Doug usually puts Roman to bed at night. He came out of his room last night and said, "I wish I knew what Roman was saying to me. He keeps saying "my white apple too" and I just don't know what he means."

I thought about it but couldn't think of anything. Doug reported that he has said it every night for the past few days. Today, I figured it out. I told Roman that I loved him as we finished up a diaper change, and as he toddled out of his room he said over his shoulder, "I lubluvliwhite apple too!" Turns out, he's having trouble saying "I love you" spontaneously so it comes out "white apple too!" What a wonderful kid. He has said "I love you" when we prompt him, but I think it's the off-the-cuff times when he can't remember all the correct syllables.

Also, from the realms of adorableness: I was finally planting some flowers in pots that I had bought, like, two weeks ago. Roman was watching me and climbed up next to me on the glider. He was quiet for a minute or two, just enjoying the swaying, when his little high-pitched voice began singing (actual words recorded below)....

"Swing low, sweet chariot.... comin' frwr... carry home! Roman! Home! Swing low...."

I turned to him in awe. I knew that Doug sings this to him during rocking-chair time, but I hadn't realized Roman knew so many words! One of these days our poor boy is going to have an identity crisis. Our Russian-born, US-citizen, growing up in a Dutch-German household, whose parents love Scottish bagpipe music, and whose father now sings slave spirituals as he rocks him before bedtime. Ah, the U.S. is the melting pot.