Do you speak Booger?

Language has as much to do with comprehension as it does expression. After all, you can speak fluent French, but that won't do you a lot of good if the person to whom you're speaking doesn't understand a word. Fortunately, when a toddler is learning about language, they can add some non-verbal cues to help you interpret their not-so-articulate moments.

Rhianna is learning new words daily. Some she pronounces correctly but doesn't understand. Some, she understands but can't pronounce. And a few she both understands and pronounces correctly -- and even throws some non-verbals in with them. She recently aquired "bummer" which she knows is supposed to be said with a squunched up face after she tells us she had "hard poop." I'm not sure she really understands what it means, but it's funny to watch her face when she says it.

In order to understand her speech, you have understand that, as a toddler who is just learning to speak, one word can be an entire language. There really is no need for sentences, just the need for a mother who understands. Let me explain to you the language of Booger (Rhianna's most articulate word to date).

"Boogers!" = "I've got boogers!"

"Boogers!" (with pointer finger up) = "I picked my boogers."

"Boogers!" (points to tissues) = "I'd like Kleenex for my boogers."

"Boogers!" (points to Owen) = "Owen's got boogers."

"Boogers!" (finger up nose) = "Surely there are some boogers up here."

"Boogers!" (innocent look) = "I just smeared boogers somewher you won't find until after I go to bed."

"Boogers!" (within a foot of Owen with pointer finger up) = "I just picked Owen's boogers."

"Boogers!" (innocent look within a foot of Owen) = "I just smeared Owen's boogers somewhere they shouldn't be."

"Boogers!" (looking at pointer finger) = "I just ate my boogers."

"Boogers!" (looking at pointer finger within a foot of Owen) = "I just ate Owen's boogers."

"Boogers!" = "I like saying 'boogers'."