Understanding my daughter

At almost 18 months, Betsy has a very limited vocabulary. But her inability to articulate thoughts doesn't hold her back from getting her point across. To help those who don't speak Betsy-onics, here are common words, phrases and actions and their definitions.

Bye Bye noun
1: a wish of well being upon departing: Good-bye

Nigh Nigh noun
1: an act of departure
2: to sleep

Ahhhh verb
1: to ask earnestly for food (with mouth open to accept offering)

Uh Oh verb
1: to express concern (with hands clasped on face a la Macaulay Culkin)

Mama noun
1: first thought to be a term of endearment for the woman who brought her into this world. Now come to discover it means all adults

Tee verb
1: to long or hope for: exhibit or feel desire for (usually includes pointing or reaching for something across the room)
2: to express a wish for: request (includes reaching for something close-by)

Dee verb
1 a: to present for acceptance or rejection (while handing you a cracker, juice or other delectible) b: to present in order to satisfy a requirement (while handing you the item you asked her to retrieve)
2: to make available (handing you any little thing she found on the ground)

No adverb, adjective, noun
1: used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility
2: not any : hardly any: very little
3: an act or instance of refusing or denying by the use of the word no : denial

Screams verb
1: a desire for Elliot to return her toy NOW
2: a desire for anything previously refused her
3: a declaration of pain

Throwing body on floor verb
1: an act of utter frustration and contempt for the big people

Head hung low adjective
1: to feel dejected : cast down in spirits (usually following being told she can't have something and a precursor to throwing body on floor)

So there you go. If you are ever at our house or see us out in public, you will now be able to clearly understand the unique vocal-stylings of our 18-month-old (or at least as well as we do). I should note that the "throwing body on floor" and "head hung low" are only recent developments and aren't used very often (although I think we'll see A LOT more of them in the coming months).