Xiaoniu 小妞

Every so often you see your child do something that just amazes you. Perhaps it is saying something or doing something. For me it was doing something that got me.

I know that on a few occasions that Sue and I have tried to show Emelia how to clap. She didn’t seem to catch on. Then over the weekend she started to mimic us by clapping away. Of course we were also saying 拍手 (clap hands) while we were doing it. So, Sunday morning I looked Emelia in the eyes and said 拍手. Without missing a beat she started to clap! I was shocked. She knew what I was saying without me having to show her. Last night I did the same thing and told Emelia 拍手. Sure enough she started clapping away.

What amazes me is not that she can clap her hands, but with very little teaching she knows that 拍手 means clap hands. There is no question that she knows what that phrase means since each time I say it I’m not clapping and haven’t clapped for hours if at all. This confirms my suspicion that she has selective hearing. Sometimes when she reaches for something she’s not allowed to have, like a tree ornament, we say ‘No!’ or 不可以! (that’s not okay) and she may listen and obey or she may completely ignore you. Either way she knows what you’re saying.

A slight change of subject. Even at nine months Emelia is making moves around the house like crazy. She’ll zip (crawling) across the floor into the kitchen, hallway, bathroom or even dining room. It takes her only a few seconds to zip around. She sometimes seems to have her own agenda and just sits up and goes some place. It’s both funny and scary at the same time.

Another thing she’s really into now is pulling herself upright and standing around for a while. She’s not good enough to stand independently (she’s tried that too), but when holding onto something she can stand for a while. She’s made attempts to move a little, but so far hasn’t gotten the grasp of it yet. She is happy enough to just stand there and try to grab anything and everything within reach. Amy found that out when Emelia quietly stood up and pulled her drink off the end table.

And she loves the laptop. My battery is completely wiped out so I’m always on a/c power. The little seems to know this since her first job is to pull our the cord. Her other job seems to be beating the crap out of the key board and yanking the monitor down when you’re trying to read (just ask Sue).

Nothing is sacred in the house anymore. Everything turns into a toy, an item for exploration or something to hold onto when standing or reaching for a toy or item to explore.