a window on words

New words are coming out of our 18-month-old's mouth at an unprecedented rate! It's really quite a joy to be able to watch the miracle of her brain being able to begin to understand hundreds of words and to try forming many of them herself. It seems every day she is able to say a new word or two -- sometimes when asked, usually unprompted.

Today's words were

"balloon"

(an air balloon commercial kept coming on the TV during a show we watched, and each time it appeared she would say "bawoo!" as though it were the first time it was appearing) and

"flower".

Tim and I both brought a bouquet of tulips in the house this week -- me just because I'm aching for spring and the tulips are a foretaste of the season around the corner... and Tim because he was given them for being a judge at a local school speech competition -- ironically, neither was for Valentine's day. A friend at church gave us mini cupcakes for Maia for Valentine's day (sweet, eh?). She was eating one at lunchtime today and kept pointing at the pink icing and saying "fowah" until I finally clued in that she thought the icing on the cupcake looked like a flower.

Here, see for yourself... you and I see a cupcake but she sees a flower.

I love that untainted mind of a child. I love watching the connections they make. Sometimes I think my brain isn't moving as fast as hers. She's such a little sponge right now.

Other new words of the week include

"blanket", "cheese", "ducky" and "yeah" (in response to questions like "Do you want a snack?" or "Your giraffe is soft, isn't he?).

I caught a few words on video the other day. Amidst other tasks, Maia repeats back all the words she's asked to say... that is, all words except "ball" (not sure what grudge she's holding against a ball) and, of course, "mom". (She does say "mom" now, but only when prompted and then, only occasionally. She still likes to throw in the occasional "daddy" when asked to say "mommy", probably because whoever's listening usually erupts in laughter.) My favourite part of the conversation is at the end when I ask her "Can you say, mom?" and she replies with a simple "Yeah". see video

Tim and I were saying over dinner that we never thought we'd be laughing this much with (and at) a child of 1 1/2 years... we truly thought it would take a few years before she was at a developmental level where we would enjoy her this much!

Thank you, God, for the gift of Maia.... and the promise of spring.