words...

I've been really amazed at the progress here lately of Charlie's vocabulary. He's really coming along and before I realize it, will probably be talking to me in sentences. He is already but it's still in baby talk that I can't understand yet. As we drove home from school today, I was asking him about his day. This conversation is usually:

Mom: "Did you go to school today?"
Charlie: "yeah."
M: "Did you have fun?"
C: "yeah."
M: "Did you hear a story today?"
C: "yeah."
M: "Did you get to play on the playground?"
C: "yeah. argck (car)."
M: "You played on the car on the playground?"
C: "yeah."

And it goes on. I always get "yeah" as the answer. If I ask a question that is not a yes or no question, I just get a "oooah" sound. Today, I asked him, "What did you learn at school today?" He answered me in complete sentences of which I understood none of the words. I just replied, "Really? That's great!" Then I said, "What else did you learn about today?" He said, "Bible." What!?! I was shocked that I got an answer and was so happy that out of everything they learn, that's what he remembers first! I knew there was a reason I chose that school! His teacher keeps commenting that Charlie is really coming out of his shell. The longer he goes, the more subtle changes I'm seeing in him.
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Yesterday, I was in the kitchen cleaning (rare thing for me!) and Charlie came in and said something to me like he was telling me a story and then started turning in circles. I kept telling him that I didn't understand. He was then persistent in getting me to come with him so I followed. He took me to his room, where he had been playing, and pointed to a puzzle piece on the floor. It was a pink hippo. Then, it all made sense! He was wanting to sing the hippopotamus song. That's what the turning in circles was about. I was stunned, to say the least, that he saw a picture of a hippo and associated it with the song. His brain is so much more advanced than I realize, I'm sure, but I learn more every day.

Here are the lyrics to the song for those of you who don't know it:

In the beginning God made the seas.
And the forests filled with trees.
He built the mountains up so high.
At the top he placed the sky.
His fingerprints are everywhere.
Just to show how much he cares.
In the middle He had some fun.
He made an animal that weighs a ton.
HIP-HIP-HIP-HIPPOPOTAMUS
Hip-hip-hip-God made all of us.
HIP-HIP-HIP-HIPPOPOTAMUS
Hip-hip-hip-God made all of us.