From the Mixed-Up Language Files of Woodstock

"Bum!" Woodstock said as she pointed her little finger skyward last night.

What on earth....?

"Bum!" She cried again. I followed her gaze (her finger is often off its mark) - there, on the power line above the backyard fence was a sparrow. But while Woodstock's verbal prowess is increasing every day (last week it was the addition of "alllllldoh" for "all done"), "bum" is not even remotely close to "bird" in any language, much less English.

I chalked it up to finger-pointing, babblings of an 11-month-old.

Several minutes later I returned outside to check on the fish on the grill. Himself handed Woodstock to me. Noticing that the bird had relocated to the fence itself, I decided to test her.

"Where is the bird?" I queried.

Her eyes immediately went the power line. No bird. She looked around for a moment ... and spotted the sparrow on the fence. "BUM!" she cried, pointing her little finger at the fence. I nearly dropped her.

"Good girl I cried. BIRD." She looked at me, then looked back at the sparrow. "Bum!" she cried, pointing at the bird and then clapping her hands gleefully.

Still not convinced, we tried later - when it came time to take the fish off the grill. This time the sparrow had moved back to the power line and had been joined by another sparrow buddy.

"Woodstock, what is that?" I pointed toward the birds lollygagging on the line.

"Bum!" she cried and clapped her hands, delighted. "Bum!" - this time pointing at the bird.

Paint me with sparkles and called me surprised - I think she is trying to say bird in context, never mind her odd choice of pronunciation.

I "tested" her again this morning and said, "Woodstock, where are the birds?" (There were none). She looked around and around, craning her neck, then stared at me with a blank stare. No birds.

"No birds, good girl!" I said.

She clapped her hands.

Who knew language development could be so entertaining.