During the last few months, I have seen DD testing her motor skills and growing independence. At month 16, she further challenged her physical limits. She began to use tools to for assistance. From now on, nothing seemed safe—even those things we’d tucked away on high shelves.
Her language development reached a milestone. She understood much more than she could speak. It was amazing to watch her do (or not do) exactly as we said, English from M and Chinese from me. She also began to show the urge to build social connections, especially with children.
One amazing child!
According to the parenting bible What to Expect the Toddler Years
That is so true! At month 16, DD was a master of creative climbing. There was virtually nothing that could escape her curious and dog driven pursuit. For objects that were temporarily out of her reach, she would figure out using tools to get them, proudly demonstrating that she was an almighty human being—though small. (Do you know that one of the biggest differences between humans and animals is that humans know how to use tools and make tools?)
One Saturday afternoon, M took DD outside to the deck. They sat side by side on the bench of a picnic table, enjoying the sun. Something took the attention of M, and he turned to the right to take a look.
Then he felt somebody patting him on his head.
He turned back, and it was DD.
She was sitting on the picnic table, smiling at him.
The first question jumped into M’s mind was: how did you get there?
The picnic table was way beyond the bench. M thought no way DD could climb up onto that high.
Obviously he was wrong.
He put DD back onto the bench. This time DD showed him how she did it. She put both hands onto the picnic table and held it tightly, pressed as much as possible her upper body closely onto the table, then kicked her legs. During the climbing, she shifted the weight of her body onto one side, and lifted the leg of the other side onto the table. Once one leg was on the table, she shifted the weight back to that side and easily lifted the other leg onto the table. The whole process only took her 30 seconds.
M was greatly impressed. He kissed DD on her forehead and said “you are one amazing child!”
The “face-naming” game works!
Around three months ago, I began to teach DD how to name the body parts, such as eyes, nose, ears and etc. I pointed to my body parts when I said the words in Chinese.
I also showed her the presentation I produced on how to name the major body parts in Chinese. We sat together and watch the presentation together. I followed the presentation (which was led by my own voice), repeated the words and pointed to her body at the same time. It was fun for both DD and me!
At the same time, M pointed his body parts and said the words in English.
We didn’t expect any progress from her until one day…
One day, M asked her “where are your eyes?” she pointed to her eyes, right on the spot.
Maybe a coincidence, M thought. “Where is your nose?” he asked again.
This time, DD was right again.
M began to pay attention and I quickly joined him.
“Where is your head?” I asked in Chinese.
She patted her head. That is right!
“Where is your bottom?” I asked again, in Chinese.
She put hand on her bottom and patted it.
“Where are your teeth?” This time, it was M, in English.
DD opened her mouth and clicked her teeth, exactly the same way I showed her my teeth.
“Where are your feet?” I grabbed my turn, in Chinese.
She stamped her feet. That is her “high feet” dance!
So all the efforts were paid off! Although she couldn’t utter the words yet, DD obviously understood our languages, English from M and Chinese from me. Less than one month ago, I was still wondering why my baby wasn’t talking yet. Now DD showed me there was nothing to worry about her language development.
During the following days and weeks, we further discovered that DD understood much more than she could speak. When M told her not to climb onto the couch and played with the radio, she looked at him and stopped. When he explained to her that she needed to take a nap before we took her out, she didn’t fight when he laid her down into the crib (normally she would resist). When I asked her to find her shoes or books, she returned with them few minutes later.
It was amazing to watch her do (or not do) exactly as we said. She really understood. The next idea that jumped into our minds was: we got to be careful with what we are talking about in front of her!
I can sign!
After first signing milk to me, DD continued to communicate with us via sign language. She signed milk, eat, drink, bath, dolly, and cheese when she needed them. She signed pain when she bumped her head or slipped on the floor. The sign Shoes is her favorite one since with shoes she could go out and play. And she quickly run away when we signed bed or sleep to her.
Sometimes she created her own signs, keeping us guessing their meanings. But overall, the sign she used the most was still pointing.
I am looking for a friend…
Two months ago, we took DD to swim in our neighbor’s private pool. The neighbor’s 8-month baby came over and patted DD on her shoulder.
DD was shocked. No stranger touched me after such a short meeting! She thought in her little mind (if I could interpret). She tucked her face deeply into M’s shoulder and wanted M to take her away as soon as possible.
But after that episode, I noticed some changes had been happening on DD.
She paid close attention to pictures of children on books and magazines. She stared at those pictures and touched them. When we walked with her in the park, she felt more comfortable with children and puppies than adults.
She became more sociable, I told M, and we need to encourage that.
So we took her to a play ground in a big shopping center. There were huge mushroom, tree, flower, rabbit, deer, fish (on the ground?) there, all made of plastic. Older kids, about 4-or-5-year old, were running around these big toys, jumping from one to the other, and having great fun.
DD walked in. Firstly, she was amazed by those extra-large-size animals, trees and flowers, which all look much bigger than those in picture books. Then she was fascinated by those fearless children, all older than her, adventuring on those big toys without mommy’s supervision.
She watched them running, playing, laughing and yelling with tremendous interests. Then she began to follow them, although she couldn’t catch them in speed. The next thing I saw was she patted them on their shoes and dresses.
That is quite interesting! I thought, now she is the one who takes the first step.
Those older kids didn’t even notice her touch. They continued their game and run away, leaving DD alone.
DD was a little bit disappointed. So she walked out of the play ground. We followed her closely behind.
Suddenly she saw a boy and his mother walking towards her.
She walked by the mother and approached that boy. Before everybody knew it, she held that boy and gave him a big hug!
The mother was bursting out laughing, while the boy looked quite puzzled.
“You got a hug today!” the mother laughed.
We laughed too.
Poor boy! The boy stood there, not knowing what to do. But I can tell, he wants to escape DD’s hug and run away.
“Say bye-bye”, I told DD and waived friendly to him and the mother.
DD let go that boy, not because she understood the embarrassment of that boy, but she saw another lovely girl walking this way….
That is a 180-degree turning in DD’s social development!
Related posts:
Baby’s growth, month 15
Baby’s growth, month 14
Baby’s growth, month 13
Baby’s growth, month 12
Baby’s growth, month 11
Baby’s growth, month 10
Baby’s growth, month 9
Baby’s growth, month 8
Baby’s growth, month 7
Baby’s growth, month 6
Baby’s growth, month 5
Baby’s growth, month 4
Baby’s growth, month 3
Baby’s growth, month 2
Baby’s growth, month 1
Baby's Growth, From Lina, Second Year | Lina | 
November 1, 2009 1:37 pm | 
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