A word that Luka has been saying and been excited about for several weeks was coliforme, or something like that. We couldn't figure it out. Whatever the real word is, that is close to what he is saying and neither I or Reynald could figure out what the real word was. It is something in French. Sometimes, I will ask Luka if he is a coliforme and he usually laughs and says no. Sometimes, he gets mad and says, "Je ne suis pas un coliforme, Maman!"
We finally figured out this was some word he was learning from one of his T'Choupi DVD's. Then, we got that it was actually coliforme des montagnes (coliforme of the mountains) and narrowed it down to the episode where T'Choupi goes camping. We thought it was the one where T'Choupi picks mushrooms with his Papi (Grandpa), and thought it was some kind of mushroom. But, various spellings didn't pan out in the dictionary. Then, Luka said it was the episode when T'Choupi goes camping - now we are getting somewhere!
Today, when he was watching T'Choupi, he got all excited and said, "Maman, coliforme - coliforme des montagnes!" It turns out it is the episode where T'Choupi goes camping. He is in the tent and is scared when he hears an owl hoot. And, he says something like, "Doudou, c'est le coliforme des montagnes," however, Luka was so excited to show me the episode that he kept talking over T'Choupi and I couldn't hear the exact word. I will check with Reynald - as the native French speaker, I am sure he will figure it out. It seems like it means "monster" or something like that. So, we will see. For now, the coliforme mystery is not totally solved!
Update 07/16/05 - The Mystery Resolved
I went out today to get my toes done (last time before the baby is born). They look great with flowers on the big toes. (Thanks, Jenni!) While I was gone, Reynald watched the "T'Choupi goes Camping" episode with Luka, and solved the coliforme mystery!
T'Choupi hears the owl and he says, "C'est le grosnivore des montagnes." Well, the reason we didn't solve it earlier is that "grosnivore" is not a word - but something T'Choupi made up: gros as in big and -invore as in "carnivore," we are guessing. So, I guess, to T'Choupi, that means "scary thing that lives in the woods." Well, that mystery is solved, but I think around here, we will still say "coliforme." :)
