Asa-isms

Verbal communication begins!  As I noted to M. the other day, it's like tuning in a radio station.  Until very recently, it was all static.  Now, slowly, we're beginning to hear real meaning in the garbled white noise.  And every week, at least, it gets a little clearer.

Now, the most common word is still "No", which can answer any question, whether or not it should take a yes/no answer.  A friend today asked, "And how are you, Asa?" to which he replied, "No!"  with a huge grin on his face.  (Rough translation: fine, thank you, and by the way I really like you.)

But in and among all the "no", we hear some interesting real stuff.  Here's what I can remember from the past week or so:

Scene: a drying rack in front of the baseboard heater, with about a dozen cloth diaper covers hanging to dry.
Asa, pointing at a diaper cover: Poo!!  Poo!!  Heeheeheee Poo!

Scene: lunch time, at the kitchen table.  Asa in his high chair, Mommy and Mummy at the table.  Asa has finished (mostly) his lunch.
Asa: Peekon?
Mommy, looking at Mummy: Pecan?  Has he ever had a pecan?
Mummy: No.
Asa, a little more insistently, and pointing at the fridge: Peekon?
Mummy: ummm... Mango?  Do you want mango?
Asa: No.  Peekon.
Mommy: Are you sure you don't want mango?
Asa: Mango.  No.  Peekon.
[Both parents apologetically explain that we can't understand.]
Asa, considering, then speaking slowly: Peek-ow.
Both Parents: Pickle?
Asa, grinning broadly and clapping excitedly: NO!  (which, in that instance, meant "yes".)

Scene: Dancing to music in the living room.  Specifically, a nonsense song by the band They Might Be Giants, entitled "Violin".  
Song Lyric: Speck of dust, dust, dust; speck of dust, dust, dust; speck of dust, dust, dust; aaaaahhhh.  (wow, that loses a lot in transcription.)
Asa: dust, dust.  [pause, for the lyric to come around again]... dust, dust...  (in time, and on the beat.)

Scene:  early morning, in bed.  Mummy is trying hard to wake up, Mommy has gone to shower.  Asa, of course, is wide awake and playful.  He covers his eyes with his hands.
Mummy: Where's Asa?
Asa: Ah-ee-ya!  [takes his hands away]
Mummy: PEEKABOO!!!  (giggling all around, and Asa puts his hands back up.)

Mummy: Where's Asa?  

Asa: Wah-ee-ya!  [takes his hands away]

Mummy: PEEKABOO!!!  (giggling all around, and Asa puts his hands back up.)

Mummy: Where's Asa?  

Asa: Wah-ee-aya!  [takes his hands away]

Mummy: That's right!  Where's Asa!  oh, er, peekaboo.  Right.  Sorry.  

In other news: he has developed an interest in puzzles, finally, and mostly does them well, except when he tries insistently to put a piece in upside-down and gets frustrated when it doesn't fit.  He's learned to climb over the arm of the futon, and then wiggle feet-first under the arm and back to the floor.  And he's still entirely Muppet-obsessed.  If he had his way, we would watch DVDs of the Muppets and Sesame Street ALL DAY LONG.  

What can I say?  The kid has taste!