Speech updates...

Little Joy has shown much improvements in her understanding and communication abilities. I really mean communication abilities, which is very different from speech ability. She nods, uses hand gestures, points, and even attempts to show 'demonstration' of what she wants. Isn't that great?

Her most frequent demonstration is to take a chopstick or a pen and a toy (usually a fish). She would come to me and get my attention. Initially when I didn't know what she wants, she used the chopstick as if she is slicing the fish. I would say, "chie, chie, chie" (slice, slice, slice). She would say 'chie' once in awhile too.

For meals, she has strong preferences in what she wants to eat, or when she is done. Once, when she was back from school, she was so hungry that she went to the table to have a look at the dishes. Usually, if the dishes are in her 'to eat' list, she would quickly climb onto the chair to wait for granny. On that day, she wanted to eat fish, but there's no fish on the table. After looking at the dishes on the table, she went to the stove to check. When she didn't see fish, she said "yu" (fish) a few times to her granny. When she feels full, she would say 'bu yao" (don't want) to her granny. (because her granny would chase after her to finish her bowl of rice) Now that she is willing to open up and talk, MIL would stop and respect her wishes. 

She hasn't seen her aunt and uncle for a few months as they were away in university. The aunt called her and asked little Joy to kiss her (as she usually do), but the little girl cried - non stop. MIL was so sure that she wants milk and got her a bottle. When little Joy still cries, MIL asked her what is wrong - Little Joy said "gu gu" (aunt) - yup, she is complaining about her aunt when the aunt kept pestering her for her kiss.... ha ha ha
Another time, she wants to go potty, but her aunt was standing between her and the potty. My little girl pushed her away and said "rang kai" (go away). 

My dear girl is showing jealousy too. While both the brother and sister were on the table having lunch, their uncle gave little brother a toy robot. Little Joy kept looking at the toy and her expression changed. She looks like trying to suppress her tears. MIL noticed this and told my brother in law. He later gave a same toy robot to her. Her expression quickly changed to joy. She looks so happy with the toy too. 

Her teacher once told me that she asked her teacher for toys too. "Wo yao wan ju" (I want toys) - This is the second 4 word phrase that she uses more in these few months. Another phrase is "Wo du zhi er" (I am hungry) - used this at the proper time too... when she was hungry, and asked us to cook noodles (while handing us a packet of noodles)

Another cute action of her is when we are going out. Initially, I would ask and make sure she goes potty everytime we are going out. Now, whenever we are preparing to go out, she would go potty herself (sometimes without prompting from me). She observes us, if we are talking about going out, or if I am preparing their basket of milk and water, or after I changed their going out clothes, she would go potty herself and waits to go out. This certainly made my life much easier.... : )

By the way, she even knows that there's toilet somewhere in shopping centres. Initially we would bring her to the toilet in every shopping centres we go to. Just to get her used to going to toilet outside, besides at home. Once, when I was busy looking at things, she pulled her daddy to the corner towards the toilet, near the lift. When asked why, she touched her pants - and daddy brought her to the toilet. Yay! another successful communication  right?

Once, after I spanked her for being naughty, she went to a corner and cried " tong, tong" (pain, pain)

Of course, her favourite words, "jia" (home) and "zhou" (go out) is still around. Yay for that too. Praying real hard for more..... Amen!