Lily is now doing something new. She is talking her lips off!!! She is absolutely loving the talking thing. She says "mama", "dada", "stop", "go", and "dog". We are so super excited about this wonderful new boost in her language development. And I am slowly learning something new about infant development; babies do not naturally develop in a consistent incline.
In fact, their development is often staggered and out of order. For example, over the past three months we have seen Lily make huge strides in her gross and fine motor skills. Suddenly, she is able to crawl over obstacles, up the stairs, pull up on the furniture, and take a few steps with help. However, we have seen very little language development. And I have been extremely concerned about her inability to communicate with us. The therapists and doctors have told us not to be concerned, that she would eventually catch up.
So, in true over-achiever fashion, I have been talking Lily's ear off! I am constantly pointing and naming things, faces, pictures, actions,
animals, you name it! Perhaps she has not done much talking up until now because her mom has been talking for her. Whatever the reason for this sudden boost, I am thankful.
animals, you name it! Perhaps she has not done much talking up until now because her mom has been talking for her. Whatever the reason for this sudden boost, I am thankful.
On the other side of this coin is big sister Lorelei who has recently discovered the wonderful world of the telephone call. She will make a bag of popcorn and then spend hours on the phone with her other third grade friends, friends she had just seen a few hours ago at school! I remember when Lorelei was a baby and it seems they grow up too fast. In the blink of an eye they are nine years old, talking on the phone with their girlfriends. Or, they are sixteen, heading out in the family car by themselves for the first time. And someday, some unfortunate day, they will be grown and gone. How I dread those days!
And one day Lily Pad will call her friends on the phone and tell me "no" and ask for a cell phone. Although I do not wish for her to grow up, I do pray for the day she will be able to tell me she loves me.
