hunt

Happy...

Today Benjamin started to say "Happy Easter!" He's been hearing the phrase a lot—people have been saying it to him, both friends and strangers. This morning we chose Easter e-cards for his grandparents, and all the cards talked, so he began to repeat "Happy Easter!" (though perhaps it sounds more like "'appy Easser!").

Then, while we were trying to decide on a card, he suddenly said, with a big smile, "Happy Zut Alors!"

I laughed so hard I cried. He thought it was really funny to see me laugh so hard, so he kept repeating (between peals of laughter) "Happy Zut Alors!" I'll try and get a video clip of him saying it to add to the zut alors video I am preparing (at Isis's request).

So, happy Easter everyone. And happy Zut Alors!

Lutece

first time on the trampoline

Trampoline by Miss Angel. Photos by Miss Angel.

Puddle Dance

I have many videos to edit and upload. Here is one from last month when we were having oddly warm weather for February. Benjamin loves the park and usually likes to slide, but recently he has been much more interested in the basketball court... and its puddles.

climbing and waving

The latest photos from Miss Angel:

B says buh-buh-Benjamin

Benjamin has had foam rubber letters and numerals in his bath for as long as he's taken baths in the big tub — less than a year but longer than 6 months. He loves them, but has never associated the letters with sounds, and I try not to push the issue. Every once in a while, I'll try to introduce him to the idea that "The B says 'buh' like buh-buh-Benjamin." But he either laughs or ignores me and I drop it.

Tonight he grabbed the T and announced Travail! (French for "work.")

I stared at him a moment and then called to his mother, "Did you teach him that T is for Travail?" Yes, apparently she had, but he'd shown no sign of understanding her.

I was very excited. Our first hint of literacy.

Then Benjamin grabbed the Y and said something I didn't understand.

I called to Nathalie again, "What starts with Y?"

"Yaourt."

Yes! That's what he'd said. French for yogurt. I just hadn't recognized his pronunciation.

So I tried "The B says 'buh' like buh-buh-Benjamin" for the three-dozenth time — and he got it! Show him the B, get back "Benjamin."

A photo of someone else's kid (from the ad for this toy)

And that's not all. He can reliably point to the M and say "M-M-Maman," the P and say "puh-puh-Papa," the L and say "L-L-L-Lutece," and the G for "G-G-G-Gramma." Not just once or twice, but over and over again, reliably, never getting any of them wrong. The only "mistake" was to turn to the letter V, stuck to the tile wall behind him, and announce "Yaourt." Honestly, the V and Y look very similar in this set. I showed him the two letters next to each other. I didn't tell him what sound V makes. I just emphasized that it was the Y that says Y-Y-Yaourt.

It was a bit dreamlike, this experience of suddenly having the boy be able to associate letters and words, after all those fruitless (but very casual, low-pressure) earlier attempts.

Nathalie says they'll start doing phonics exercises tomorrow.

-extra proud papa

Benjamin loves the kitchen sink

A devilish look as he discovers a new use for his high chair:
A less devilish look:
Compare with his first bath in that same sink:
(posted December 31, 2006)

(posted for sixième moisniversaire)

-proud papa

SVO

I keep forgetting to blog about Benjamin's communicative advances. Before his nap today, for example, he told me: "Maman cherche minou" (Maman look for [in this case "get"] kitty). (And no, the kitty in question was not Lutèce, but a plush toy.) He is able to make subject + verb + object sentences more and more—and they are often orders (no big surprise seeing that he is 20 months going on 2½ years).

A month or so ago, while having lunch with his babysitter and her family, Benjamin was heard to declare "I like this!" before adding a typical "Mo'?" (More?). Apparently Miss Angel makes delicious chicken salad (guess I should get her recipe). But that was the only use of "I" heard until lunch today when he proclaimed what sounded like "I like pizza!" (His papa had just given him a little piece of mushroom pizza—this child loves mushrooms, we'll see if that lasts.) I suspect that he has no grasp on the pronoun "I" but instead is mimicking his verbally advanced playmate Lucia (who is exactly a year older than him). I am fairly sure I have heard her declare "I like this!" Though, of course, today Benjamin replaced the "this" with "pizza." I have yet to hear him use the French "je."

-maman

spring is not quite sprung