Speech Delay:1, Stubborn Will:2+

So, Bubbles (still have not been able to re-blog-name him, though pustablume and superT-t-for testosterone -come to mind...) has a speech delay.
[Bubbles.....has....a....speech....de-lay.....]

This may be because I let him watch too much Pingu, and he thinks of himself as a sassy claymation penguin who chatters wildly in...Pinguish. It may be becauseI have also failed him in the iron department, meaning; I have allowed him too much milk and not force-fed him enough food. The boy loves milk. So, umm, it is obvious I am a lame mother because I did not know that, urrr.... apparently that causes iron deficiency, this love of too much milk. But wait, don't judge me - we have vitamins! And! His speech delay may also be a casualty. As in, "Ms. Gwendomama, I assure you that we are taking your concern seriously. But about 80% of the phone calls we get here at [early intervention program] are from parents reporting a speech delay in their two year old boys." (WAY)More on that conversation later.

Dh and I have experimented with many alternatives to get and/or allow him to use language to communicate. I use basic signing with him, but he prefers to gesture. We ask him to use what I call 'caveboy' - "I know you want to jump on the trampoline again! Stop screaming! Please! Just say 'MORE! JUMP!'...sayit! say 'MORE! JUMP!'...you can do it! MORE!! JUMP!!" - while I wildly sign more, and jump.
And do you know what he does? Does he ask for more? Does he ask for jump? No.
He does not. He looks at the trampoline, back at me, and then says, "NONONONOnononono" as he hurtles himself to the floor. Mad as hell that I would demand something from him. Like a circus animal.
As if.

Anyway, guess what he figured out how to do? CLIMB UP ON THE DAMN TRAMPOLINE HIMSELF, is what.