Gardner is just beginning to verbalize words he knows. Sometimes he tries to communicate with us and we have no idea what he's saying. Often, my husband, mother-in-law, and father-in-law, look at me and ask, "What is he saying?" I'm usually pretty good at translating, but when I can't I feel like I'm "Marlin" from "Finding Nemo" trying to figure out how to exit the East Australian Current. Gardner could be telling me the meaning of life and I would have no idea.
One of the best things he says is when he asks to be excused from the table. I can't help but smile. The best part about his asking to be excused is the way in which he says it. It goes like this:
Gardner: All done.
Me: What do you say?
Gardner: May... I... be... 'scused... peas? (cue the fake "cheese" smiley face for extra cuteness)
Me: Yes, you may.
Gardner: Yes, may.
Sometimes he doesn't even wait for me to say, "Yes, you may." Sometimes he just says, "Yes, may" to himself.
Like the Squirt the turtle the more you listen to him the more you understand. Still, I wouldn't complain if I thought he was this cute forever.