Language Leaps and More!

It seems like every day she says something new. It is such an exciting time of development. At 13 months, this is a list of the words (or half words) that she can say:

• eye
• no
• ball
• ni ni (night night)
• bye bye
• dada
• momma
• book
• baba (baby)
• bir (bird)
• bu (bug)
• all (all done)
• ba (bath)
• hi
• uh (uh oh)
• hot
• du (duck)
• ish (fish)
• shh (shoe)
• orse (horse)
• hop

She also makes the sounds of the following animals: dog, cat, horse, cow, duck, and sheep (her favorite). She is REALLY into farm animals and bugs lately!


"Where's the bird, Jocelyn?" Jocelyn: "Bir"

More development updates:

• This girl loves to climb EVERYTHING! Levon keeps warning me that we will probably have several trips to the ER and lots of broken bones. Apparently, she inherited his love of risk and adventure!
• She understands everything we say, or so it seems, which amazes us so much. She follows directions so well.
• She must brush her teeth with her own toothbrush several times a day lately. She will stand there holding it up to us until we pretend to swipe it with the toothpaste tube before she starts brushing. She has to do everything just like we do it. :) By the way, she has 12 teeth now! Her 4th molar is coming in now.
• She still has an intense love of books, which is awesome considering mommy has a bad habit of having the tv on for background noise a lot. She doesn't really pay much attention to the tv unless music, dancing, or animals are on!
• She does a pretty good job following the rules and staying within the boundaries we set for her. She understands what a spanking is, but doesn't need one very often because she obeys to the word No most of the time. By the way, my spanking consists of one swat on the back of a very meaty thigh, so it's very appropriate for a 1 year old. Although, I think Mommy is still the only one to give them as of now!
• Jocelyn can identify the following body parts: eyes, nose, hair, head, belly, toes, feet, mouth, teeth, tongue, hands, ears.
• She is in love with songs and fingerplays...good thing mommy has plenty of experience with these as a preschool teacher! Singing in the car is often the only way we get from place to place without tears. She is especially a fan of Old MacDonald and Itsy Bitsy Spider.
  

I just pray that God will keep within her such an eagernness to learn throughout her school years and beyond. We feel so fortunate to have a smart and healthy little girl!