Before the Storm

Yesterday was a good day that started with a hike and ended with me spending a glorious hour with my niece.  

Here are some highlights from my niece who is now talking quite well - not in sentences but she uses a lot of words.  

I ask Baby is she is thirsty and pull out a children's monkey cup.

Sister: Oh, that's the same one she has at home.  Look Baby!

(Baby proceeds to get very excited about the cup and I proceed to only fill the already small cup 1/3 full)  

(Baby walks around the kitchen shaking the cup around so excitedly that all the water spills out)

Baby: Oh!  Water!  (as though "How did that get there?"  "Why is the floor all wet?")

Me: Can you say Sarah?

Baby: A Sawa (short for Aunt Sarah).

Me: Can you say Marc?

Baby: Marc.

Sister: Can you say Erin?

Baby: Yeah.  (as though even asking such a question was an insult to her intelligence) 

We play with some bubbles.  I blow one towards Baby's face but it goes straight into her eyes and pops.  

I cringe, waiting for her to start crying;  bubble solution probably stings.  

Baby: Oops!  My eye.  Bubble! 

I've decided I need to teach the Baby Chinese.  

Me: Baby, 你想要睡覺嗎？

Baby turns around and points at her mother.  

I slap my hand down on the bed with a laugh: Oh Baby, that was a question, not a statement about your mom.  (She heard me use the question particle, 'ma' and thought I had said 'Ma')  

Baby slaps her hand down on the bed in perfect imitation of me and laughs.