"Um." I want more food.
"More, please," I prompt. She gives me a look. Sprite knows how to ask for more, both verbally and in sign language. Lately, instead of her usual aids, her request has been made in the form of "Um". This is not to be confused with "Um, I am confused with what word should be coming out of my mouth at this moment, so to fill the dead air, I am saying um." Oh, no, this is clear to mean, "the food you are partaking in is pleasing to my palate and I am giving you the verbal cue to steer your eating utensil off it's current trajectory and onto a path more compatible with my mouth's location."
This request only comes when I'm feeding her something off my fork, which is more often than not, even though everything on my plate is exactly what is on her tray.
My fork comes towards her and her mouth opens. She accepts the offered food. Munch, munch, swallow. "Um." She opens her mouth to accept more.
"Sprite, it's right in front of you." I motion to the shredded salmon positioned within her line of sight. She does not look down. She points to my fork, "Um."
"Please," I prompt. I see her lips move as she silently plays with the word. "Pease," she responds.
Now, that she has asked politely (well, as polite as it's gonna get right now with a toddler), I then give her another bite off my fork.
Munch, munch, swallow. "Um." Ugh.
Tell me it gets better. I love words. I love to talk. I love to listen to what people have to say. Sprite is the one person who I am the most interested in listening to, every word coming out of her mouth is a gem to be treasured and I am the gemologist waiting for the rare find.
I also love manners. I have been sneaking "please" and "thank you" into my prompts, sprinkling them liberally over the food requests.
"Um."
"More, please."
"Um.....pease." It will do. For now.
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