That sounds funny, or should, to most seasoned parents, because it's something kids do all the time. But not Joseph. I really don't worry about there being any serious developmental problems. You should hear him talk. He's had almost perfect enunciation since he was 18 months old (with the exception of not being able to say his 'l's). But his personality and the things that interest him are just so different from my other four kids, that sometimes I have a hard time gauging where he is on a scale of what's normal and what's not. At his four year old check up, one of the questions was, "Can he draw a stick figure with at least three parts?" With all of my other kids, I was able to say, "Sure. He draws more than three and can write his name". But not Joseph. He had just barely mastered a circle, and it had never occurred to him to use it for a head and draw a person. For the next week, however, he drew stick people all the time. Then he was done with that. It was almost as if he just wanted to make sure he could do it. Once he felt good about it, he didn't care to make the effort.
So this morning after I had read Blue Looks for Books several times in a row, I suggested that Joseph read it to Noah. To my surprise he picked it up and began to try to remember and recite the text, pretending that he was reading it. It is the first time I can remember him doing that. Sydney and Sam did it so much that when they first started to read, I couldn't be sure if they were really reading or just reciting. But for Joseph it was a big deal. He was really proud, and I made a big deal out of it.
Joseph also made another startling discovery today, the kind generally made by Joseph or his cousin, Chase. We got our first Veggietales video when Ethan was a year old. Since then, they have been a staple for our household, each kid having their particular favorite. So since today is day. . .I don't know. . .of several that are too wet to play outside, and Ethan is home sick, we plugged in our Heroes of the Bible DVD which has a collection of 4 different Veggie Classics. Two thirds of the way through the 4th episode, Joseph suddenly got a very perplexed look on his face.
"MOM!"
"What, Joseph?"
"Larry is a cucumber!"
"Um, yes."
"A talking cucumber."
"Yes."
"Mom, cucumbers don't talk."
Sigh.
The funniest part is that he has watched Veggietales since he was an infant. It never occured to him before. I wonder how long it will take before he realizes the thing that bothered Ethan from day one, the fact that none of the veggies have arms.