Taylor's Speech

Taylor has been saying more words lately. We have been teaching her sign language since she was about 6 months old. Of course, she didn't start catching on until much later, but she knows quite a few signs now and is even saying the words along with the signs. She knows mama, daddy (or dada as she says it), baby, ball (although she doesn't do the sign for this one much anymore because she is usually pointing at a ball or holding a ball when she says it), more, doll (this is a new word and sign), teeth, bear, star, bath, dirty, and clean to name a few. Taylor also likes to make animal noises. I can't get her to name the animal. When she sees a picture she automatically makes the corresponding sound. She also groups objects together. For instance, everything round is a ball to her and every color is blue. Taylor's favorite fruit is bananas. Whenever I take her grocery shopping and she sees bananas she will say, "nana!" She is also imitating a lot more now. There are a lot of words that she will say once we say them. For a while now she has been repeating Amen at the end of the blessing. She tries to say apple sauce when I ask her if she wants some. It doesn't come out very clearly, but I know she is trying. She can also repeat names of colors and objects from her flash cards.

Taylor also tells me sometimes when she is dirty. She doesn't usually offer this information, but if I think she is dirty I can ask her and she will say and sign the word dirty, but it comes out "dirdir." It is really cute. If she is not dirty she won't say anything. She is not always honest with me - only if she wants me to change her diaper. I am hoping that this means that she will be easy to potty train. I am considering training her before this baby comes if she seems ready. I know that sometimes they can have setbacks when there is a new baby in the house, but I'd like to get it over with if at all possible.

Taylor has a newfound addiction to Praise Baby. One night we had her in our bedroom and Daniel had her up on the bed playing with her. To calm her down before bed he put a Praise Baby CD in. After this she discovered that not only was Praise Baby on the TV, but we could play the music in our bedroom. Lately she has been waking up before I get up in the morning and Daniel has been bringing her in our room. She doesn't go back to sleep, but she sits on the bed with me until I am ready to get up. Almost as soon as she comes in she starts reaching for the CD player and fussing. If I ask her if she wants to listen to Praise Baby she will exclaim, "Paiseby!" If she wants to watch the video she will bring me the remote. She has started saying it on her own now and a little more clearly. I am not sure why she cuts off baby because that is a word that she says clearly by itself. She'll get it though. It is so fun to listen to them talk when they are just trying to figure it out. I love to watch her face light up when she gets it and says it over and over again.