Snorous

Chad and I love books. Our kids love books. We all love books. Our kids have had books as their favorite toys since before they could roll over. As a wee toddler around 18 months old, Evan would spend an hour and a half in his room at naptime looking at books quietly on his own before falling asleep for his actual nap. This love of books led to our children knowing lots of animals, sounds, colors, shapes, words, characters, concepts, and more at a very young age. And, as they "outgrew" a book, there was another kid ready to declare that book their favorite.

That being said, we no longer read or look at the animal board books. No one is "that age" anymore. There are no more babies; there are no more toddlers. We read picture books and chapter books and comic books and series of books. We learn bigger words and more complex concepts and different characters, but we no longer practice animal names.

Animal names are something a young mind can forget if they're no longer practiced. How do I know? Because Laura and I were reading an animal book today - a guessing game book where you have to guess what the animal is from the little part of the animal they show you. And what was Laura's guess for the animal that has a horn on its nose?

"A snorous."

Followed by a look of "oh dear, I don't think that was quite right."

Followed by another, more cautious pronunciation of "snorous?"

"How about rhinoceros?"

"Oh! Yeah! Rhinoceros! That's what I meant!"

Followed by hugs and giggles and Mommy asking her to say "snorous" one more time just so I could hear it and a few more times of saying "rhinoceros" so she won't forget it anymore.

I love books, but they don't hold a candle to how much I love our kids!