I have mentioned many times before just how fascinated I am with Koa's development and how each part builds on the next. The thing I found most fascinating when I was reading about how the brain develops was language. So, it would be fitting that this is the last thing to develop for Koa. He just doesn't say much, yet. Well, let's clarify. He doesn't say much intelligibly, yet. His only real word so far seems to be "Dada". I guess because of this he has had to find other ways to communicate which has been lots of fun to watch.
The Point:
He now points at everything--if he wants it; if he wants to show it to you; if it caught his eye; if he thinks there might be something in the general area in the near future... He likes to point. The other day he decided he wanted some of the grape tomatoes that his dad was eating. They were sitting on the table, so he couldn't reach them and apparently we weren't noticing "the point". So, he went over and got the tray from his booster chair, carried it to the table and set it down on the floor and started making "urgent" noises. When I asked him, "What do you want, son?" He vehemently pointed at the tomatoes (which he immediately spit out when we gave it to him).
Koa also likes to point to a new favorite of his - his toothbrush! Koa loves brushing his teeth while we're in the bathroom! He would brush his teeth every time he goes to the bathroom if I would let him! We would spend our entire day in the bathroom. What fun that would be! So, he is only allowed to brush them in the morning and at night and we are still working on not whining when mommy puts the toothbrush away.
He is still not telling us consistently when he needs to go to the potty. I think that is a sign that he doesn't really know ahead of time when he needs to potty, or else he would find a way to communicate it to us. So, for now we are just taking him at regular 1-2 hour intervals. It is becoming enough of a habit for us that we don't really need the timer any more. As long as I take him regularly he stays dry all day! Even if he does have a little accident he usually catches himself mid-stream and still needs to go when I set him on the potty. We've even mastered the big people potty when we are out and about by bringing along the cushie tushie travel seat.
He has a certain book that he likes to read on the potty (it's his only plastic book, so I also like for him to read this particular book on the potty). It's called "Water Water Everywhere." When we started reading it I would always point out the same things on the pages and ask him to point to them. When he finally did, I told him what a good job he had done. So, the next time I asked him to point at the different pictures he chose to point with his mouth. He would actually touch the book with his lips--right on the picture, but not with his finger--as if to say, "I know what you want, but I'm not going to do it your way." I laughed about it and didn't ask him to point with his fingers any more. When he finally did start using his fingers again he would point out all of the pictures I normally ask him to identify before I could even ask him to - "Yes, yes, mom, I know--the drink, the ball, the bird and the flowers--you're really quite predictable!" Then a couple of days later he started pointing with his toes! Crazy kid!
The Whine:
Ohhhh, this is not my favorite form of communication. He is certainly becoming proficient at it, though. My sister tells me this is a normal developmental stage to look out for, but she always said it happens at age three. (Unfortunately, our child seems to be a genius in all the wrong areas!) One of the books I have been reading, To Train Up a Child, talks a lot about training for attitude, not just obedience. Maybe Koa was just trying to give me some practice for the things I have been reading. This book is written by and about a family with an Amish background and they give a lot of scripture to back up their ideas. I'm sold on the concept, but not necessarily their methods (I didn't say all their scripture was in context). Regardless, they have given me some ideas on how to handle Koa's whining and we have had a few battles over his attitude. The first couple battles seemed to last forever even though it was probably just a couple of minutes total. They have since gotten shorter with time. The good news is that his attitude is drastically improving. It is so very amazing to me just how much he can and does understand at this age.
He generally challenges me more than he does Zak. I think it's because he knows that Zak is not as much of a stickler for "first time obedience" as I am. Zak usually gives Koa a couple warnings before the hammer comes down (Zak's words)! However, yesterday morning the two of them had about an eight minute stand-off on whether or not Koa was going to sit down to put his shoes on. When it was over and Zak prevailed, the morning went on without a hitch.
The Words:
Although he doesn't have any words he uses regularly other than shs (shoes), ssss (keys), ssss (necklace), ssss (shee shee), ssss (flush)--you get the picture, every once in a while he will say something just as plain as day, such as "all pau" or "apple sauce" or "I love you" or something like that. Then he won't ever say it again! So, I'm not sure if he is actually saying things or if I am just going crazy. Zak usually assures me it is the latter!
