Mateo & Santiago: Talking, talking, talking!

The BIG NEWS about Mateo now talking non-stop is that he FINALLY started calling me "Mama"!!! Unbelievable how a single word, said by my baby, can bring out so many feelings and sentiments I never knew I had!!

His vocabulary is increasing by the day. He picks up words so easily, in all three languages - his two favorites at the moment are "uh-uh" and "No, no", which he started saying about a week ago. The whole "no, no" is still so new and cute that it's hard not to start laughing when he says it, which has gotten in the way of disciplining at times. He also says some made-up works, like "ataboom" a lot - well, maybe it's not a made-up word, perhaps he is trying to communicate something and we just don't have the slightest clue what it means! He makes connections between words - for example, I told him yesterday we were going to the pool and he said "aya" (water) - and understands words even if they are not in the language he says them in. For example, I'll say the equivalent of apple, ball, hand or foot in Spanish, and he'll repeat those words in French. He even says "Maman" in French too! Although he doesn't do it very often yet, last night he put together two words to express an idea. He wanted me to sing a particular song, in a particular way: he said "Apy Elbo" (the If You're Happy and You Know It song with touch your elbow as the first sign of happiness). I am really surprised and amazed at how his speaking has taken off at this age - we were prepared for some delay given his exposure to three languages but he's making being trilingual look so easy! Maybe we should introduce Chinese now too ...!!!

The flip side is that he is learning (and imitating) things VERY quickly. It only takes one time for his mind to register it, whether it's a new word or gesture. So the age of being careful with what we say has come!

We are making potty training breakthroughs as well!! For two days in a row now, Mateo has communicated his need to poo in the afternoon. Sure enough, as soon as we sit him down, out it comes!! No breakthroughs with the pee yet, although we plan to tackle that over the summer.

On Monday, Mati had his 18-month pediatric visit. He got weighed, measured and vaccinated. He weighs 23 lbs, 13 ounces and measures 33.5 inches (85cm). He has grown 10 cm since he turned 1! He was extremely good with the doctor and didn't even cry when he got his vaccine!

Mateo loves it when we sing to him, it doesn't matter what, just as long we are singing. As soon as the song ends, he signs for more. Among his favorite songs are "La Marseillaise", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "If You're Happy and You Know It", and "You are My Sunshine." The night time routine of massaging him with oil and dressing him has been elongated because he wants me to keep on singing to him! He has also grown very attached to "Happy", which is simply a happy face. I drew one on his hand some time ago and ever since, he asks me every day to draw one.

On another note, his reading preference has changed. "Don't Worry Be Happy" is no longer his favorite book, he has moved on to some titles in French and the Papa and Mama series in Spanish.

This past weekend was full of fun activities we shared as a family. Nico took Friday off, so we went to the San Jose Discovery Museum. That night, Mateo continued his culinary exposure to sushi. He had tamago (egg sushi), unagi (sea eel) and salmon eggs. I wouldn't say he particularly loved the salmon eggs, but he was willing to try them again and again. In part, I'm sure, he was fascinated with the fact that they were little balls and that they would pop in his mouth when he bit them!! On Saturday, we went to the Botanical Garden in Berkeley where Mati enjoyed going off on his own and being chased by one of us. He also loved smelling all the flowers and playing with the dirt and rocks. And finally on Sunday, he enjoyed the morning with Nico at Fairyland.

The Mailman Series