Nikoisms and Pronunciations

Bawaaaaa - When Niko was really young he could make the exact sound someone would make if they were making fun of someone for whining or crying.  It was almost like he was reading out of a book, complete onamanpea.  It was usually preceeded by a full 3 to 5 second intake of air and his entire body turning a deep red.

"More more - insert noun" -  accompanied with the sign language sign for more.  This initially meant Milk.  Later on he figured out that it meant more of anything, not just milk. 

Ball - Niko's first regular word, he was obsessed with balls and would go on at length with the word ball.

"My -  insert noun" -  I think he used this to mean "I want."  He especially enjoyed it when Sarah or I would say "My Nikolai."  

George - Since Niko was born there has been images of Curious George on everything in his room along with an assortment of Curious George toys that he inherited from Uncle John.  For a long while all monkey's were George.  Then, once we got down that monkies are monkies a lot of four legged animals became monkeys - as in "Niko, that is a camel," and then Niko would respond  "No, no Monkey."

Baby - the name of Niko's family of bears that have been his mainstay from about 1 year through 2 1/2.  They are Brown Bear, Baloo Bear (Sarah contends he is saying Blue Bear.   I contend that he is saying Baloo Bear as in the Jungle Book), and yellow bear.  For a while any hairy animal was a "Baby." 

Bickbee - Niko's first pronunciation of the word "Basement." This evolved into "Bicklebee" which is now the proper name of our basement.  

Beats - Niko's first word for songs or music.  This started when we were brainwashing him the Beatles and he started thinking all music was "the Beatles" or "Beats."  "More more beats" meant more music, not just more Beatles.  We introduced him to a baby music CD and now he'll ask for "more baby beats."

"Bunk" - Niko's pronunciation of "Bonk."  When we are changing his diaper he'll go find a pillow for his head so there is "no bunk."  The word usage culminated when he picked up a matchbox car, hit a 3 month old Julian in the head with it and looked at me and very flatly said "bunk."  All I could do not to laugh my ass off.

"No rooster, Duck" - For a while all birds were "ducks."  I'd point to a picture of a rooster and tell Niko it was a rooster, and Niko would tell me "No, no rooster, Duck."   This cracked me up the first few times and its become our first running joke.

choket / chokalot - chocolate 

Backetball - for basketball

Ayhawk - for Jayhawk, I love it when he points at a Jayhawks and yells excitedly "Ayhawk".  I especially love it when he says "more more Ayhawk Backetball!"

Fast -  Niko's first full blown game. Not very complicated, consist of us running fast around the house.

Baball - for a football or a football game on t.v.  - noteably he never ask for "Ayhawk Baball."  Already a good Jayhawk fan.

Crash (verb) - tackle

Crash (noun)- Niko's version of football, he'll set a "baball" down one the floor, take what can only be called a front stance, for karate geeks out there a zenkutsudachi, and then we race for the ball.  Whoever doesn't get it has to "crash" the other one. 

Baby Doolian - Niko's pronunciation of Julian.  He also has a baby doll that he calls Baby Doolian.

"Baby no no chokalot, baby baby no no firetruck.  Big Boy chokalot, big boy firetruck."  - meaning Babies (baby Doolian inparticular) don't get firetrucks or chokalot, only Big boys like Nikolai get firetrucks and chokalot.

Haka-lu-lu - Really don't have any idea what he is saying here.  I think its his battle cry, Denise, his day care teacher thinks its a hebrew prayer, Sarah thinks its cockadoodle doo.  Whatever it is its very funny when he says it.  The other day he got a yellow band and went running about the house swinging it in circles over his head yelling "haka-lu-lu, haka-lu-lu!!!"