Let's Talk About Twin Talking

With Matthew and Sarah having passed the 19 month mark, they are making a best effort to communicate not only with each other, but with us as well. Still, the going is slow, and the number of words each can say is closer to a dozen than a hundred. Whether their own "twin talk" has anything to do with it isn't entirely clear, but we are finding that they are understanding a lot of what we say, even if they cannot reciprocate in the discussion.

For example, I can ask Sarah to take a bottle and give it to Matthew, and she complies. I can also ask her to "give that to your mom", and she finds Kristine and hands over said object. Both know to "put the blocks away" and to "go get a book" and "put the book back". I've even seen Sarah respond when asked to "go get Matthew's shoes", returning with loafers in hand. So they're listening, even if not obeying.

They can even "spin" on command if I tell them to "spin" and twirl my hand in instruction.

But as we're a little lagging in the official baby book department, I thought I'd note the words we know they can say, in no particular order. I also don't believe there are any words that one can say which the other cannot. Kristine can add or change this list if I overlooked anything.

As of January 2010, Matthew and Sarah can say:

• Dog
• Dad
• Mom
• Thank You
• No
• Laszlo (my parents' dog)
• Hi
• Bye
• Ball
• "Hush" (as in Good Night Moon)
• "Woo Hoo!" (as in Homer Simpson)

Guess who taught them the last one?