When my mom was here a month or so ago I remember her saying that she was much more excited when my brother and I started to talk versus when we started to walk because she could communicate with us. (I suspect there were many times in our teenage years that she thought differently...) I can completely understand how she felt after the past few days.
Hai has definitely started to understand more in the past week or so, and he's got to be close to coming out with full sentences. He's certainly got the head nods for "yes" and "no" down. And yes, he does know the difference. Take tonight for example. He was in his high chair having dinner (turkey meatloaf, macaroni and cheese and "organic summer vegetables", same dinner as his mom except I had a glass of wine instead of summer vegetables... oh well.) Anyway, he was looking a little tired, so I said "are you finished" - he shook his head yes. Do you want any more - no. Do you want to take a bath - enthusiastic yes!! So, OK, I'm sure some of this is just a reaction to my tone of voice or my inflections, but he definitely is getting more and more language comprehension.
Tonight in the bathtub he had his back turned to me standing up pounding on the wall (we do this to annoy the neighbor downstairs that thinks my 14 month old makes too much noise at noon on a Saturday he, he...) Anyway, I thought I would ask him the question I've been avoiding... "who's your Mae?" You religious readers out there will remember that "mae" is "mother" in Vietnamese and the only word Hai said when I first got him. He's stopped saying it recently so I wasn't sure if he'd thought he'd lost his mae or if he'd just forgotten the word. Well, when I asked before he even thought he whipped his arm out and turned around and pointed at me at smiled. Ok, yeah, it got to me... then I said "who's your Mommy?" He had to think a little longer, but sure enough, same thing, he turned around and pointed and touched my arm.
I realize that those of you that spend any amount of time around the two of us are going "well, no SH%^, Melissa", as it is really pretty obvious that Hai knows his mommy. But it was pretty cool for me nonetheless.
Anyway, long story short, I can't wait for Hai to talk. I know I may regret that someday when he's a teenager, but for now I can't wait to hear him say "Mommy" versus just shake his head yes and point at me when someone else does!
Love all,
Melissa
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Hai's California Family
Here is a photo of Hai's re-adoption day. It is a true "California" family! From left to right - Beatriz, Hai's nanny, comes from California by way of El Salvador; Maria, Hai's Auntie/Tia, is a true California native (from San Diego/LA); our judge; Hai; me; and Hai's uncle Jaap, a Californian by way of Holland and a short stop in Texas.
We had a great day and it was exciting for all of us - Hai had a 2 hour nap after our lunch, so I think it was a big day for him too!
I've got all the paperwork for his passport, social security number and an updated US Certificate of Citizenship (with his new, legal name). Now I just have to find time to fill them out and figure out how you get a 13-month-old to sit still for passport photos! :-)
Love all,
Melissa
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