Zeke's growing vocabulary

This is too priceless of a memory to let pass without preserving it in some fashion.

Zeke is learning to talk. It seems he learns at least one new word a day. Today was a remarkable day because he learned how to identify and say, "Bobby Darin." Yes, that's right. Bobby Darin. Here's how it happened.

Zeke has a great fondness for swing music. I think it's because he really likes the bands and the rhythms. As we were waiting for Darryl to come home this evening, I put on a Bobby Darin CD. Zeke wanted to see the CD cover, which has a picture of Bobby Darin on it. So as we were dancing and listening to the music, Zeke was also studying the CD cover. I told him it was Bobby Darin that was singing and on the CD cover. He would point to the picture and I would tell him who it was. Then he would point to the picture and point to the stereo and try to repeat what I was saying. He got as far as saying "Darin" pretty clearly, but not "Bobby." Every time it was a different variation, from "buh darin" to "buhbuh duh." That's about as close as he gets these days, which is pretty darn good if you ask me (but I'm not biased!).

When Darryl arrived home, I put on the CD again and asked Zeke if he wanted to tell Daddy who was singing. He was a bit in awe with Darryl having just arrived home, so didn't say anything right away. I told Darryl what we had been doing earlier and so he showed Zeke the CD cover again. When asked who it was, Zeke responded clearly, "Darin," pointed to the picture and then pointed to the stereo. And to make sure we knew it was intentional, he pointed to the picture again and said very clearly, "Bobby Darin." This is the largest phrase he's said to date, counting two words and four syllables.