Language Update

Perhaps more than any question I get about life with Levi is about language.  People seem genuinely curious about that whole process.  When people ask about Levi's current language skills, they then often ask about how that compares to our experience with our girls.

So......Here is an update on Levi's current language situation followed by a quick comparison with the girls.

Words and Phrases that Levi says on his own at the appropriate times:

• "Come on!"  (the current favorite.  He knows exactly when to say it.  But he also just says it for fun.)
• "Come on, Man!"  (yes.  I heard this one too. Accurately applied, if not a tad disrespectfully/playfully to me.  Though, to be fair, he doesn't realize that saying "Come on, Man" in most cases to your father is disrespectful.  We'll get there. :-)
•   Nose
• Drink
• brush
•  come home
• later  (as in, "Come home laaaaaay-ter!"
• fish
• tweet-tweet
• night-night
• "all done!"
• apple
• up on top (His current favorite book: "Ten Apples Up On Top")
• Uh-Oh
• don't touch!  Look!
• Stop! Go!
• Hot!
• wash
• banana
• chicken
• teeth (but garbled.) 
• "weeeeeeee!"  (as in the gleeful sound of going on a slide)
• eat 
• airplane

Words we know he understands but does not say: 

• go outside
• church (more for the place that has the slide and swings; also where dad works/goes)
• please close the door
• eye
• ear
• hand
• put in the garbage
• stinky
• car, drive ride
• ..........The reality.....he understands quite a bit of the basics.  And it's hard to remember it all.  We are often half gesturing/half talking.  I believe he understand a whole lot more than this. 

Levi and the Girls with Language? 
Mia (just shy of three at adoption) wasn't vocal at all.  It was like starting with a baby in many ways--but a baby who could understand very quickly.  It seemed like a looooooong time before she SPOKE much English.  But it seemed she understood some English even before we left China.

Violet (about six at adoption) was committed to learning English.  Even in China, she wanted to know what we called things.  She gave up Mandarin  (sadly) almost immediately upon coming home.  She was quiet, but caught on fast.  Again, she understood more than she could (or would?) speak for a while.

Levi is VERY vocal and still speaks a great deal of Mandarin. (Especially when excited, angry, playful, at ease, etc. :-)) He's getting a lot of what we say.  We understand some of what he says.  We can communicate with words or dramatic gestures (and he LOVEs dramatic gestures!) about most basic things of life.

But...there is sooooooo much about which none of us can communicate adequately.  This can lead to frustration on both parts.  And an occasional temper tantrum (on both parts. :-))

It's a long process.  But he (and we!) are doing well I think.

The New Pink Bag

Because you never know when you'll need floss with you on a walk...

thank you Burstein Dental for a tears-free first visit!