learning language

I think one of the most enjoyable parts of seeing a little one grow up is watching them develop language skills.  It's also SO fun to watch her learn to walk right now, but that is a relatively quick skill to learn, in the scheme of things, and then it's over.  Developing language is a longer process, and one which I find fascinating.

Rachel is still learning to use words correctly, and sometimes I correct her, and sometimes I don't, depending on how glaring the error!   One of her common phrases right now is, "There are none people upstairs right now," or whatever it is she's talking about.  I keep correcting her, "There are NO people upstairs...."  or, "There aren't ANY people upstairs," or whatever.  She's learning. 

It's also amazing to me to listen to her tell stories (she tells them all the time--some she's made up and some she's retelling from books we've read or stories she's listened to--quite the imagination this girl has!!).  When she tells these stories she uses words I know she wouldn't know, except from hearing the stories, which has so enriched her vocabulary!  I can't wait until she can write her stories down! 

Rebecca is just starting the learning process, and it's so fun to watch!  Right now she says:
-Dada
-Mama
-Nigh'-nigh'
-Nah-nah (this is "no-no" which she hears a LOT from us!)
-Ahhhhhhhhh-Dah (this is "all done" and it's accompanied by waving her hands in the air)
-Bah (ball)
-'es (which is "yes"--this is her latest word, along with a huge nod of her head--a new movement, too)


The rest of her language is conveyed with sign language and gestures (she knows the sign for "more" and "eat.") She uses "more" to tell me all kinds of things--mostly what she wants--she signs "more" and then points to what she wants.  She shakes her head "no" when she doesn't want something. 

Like I said, I find it all really fascinating.