Words

No, Jordyn's not talking yet! :)

I recently realized that there are lots of decisions to make regarding words. Like, what words or phrases do I want to use for certain things where there's a choice? Because whatever I choose, I want to start using the words I want Jordyn to eventually use now, so that I get in the habit, and she starts to hear them.

For instance:
Butt vs. Bottom vs. Tush/Tushy vs. Behind vs. Rear End vs. etc.
I think I've decided on tush/tushy, mostly because it's cute! And I think it's the word my parents used with me.

Fart vs. Toot
I don't like either of these. Are there other choices?? I guess I could use "gas", but then you have to say "pass gas". It kind of sounds too formal, somehow. Plus, it could get confusing with gas for the car.

I'm pretty sure I want to use the real words for vagina and penis. I don't like the other choices here, and I think it's good for kids to know the real names of body parts. The only thing I don't like is that it's not exactly accurate to say vagina, when that's really the term for the internal part, and the external part is labia. But I guess that's getting too technical!

I'm already using pee/peepee, and poop/poopy, so that's pretty much decided, too.

I just noticed something. All of these word choices have to do with body parts and bodily functions. Interesting. I wonder why there are so many slang terms for these things? I guess people aren't always comfortable saying the actual words and need other ways to talk about them.

Oh, and what about belly vs. tummy vs. stomach? I say tummy in terms of "tummy time", but I also have this thing where I kiss her belly and then look at her and say, "I kissed your belly, and I'm gonna do it again!" and then I kiss her belly again. Sometimes I do it several times in a row, and she often smiles. I guess I could change it to "tummy" for consistency, but I kinda like "belly". Hmmm. Will she get confused if I keep using both? And what about "stomach" as an option? That's the real name for that body part, and I did just say I think kids should know the real terms... Hmmm.

Yeah, ok, maybe I'm just overthinking this whole thing. But it seems like it would make sense to know what words I want Jordyn to use (at least in the beginning, before she goes to school and gets influenced by other kids), and to start using them now.

I also need to watch the words I use... Specifically, I need to start working on not yelling/cursing at other drivers. I know this isn't affecting Jordyn now, but eventually she's going to start to imitate, and I really don't want one of her first words to be something she's heard me yell in the car! Ok, so maybe I have a slight road rage problem...

And then there are the made-up words. Like, I call breast milk "mamamilk". I don't know where it came from, only that I said it one day very early on, and it stuck. Formula is just "milk", even though it's really not. My mom calls it "bottle", as in "Do you want more bottle?", which for some reason drives me crazy. I tried to get her to also say "milk", but it's not really working.

I had to set my mother (and a few other people) straight on the donor vs. father issue. I feel strongly that her donor not be referred to as her father, or even as her biological father. He's NOT her father - he's her donor. And that's what I want him to be called - "donor". And I think donor siblings will be called just that - donor siblings - unless any of their parents feel strongly about another term, and then I'll consider it. But I think being as straightforward as possible makes the most sense on this issue, because it's a complicated enough subject as it is!

I can't wait to see what toddler-isms Jordyn comes up with. When I was little, I called the moon "mooie", and ice cream was "icy-muh". My sister said "elegunk" for elephant. I also wonder what Jordyn's very first word will be. So far, her only consonant seems to be a "g" sound - "geh" and "gah". But she's certainly "talking" more and more, experimenting with lots of different sounds. She tells me stories, and she helps me read books, too. :)