Catching Up

Way too much has happened to be able to catch up on everything LS has been up to - but we have to try don't we?

It's been a big few weeks since the last post. Walking had gotten much better, and sometimes seems on the verge of running. We'll say walking briskly.

LS's language has improved seemingly daily. It seems that she knows the English equivalent of just about everything she knows in Portuguese. Often she'll translate back and forth with you like she wants to practice. I guess that's what babies/toddlers to a lot of - practice.

There's been an interesting learning of concepts and putting words together. A couple weeks back LS was with Papai and she was sitting on the sanita (toilet). Suddenly she says "Calças" ("call-suhz" which means "pants"). I often repeat what she says, I guess to let her know that she's understood and as a prompt to see where she goes next. So I say "calças". Which she follows with "Não tenho" - which best translates to "I don't have any". This is a pretty keen observation for someone sitting on the toilet without their pants on! This pattern was repeated later in the day with "chapéu" ("hat") at a point in time when she wasn't wearing a hat...

We've had some birthdays in the family so LS has had some practice with "happy birthday". Early in the month we were trying for "happy birthday Uncle John". What we got was "hap birtday unc jah!" Kind of like it would sound if over a bad cell phone connection.

Later in the month she was a little clearer for "happy birthday Aria" though it was usually in the two pieces "happy birthday" and "Aria". But just today she was still saying it, and putting it all together as one phrase. We're hoping she'll really be ready in a couple weeks with her "happy birthday Aunt April".

Speaking of Aria, since playing with her at the birthday parties LS hasn't been able to get off the topic of Aria. A typical progression will be: "Nice. Aria. Borboleta ("butterfly"). Gato ("cat"). Miau ("meow"). Bola ("ball"). Amarela ("yellow")." This was the story of Aria. She's nice, particularly because she gave LS some butterfly wings (on her own birthday!). She also pretended to be a cat, naturally saying "meow". She also played with a ball. The ball was yellow.

Last week was a big week for many concepts associated with the song (and books we have of the same) "The Wheels on the Bus". Open and shut. Up and down. All the classics. LS particular enjoys the part of what the baby says "wah wah wah" and also when the driver cries "bump bump bump". At the end of each verse she'll finish up "town" for you too, though her timing leaves a little to be desired.

To finish things up, here's a video from just today with LS enjoying a new activity - jumping on a cushion. Such simple joys in life.

Walking Translator

It's occurred to us lately that soon LS will be teaching us Portuguese back. At least two times recently, once to each of us, she reminded us what the Portuguese word for something is.

This could work out as a great tool! With her better recall, we just need to remember a word long enough to tell her a couple times. Then later, when *we* can't remember it, she'll be there to help us out! Yay! Our very own walking pocket translator.

Today it happened with Papai when we were looking at a book together. This book had a picture of a pail with a shovel next to it. So I'm going through the book with her mostly in Portuguese, and on this page I point to the pail: "balde". Then I point to the shovel and say: "shovel". A couple seconds later, LS pipes up with "pá" (pronounced "pah"). Admittedly, her pronunciation was a bit off, and I didn't quite get it at first. But after she said it a couple more times, I realized - she's telling me the translation. Wonderful!

She's actually gotten quite good at translating between the languages - providing words in both. One of her bedtime books mentions several animals and when Mamãe reads it in English, LS pipes in each time one is mentioned and gives the Portuguese translation.

The only time this language stuff is tricky is when you can't quite make out what she is saying. It could be Portuguese, it could be English, or it could be "practice". But, it's worth it.

Last week while eating dinner I asked LS: "Como é que se chama a maçã in English?" - which is "What do you call an apple in English?". After a few pensive moments she responds "Appel" (I spell it this way, because it is closer to how she says it!).

Next I ask her: "What do you call an apple em Português?" Another few pensive moments. Maybe she's thinking "he can't really be asking me that can he?". And then: "maçã!" (pronounced something like: muh-sanh)

Sim, muito bem querida!