As We Begin 2012

Wynn seems to be doing very well.  Her English is avalanching, and there is definitely silence no more!  She jabbers away continuously, even to her Dad!  That took a little while.  He is enjoying it immensely.  He took Gabrian, Ariana, and Wynn with him to Costco this weekend (brave, brave man).  He came back laughing and saying, "Shopping with her is a hoot!"  (He also said that he let her push the basket in Costco, and she is never, never getting a driver's license!  He also said, though, that they had no problem getting through the crowds.  It seems like I ought to link to the Chinese traffic video here.)  He says she talked to him the whole day.  She seemed extremely pleased to hear that he liked China.  He told her that he liked China, good food, nice people, and she beamed and said, "Really?  Really?!"

Her language growth is fascinating.  In some ways, it is like toddler language development - she likes to label everything she sees.  But there is so much more substance in what she would like to say.  I think she is remarkable and her English is blossoming well, but it still has to be so frustrating when she is unable to say what she wants.  She will try several times and then say, "I can't talk out."  She is resistant to using the translator and now even seems to prefer her dictionary to the iPhone translators.  We still use google translate on the computer a little.  We are still limited by her vocabulary and her place in her emotional journey in topics we can address.  She has talked a little about China.  She tried to tell her dad differences between America and Kunming, but she was unable to find words and backed out of the conversation.  She did tell Nana that she is happy to be in America.

If there is any emotional content, she bolts.  We had run this blog through google translate so that she can read part of it. (I am always aware that she is part of the audience for this blog, especially in the future. . .)  She was reading the post about how a time machine would not have helped and looking puzzled.  I told her, in English, at the same time I typed it into google translate so she would have the benefit of an approximate translation, "You were not happy to see us in China.  It's OK.  You had many reasons to be scared and even angry.  I hope you are happier now.  I know you will always miss China."  She was out of the room so fast . . .

Some of the things she says are so cute.  The whole family laughs and adores her.  She gets told a lot that she is cute.  She and her dad went through the whole Chinese cookbook so she could show him what she liked and what she didn't.  She wanted him to make some specific won tons.  He said, "Those would take a very long time."  She said, "You can start early!"  She is getting better and better at communicating when she doesn't know the words.  She was looking all over the kitchen for something, and when her dad went to help her, she wanted, "Bread and pork."  I had bought sub sandwiches the day before, and she was apparently looking for leftovers (which Conor had finished).  I helped translate for her, "I think she wants a sandwich."  Michael helped her get some cheese, bread, and ham, and she was so excited to learn that you can make a sandwich.  ("Really?!  Really?!  Now?")  Unable to retrieve the word "dangerous," the other day, she said, "Very, very don't touch!"  I knew exactly what she meant.

Speaking of the sandwich reminds me of how her diet has expanded.  She hadn't made a sandwich before because not long ago, if we'd had sandwiches (or pizza, or lasagna, or albondigas (soup), or tacos), she'd have taken one look and headed for her noodle bowls.  Now, she basically eats anything we serve to the family.  She likes spicy food.  Within the last few days, she has discovered tortilla chips and salsa.  She also loves otter pops.  ("Water I can eat!")

She is going to visit school with Conor soon, and she alternates between apprehension and excitement.

We are counting down the days to Chinese New Year now and looking forward to seeing what 2012 will bring.