I have a curiosity and I'm wondering if anyone has any insight. Koa has recently begun indicating that he recognizes the difference between numbers and letters and I'm wondering when this actually takes place in the brain. I tried to look it up in my brain book, but I'm not sure if I was just looking under the wrong topics or if it just is not in there. I find it very fascinating that he knows the difference already, but I just wonder if he has known it for some time and is now just able to tell us this because he is talking more. I don't know why I'm so curious about this, but I am.
He's been saying the number six for a long time when we count things and I never really thought much about that, but lately he has been saying "six" when he sees numbers (not letters). He has also started calling out the number when he is "leading" singing here at the house. Of course, the number is always six, but the song sometimes varies. Conversely, when he sees letters he asks to sing the alphabet song or something like that. I just think it is all very interesting. Feel free to share your own experiences.
Along with song leading apparently Koa is picking up a lot more at church than I had previously realized. The other night we were out on a walk and he picked up a piece of rubbish along the way (surprise!) but after a while he got tired of carrying it and waiting for a trash can, so he threw it down. I told him we needed to pick it back up and take it with us because we need to take care of the 'aina (land); that God gave us the 'aina to take care of it. He got so excited about that and started saying, "Bible! Bible!" I said, "That's right God gave us the Bible, too. What else did he give us?" He started making all kinds of animal noises. Then he started singing songs. It was hilarious. I guess he is learning some good stuff in Bible class! Previously when I would say something about Bible class or sing a song that they sing he would just start to play peek-a-boo.
I've also started teaching him to give the right answer to questions and we think this will put him on the fast track for Bible school. I say, "Does Daddy love you?" Koa says, "Yeah." I say, "Does Mama love you?" He says, "Yeah." Then I say, "Who loves you the most?" He says, "Jesus." It's so cute. So, now he has started using "the perfect answer" in other circumstances. I'll say something like, "Are you my boy?" Koa will say "No." When I say, "Who's boy are you?" he'll say, "Jesus." He's a quick learner! I just hope he has a ready recollection of what he is supposed to say when he gets to the Pearly Gates.
When we read Bible stories together at home he is always so excited about the babies. He loves the stories of Baby Moses and Baby Jesus the most. He has liked to point out babies wherever we go for a long time, but now he desperately wants to hold them. We have been over to visit our friends, Eric and Bethanyanne and their new baby, Pierce, a few times and Koa just cannot get enough of Baby Pierce! The other night we were there and Pierce was sleeping and Bethanyanne had told Koa he was allowed to touch Pierce's feet, but that was it. Koa would touch his little feet until he just couldn't stand it any more and then he would quickly pat Pierce's head or point out his nose or eyes until he got scolded and he would go back to the feet....repeat.
We are very happy to welcome baby Pierce Alexander Koali'i Bahm (and his feet) to this great big world!