Both Trev had and Normy has almost as much English as I do. Normy earwigs conversations too - if I'm talking to OH in the kitchen and she's 'asleep' on her bed in the next room and I say 'I'm going to take the gang out in a minute' she appears but does it subtly and just sort of gets out of bed and stretches and yawns as if to say 'oh gosh, I had no idea you were thinking about a walk, well, if you're asking'
Dave isn't quite as switched on though bless him
I had numerous occasions with Trev that surprised me but there is one that really sticks in my mind as to how much he understood and knew me
. I had a load of junk in the car and was moving stuff around whilst getting ready to go for a walk. I opened the boot of the car and he jumped in, I then realised there was another heavy box of 'stuff' in there so almost talking to myself I said 'hmmmmm that's probably not a good idea that will hit you if we go around a corner you'd better get in the front' and he just looked at me for a second, hopped out of the boot and trotted around the the passenger side at the front and jumped in... I swear that over time (if you talk to yourself enough
) they learn as much 'English' as they can
Early years 'English' is definitely comand based, but as they get older, it moves on from that.. 'Could you please sit down, I'd like some manners before you get your dinner' is no more complicated than 'sit' to my two now. Or 'Erm?' when they're doing something they shouldn't be gets the same reaction as 'bed' or 'please stop shouting at the postman'
I get a bit irritated with OH sometimes as he pumps them up a bit before a walk and then says 'calm down'. I've told him that they don't know 'calm down' I've never taught them that... but they do know it and sit down now when he says it... damn them
Oh and 'Dave do you see the laaadies??' usually gets a good 'woowoowoooooooo' but probably only because I used to say 'layayayaydeeyeeeyeeeeysssssss'
