The English To English Translator

For the past 12 months I've been mildly obsessed with teaching the twins to talk (yes, since they were 6 months old); mainly in an effort to spend less time deciphering grunts, gestures, whines and more time focusing on other important things like what "I" want to wear, eat or do.  You would too if you lived in some remote temperate jungle with knee-high natives begging you for milk--no wait, juice; to read only the first two pages of every book and hold their sippy cup in your left hand, now right hand, now give it back--you thief!

One of my friends thinks this obsession is ridiculous (in her defense she's endured my repetitive complaints since May of last year).  I believe she said:  'Why in the world are you stressing over something that will come no matter what you do!?!'  My reply:  'Because I have nothing else better to do.'

She's absolutely right.  For the most part, Finn & Belle are hitting all their language milestones with perfect punctuality (must have gotten that from their Oma-ma).  So now I spend most of my days decoding various attempts made at speaking the English language.  Then I spend a portion of each evening translating those words into something coherent for their Daddy.

Here's what I've translated so far:

Cacka = Cracker

Cookie = Cookie or Cookie Monster

Car = Car, Truck, Airplane, or Cold

Ear = Ear

Mommy = Mommy, More, Help, Fix, Do, Fetch, Grab, Get, Go, etc.

Daddy = Daddy

Up = Up or Down

Baby = Baby, Doll, Bailey, Blueberries or Bumblebee Slippers

Sock = Sock

Shoe = Shoe

La La = Lavender

'La La La La' (tune for Elmo's World) = Elmo or Sesame St.

El La La = Ellen

Dia-dar = Diaper

Hey Ya Ya = Telephone, Cellphone or Daddy

Nana = Nana or Banana

Mama = Oma-ma

Poopy = Dirty Diaper

Bye Bye = Good Bye or Toilet (don't ask)

Circle = Circle

Ball = Ball

Eat = Eat

Mah = Milk or More

Da = Finn or Belle's nickname

Dog = Dog, Cat, Horse, Goat, anything with 4 legs 

Da, Da, Da

 The twins call each other 'Da'.  I finally learned this the other day while putting their names on the wall above their cribs (been wanting to do this for a year and a half).

I found a pretty cool website, Wall Written, with a super easy online tool to create custom phrases.  Of all the sites I researched, this one was by far the simplest to use while providing a great selection of font and color choices.

At first, I was nervous about installing the decals, but the instructions were pretty idiot proof (phew).  After I'd placed the stickers on the wall, Finn & Belle ran into the room and demanded I put them in their cribs.  Then each proceeded to point to their names, turn to each other and squeal 'Da!'.

Now it all makes sense.  Like homing pigeons, they shout 'Da' throughout the house when one is trying to find the other.  After nap time, I'll hear the first one wake up and 'quietly' say 'Da', until the other one wakes up, or responds.

If I'd known this sooner I could have saved some money on the size of my lettering by simply ordering two different colors of 'Da'.