More talking
I wouldn't say Zoë's speech has improved in quantity (she's still fairly non-verbal), but it seems to be improving in quality. She's spontaneously said a few words and phrases that I've never heard her say before, and today she used a full sentence, and she said it three times, so I know it wasn't a fluke.
The words I've heard her use are "sneakers" (that oh-so-American phrase that I use to describe her shoes) and "got it" (when reaching into the bottom of a bag of chips), although of course, that's more of a phrase than a word.
This morning, we went into the kitchen first thing and I said to her, "What do you want?" and she answered, "Want to eat." I said, "You want to eat?" and she said it again. I told her that was good talking and she said it again a little later. She also repeated "milk" when I said it (she wanted corn flakes to eat).
Oh, and speaking of corn flakes, I've taught her how to drink the milk out of the cereal bowl. It's not very good manners, really, but it gets the job done, she gets a better breakfast, and the milk doesn't go to waste, so there you go.
Talking talking talking...
I am really amazed at the improvement in Zoë's speech. Today she spontaneously asked me for cheese on toast (well, she just said "toast" and then "eat" but I know what she wants when she says toast). Yesterday, I asked her if she was hungry and she answered, "Eat."
She's saying all kinds of things I didn't know she knew how to say. It's like some switch has been flipped in her brain!
Good talking!
Well, last week Zoë's tapes/CDs from Baby Bumblebee arrived. It took her a little while to work out the "game", which is to repeat the words, and now she loves them and plays along.
And the change has been remarkable. In a matter of a few days, she's started voluntarily repeating things people say to her, and she's been spontaneously speaking on her own! I'm genuinely amazed.
Tonight she said, "ungy eat eat" which is Zoëspeak for "Hungry, eat, eat,". She's never said "eat" before to the best of my memory, although we use the word all the time. She's also far more willing to say things like "toast" or "cat". Tonight she spontaneously said, "got it." I'm really, really pleased and encouraged.
The only drawback has been that she's been very cranky for the past few days. I think this is because she's starting to do new things, things that are somewhat difficult for her (language comprehension and expression are just not things she easily gets, poor kid). She seems to be a little extra tired, too (which contributes to the crankiness, of course).
I'm absolutely rapt about this development (well, not about the crankiness, heh). I can hardly believe the change in her attitude and her apparent willingness to talk.
Piglet's Big Movie and other matters
We took the girls to the theatre Sunday to see Piglet's Big Movie. We got popcorn, a drink, all the requirements for a real theatre experience, and Zoë was fascinated. Her eyes were huge and glued to the screen, and other than a bit of singing that was probably inappropriate, she was very good the whole time.
Tonight, we went out and somehow or other, he nappy got pulled down around her knees. No idea when this happened, as she was wearing sweatpants and we didn't notice. She did protest a little and I noticed she went up the stairs very oddly, but I thought she was just being silly. Basically, her bottom was essentially bare inside her sweatpants for probably over an hour before we realized something was amiss, at which point I took her to the ladies room.
She's been pretty cooperative with using the potty lately, and she was tonight, as well. I put her on the potty and got her wet nappy off of her and she sat for a little while and I stood with her. In a bit I asked her if she needed to do a poo and she said, "All done," so I went to get her down and I noticed she'd done a wee in the potty. She must have held it for some time and then went when I put her on the potty!
Naturally, I praised her considerably and when we came out we told Daddy what a good girl she was. Now I'm certain she's at least starting to be aware of her bladder release. I don't know how much she can or can't hold, but I'm encouraged by this. Maybe, after all this time, we can start to go a little further with her toilet training. I don't want to rush it, especially since she still doesn't really say when she needs to go, but if she knows not to wet when she's not wearing a nappy, that's a big first step.
So we'll see how we go. I'm not quite sure how to proceed. Perhaps I'll just let her see the pretty knickers Nanna got her for Christmas.
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