Our house is full of words lately.
Aubrey has been babbling a lot of "mamamama" and "papapapapa" and more recently, "babbeh" or maybe it's "bah-bah" (bye bye?) She is in a very clingy stage only with me! When I leave the room, she cries so much! She knows when I get home from work too. Whenever I pick her up from grandma's, I'm told her attitude changes towards the grands--as if she's ignoring them and waiting for me to come any minute. <3 I love that girl!
Gerard, on the other hand, has been saying more and more words in his sentences. The other day he did a 7-word phrase: Papa have one. Gerard want one too." Well, that's 2 complete sentences! He was referring to an old photo of his father where he has all his toys laid out, and the central piece is a gigantic firetruck. So Gerard saw a drawing of a firetruck in his book, and he said that. What he meant is he wants that big firetruck too, even though he already has 2 of them (though not as big). It's actually a funny backstory: the time he first saw that photo, he started crying (fake cry, no tears) and whined how he wanted the firetruck in it. I mean, the kid really said the words clearly.
I'm looking forward to more words from Aubrey and more complexed phrases from Gerard. They are both picking up on things so fast at their individual levels! I am a proud mama =)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
My funny boy
CHAT EXCERPT:
hahahahaha gerard's so funny 10:02 PM
ma was telling us how she asked about woody (from toy story) on his pull up. since woody is placed on the butt area, gerard said "woody kiss my butt" 10:02 PM
he's also ran up to aubrey before after getting his butt washed, and putting his butt to her face saying "aubrey kiss my butt" 10:02 PM
hahahahaha gerard's so funny 10:02 PM
ma was telling us how she asked about woody (from toy story) on his pull up. since woody is placed on the butt area, gerard said "woody kiss my butt" 10:02 PM
he's also ran up to aubrey before after getting his butt washed, and putting his butt to her face saying "aubrey kiss my butt" 10:02 PM
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Early literacy
It's paying off!
For a little over a year now, I've been taking Gerard to the library on as many Saturdays as I can for storytelling time. Even though I was pregnant with Aubrey at the time, I made the physical effort to get him ready and stroll the 4 blocks to our neighborhood library. It was worth it. One hour of singing songs, storytelling and playtime with kids his age. I'm very grateful for the San Francisco Public Library for having these programs; it helps those of us working moms who can not do weekday playgroups. Through this free program, Gerard has developed into a social toddler and an interest in books.
In the last few months, we also tried the "Your Baby Can Read" DVD system. We haven't really been consistent with playing the video, but I'm certain this has helped a little bit.
Both methods definitely helped him with his speech. Yesterday, as we were driving down the freeway along side our city rail system, he said outloud "People ride BART train too." That's a 5-word phrase! And it made sense! A few days ago, he was already on a 4-word phrase when he clearly told me "Cat eating food too." He was referring to the backyard cat that hangs out around our house. He recently identified each of us at the dinner table that we were all going somewmhere with him: "Gerard coming. Papa coming. Mama coming. Aubrey coming. Gramma coming. Ma (great-grandma) coming."
And the most amazing development to me is that he's reading by memory. He has a Toy Story book, a title he also watches the movie of regularly (sometimes twice a day). He has all of us reading books to him: he picks out the books, or he requests it by title. Tonight, as I read him Toy Story, I tried a game by letting him finish the sentences. Amazingly, he got all but one word completed as I started each sentence and had him tell me the word I left for him. I realize he memorizes the story but that's what early literacy is about. He knows the story, and it's very helpful that he can help me read the book.
I suggest to every parent to read to their kids every night. Not only will your child value this important skill, but it will truly give you that accomplishment every parent should feel when it comes to their children's development.
Our little girl Aubrey is also showing interest in books. She loves to grab books and also sits around for storytime.
For a little over a year now, I've been taking Gerard to the library on as many Saturdays as I can for storytelling time. Even though I was pregnant with Aubrey at the time, I made the physical effort to get him ready and stroll the 4 blocks to our neighborhood library. It was worth it. One hour of singing songs, storytelling and playtime with kids his age. I'm very grateful for the San Francisco Public Library for having these programs; it helps those of us working moms who can not do weekday playgroups. Through this free program, Gerard has developed into a social toddler and an interest in books.
In the last few months, we also tried the "Your Baby Can Read" DVD system. We haven't really been consistent with playing the video, but I'm certain this has helped a little bit.
Both methods definitely helped him with his speech. Yesterday, as we were driving down the freeway along side our city rail system, he said outloud "People ride BART train too." That's a 5-word phrase! And it made sense! A few days ago, he was already on a 4-word phrase when he clearly told me "Cat eating food too." He was referring to the backyard cat that hangs out around our house. He recently identified each of us at the dinner table that we were all going somewmhere with him: "Gerard coming. Papa coming. Mama coming. Aubrey coming. Gramma coming. Ma (great-grandma) coming."
And the most amazing development to me is that he's reading by memory. He has a Toy Story book, a title he also watches the movie of regularly (sometimes twice a day). He has all of us reading books to him: he picks out the books, or he requests it by title. Tonight, as I read him Toy Story, I tried a game by letting him finish the sentences. Amazingly, he got all but one word completed as I started each sentence and had him tell me the word I left for him. I realize he memorizes the story but that's what early literacy is about. He knows the story, and it's very helpful that he can help me read the book.
I suggest to every parent to read to their kids every night. Not only will your child value this important skill, but it will truly give you that accomplishment every parent should feel when it comes to their children's development.
Our little girl Aubrey is also showing interest in books. She loves to grab books and also sits around for storytime.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The world of babies..... it's wonderful to some, bitter for others. So what's going on with us?
In our world, Aubrey is now an expert crawler and has been sitting up on her own, and also pulling herself up on objects to stand. She's been very curious with her brother's toys, digging them out of the toy boxes and such. She's still eating a lot of cereal and bananas, and she's not very fond of jarred food. We prepared her some pureed turkey meatballs + rice which she still is getting used to. We've brought out the walker but she doesn't like it much, preferring to be carried or left on the floor so she can explore. However, she does not like it at all when mama leaves the room!
Our ever-active Gerard has been quite the speaker. He's got some pretty good phrases going on. "Bob go?" is what he said when he was looking for his construction truck (he refers to anything construction as "Bob" from "Bob the Builder") "Sleep daw ter" is when he begs to sleep downstairs in grandma's room. "I coming" is when he wants to go out with us or go somewhere. His favorite movies have been the Toy Story series. He asks for "Toy Tory" everyday! And he knows about "Toy Tory 2." We took him out to his first movie experience to see Toy Story 3, but he refused to wear the 3D glasses.
A few days ago, we were driving to Babies R Us when we passed by a building that was in the middle of being constructed. From the back, Gerard spurts "build house. Bob!" telling us how there's a house being built by Bob the builder. We've been taking both kids out as much as we can, since Gerard loves it and now Aubrey does too. Chores are ditched just for these two!
In our world, Aubrey is now an expert crawler and has been sitting up on her own, and also pulling herself up on objects to stand. She's been very curious with her brother's toys, digging them out of the toy boxes and such. She's still eating a lot of cereal and bananas, and she's not very fond of jarred food. We prepared her some pureed turkey meatballs + rice which she still is getting used to. We've brought out the walker but she doesn't like it much, preferring to be carried or left on the floor so she can explore. However, she does not like it at all when mama leaves the room!
Our ever-active Gerard has been quite the speaker. He's got some pretty good phrases going on. "Bob go?" is what he said when he was looking for his construction truck (he refers to anything construction as "Bob" from "Bob the Builder") "Sleep daw ter" is when he begs to sleep downstairs in grandma's room. "I coming" is when he wants to go out with us or go somewhere. His favorite movies have been the Toy Story series. He asks for "Toy Tory" everyday! And he knows about "Toy Tory 2." We took him out to his first movie experience to see Toy Story 3, but he refused to wear the 3D glasses.
A few days ago, we were driving to Babies R Us when we passed by a building that was in the middle of being constructed. From the back, Gerard spurts "build house. Bob!" telling us how there's a house being built by Bob the builder. We've been taking both kids out as much as we can, since Gerard loves it and now Aubrey does too. Chores are ditched just for these two!