Word of the Day

I'm becoming convinced that Collin's speech delay problem is really just a ruse. He is capable of speaking, actually more than just normal speaking; he might be capable of oration. He's adopted a word-a-day habit in the past week or so in which he outright blurts out, clear as a bell, normal, if not difficult words on a ONE TIME basis and then clams up.

The thing is, he chooses to do them at the following times:
1. When only I am present, thus indicating that he wants me to appear both insane and irrational
2. At appropriate and accurate things. For example, he saw a boat today and said, "boat." It isn't like he's seeing a boat and saying, "cow." So, he's choosing to not only speak, but appear to be smarter than he's letting on, making this whole speech delay thing doubly frustrating.
3. When I'm only halfway paying attention so I have to go, "did you just say X?" at which time he will literally purse his lips as if NO sound whatsoever has ever passed through them.

So far in the past week, I have heard: go poo-poo (yes, I know what a wonderful thing to hear), airplane, an approximation of Aunt Robyn that sounded like Auryn (Go Aunt Robyn!), and boat. It took seventeen months to get Mama! Ask him to repeat ANY of those words, even once and you get pursed-lip-boy of course and a look in his eye like you've asked him to hand you his last pacifier for good.

It's as if by speaking those words, he accidentally let you in on the secret he's harboring, that he knows darn well how to speak, he just doesn't feel like it. I'm pretty sure he also knows how to pee in the potty, wipe his own bottom and probably cook his own meals. He may also know how to drive. We'll see.