Nol has been “talking” so much these days! I want to write some of his words down before I forget. He’s still mostly babbling, which is the cutest and I’ll feel sad when that ends. One of his most common babbles is “gabadabadaba.” Recently, he has taken to reciting the names of his most beloved people right before he falls asleep: “dada, jiejie, dada, jiejie.” Yep, that’s the order on the family totem pole right now – dada, jiejie, then mama somewhere down near the feet.
I’m constantly amazed by how much he understands, so much more than he can verbally express right now. I see it every time I ask him to put something away or come over to me or find “jie jie” and Daddy. His comprehension of Chinese is also impressive, and he totally puts things into context to get the full meaning. When I tell him in Chinese that it’s time to eat, he starts taking bowls out of the cabinet for me to fill with food.
And he definitely pays attention to when Syd is upset, and offers comfort in the best way he knows how right now. He pats her on the head or moves his head down and cocks it so he can look directly into her face. It’s the cutest thing and Syd is starting to recognize that these gestures are signs of concern and affection, as opposed to any taunting or ill-will.
Choo-choo = train
Apple = fruit that looks similar to an apple
Na-na = I’m hungry
Shoe
Wa-wa = water
Ball
Ammal = animal
Nol’s not the only one in our household who has his own vocabulary, though. One of our favorite “Syd-isms” at the moment is “un-got,” which she says for “forgot.” Not sure where she got that from or how she came up with it, but I love-love it!