more words (23 months)

"bob" = tomato
"eesh" = cheese
"EHHHH WEHHHHH" = Eric (imitating popo calling Eric from downstairs)
"eesh" = please
"ew" with a head nod = Thank you
"boy" = not sure if she really means boy
"no way" = no (really don't know where she learned this one)
"aw" = straw
"eh?" = wanna play?
"wai" = "wan" Chinese word for "play"
"orange" = orange
"eh-ai-ss eh-ai-ss" = edelweiss, edelweiss...
"moh-ning" = morning

Mak also started mouthing words when you sing to her as if she's singing with you but with no sounds. It's hilarious!

Here's what her numbers sound like:
1 - usually mouths it with no sound
2 - "oo"
3 - "ee"
4 - "or"
5 - "ai"
6 - "shix"
7 - silent (but she recognizes it if you ask her where 7 is)
8 - "eight!"
9 - "ine"
10 - "en" or "en en"

...guess we need to work on those opening consonants!

Took some random pics with the iphone while practicing saying the word "cheese".

dancing mak (con't)

age: 23.5 months
song: Poison (Dance Central)

Fast forward original video to 1:29 and play Mak's video for an interesting comparison!

Original video:


Mak's version:

Makayla dances to "Poison" from Jeremy Wong on Vimeo.

freestylin' mak

age: 23 months
song: Teach Me How to Jerk (Dance Central)

Makayla freestyle from Jeremy Wong on Vimeo.

artist, musician or dancer?

Mak's first works of art. Unfortunately, she didn't seem to like art class very much. Twice she pointed at her shoes and dragged daddy to the door before class was even over. Maybe it's too early for art class. Mak does seem to excel in music class. She likes following the teacher's movements (tapping on her knees, following dance moves, etc.) and loves to play with all the toy musical instruments. Maybe music/dance is more her thing...at least for now. We'll see.

growing mak

Makayla is growing up so fast! Guess it was time to invest in a big girl seat!

...before...

...after...

And in the middle of November, Mak officially declared that she will NOT sleep in her crib anymore! For a few weeks, she managed to squeeze her way between mommy and daddy. While we loved cuddling up with Mak, it was definitely not a long-term solution! So...we invested in a big girl's bed! Well, to make it worth our money, we picked a reversible bed that turns into a bunk bed (if you turned it up side down)...and a big enough bed to last us awhile! (maybe the next 16+ years?!)

Daddy working hard and Mak being super helpful by not getting in the way (with the help of some really fascinating, educational YouTube videos)

hm...I think I might need a bigger one, mommy!

first words (22 months)

For awhile we were worried that Mak might have a slight language delay. She was really good at expressing herself with sounds and pointing but not with words. Maybe she was still trying to figure out the bilingual thing...all Chinese with grandparents, all English with her uncles and Chinglish with mommy and daddy.

One morning Around 21.5 months, Mak started to repeat letters and words that start with them beginning with A/apple. And from then on, new words started popping up gradually. It's been fun hearing her speak! Here're her first words so far...

1. "miu" = milk
2. "nana" = banana
3. "appo" = apple
4. "bubbo" = bubble
5. "egg" = egg
6. "Elmo" = Elmo
7. "ma" = mommy
8. "da" = daddy
9. "yeh YEH" = Chinese word for daddy's daddy
10. "yeh YEH" = Mak's mischievous way of calling "gung gung" - mommy's daddy
11. "mama" = daddy's mommy
12. "popo" = mommy's mommy
13. "bay bee" = baby
14. "moore" or "mooooi" = more
15. "amen" & "ah-moon" = English and Chinese Amen
16. "eat eat eat" = wants something to eat...usually spoken with conviction and finger pointing at mouth
17. "daaah" = daddy, mommy or just wanting someone's attention
18. "OHhhh", "MO", "NO" = no
19. "ball" = ball
20. "I daat" = iPod touch

Alphabet she can recognize and repeat: A, B, E, I, M, N, O, S, X, Y(usually whispers this one)

Numbers: 8 (what a true Chinese girl!)

Mak with one of her favorite "toys" that we regrettably introduced to her a little too early...

big sister in training

Makayla will be a BIG SISTER...sibling's expected arrival date...May 26, 2011!

...just chillin' in mommy's tummy at 12 weeks old...