Ready, Steady, Go!

It's both terrifying and entertaining as your kids learn how to talk. Right now Parker (age 2.5) likes to say "Ready? Steady? Go!" before almost any activity. It could be a race with his sister or just jumping off the curb. He leans forward... mumbles his little phrase... and explodes into a toddler frenzy. Not sure where it came from but I'm glad it's here.

The Pope kids make learning to speak even more entertaining because each of them have struggled with at least one particular word that comes out sounding more like a piece of male genetalia than what they were trying to say. When she was just a little over two years old Ellie struggled with the word cake. Sounds like a pretty simple word to master but our little princess had her own version...

For Ellie the word "cake" sounded a whole lot like "cock". Yeah...

It was amazing how many events that summer served cake. (Including the birthday party of a 90-year-old great-aunt) At every party during that very long summer, our little angel would run around saying things like, "Mommy wants cock!" (I am really holding back from saying something really inappropriate here. Look how mature I am these days) If you can imagine all the other ways this was said you can start to understand the horrific humor we experienced on those nights. I think it was even caught on video at some point. I can't wait for that to resurface.

Last week Parker decided it was his turn to add a pronunciation faux pas to the Pope family history. Once again this was done in public. We are so blessed.

We were eating at a mexican restaurant and I asked Parker to take a drink of his milk. He takes a big chug and then proudly proclaims, "Look Dad, I have big dick." I'm choking back laughter and choking on my soda as I try to convince myself I just misheard the little guy say drink. No way he just said that, right???

As dinner came to a close I took a small sip of my soda as Parker watched from across the table in mommy's lap. He copies my drinking action and blurts out, "See Daddy, I have little dick just like you!" Since she is directly behind him, my darling wife completely loses it as she watches my face explode in color and my jaw hit the table. Thanks for that Parker! I somehow avoided jumping up and defending my honor publicly.

So here's to my son who can't say the word drink. I raise my glass to you and wish you a big drink! Ready, steady, go!!!