Lily's Amazing Vocabulary

Hearing words come out of Lily's mouth in her sweet little voice just melts my heart. We've waited so long for her to yell "Mama!" or say "Bye-bye!" that I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing those words. Well, not anytime soon, anyway.

Last month, Lily had a follow-up speech progression appointment, and before we went, I made a list of all the words she could say, all the words she could sign, and all the animal noises she could make. I was surprised when I counted up the list and there were about 20 words! This included noise-like words, such as "Mmm-hmm" and "uh-uh".

Dr. Craig told me that 20 words for a 21-month-old was within the realm of normal (albeit the BOTTOM of normal, but whatever). Woohoo! That was fine with me. At 18 months, she was in the 15-month category, so to skip ahead six months within three was wonderful progress.

Within just the last few weeks, I feel like her vocabulary has really exploded. She's finally started mimicking all the words we say. I remember taking Lily's cousin Kirsten for a ride once, and we chit-chatted the whole way...me pointing out things we were driving past, her repeating the last word or two of everything I said, copying even my intonation exactly. I remember thinking, this is so sweet. I can't wait until Lily and I can have "conversations" like this.

And now for the first time, I feel like we're carrying on "conversations" of our own. She'll repeat words that I'm saying. She may not be saying them correctly or completely, but at least she's started trying and has an interest in talking...finally.

I know I saved that list, but can't find it at the moment, so I'll just list what she's saying now - which is even more.

Mama
Daddy (da-shee)
nice (ya-shee)
Oma (oh-wah)
Grandpa (pa-pa)
more (mah)
ball (bah)
bath (ba)
truck (vuh)
bus (buh)
bow [as in, the bow on your shoelace]
stuck (duck)
duck (duh)
yes (yesh)
mmm
uh-uh
uh-oh
Bumbo
elbow (beh-bo) ;)
shoe
amen (mah-mem)
wow [even though she wouldn't say it in the video]
yay!
Barbara (bar-bah) [even though she wouldn't say this, either]
done
all done (done done)
down (done)
up (uh!)
baby
bye-bye
pee pee
beep!
brother (buh-ber)
Pam
please (peas)
pea
bean (bee)
bee
swish swish swish (weesh weesh weesh) [what the wipers on the bus do]
round and round (wown wown wown) [what the wheels on the bus do]

There are a bunch more I can't think of right now. And then there's a bunch of things that she repeats after us, but does not initiate herself, like: mm-hmm, thank you (day doo), and I love you (wuh-voo).

Dr. Craig also said that by two years old, it's average to have 50 words and to be just starting to string together two or more words. My incomplete list above is already 40 words, so she's going to kick butt at her two year appointment.

Well, Jacob just decided to wake up after a 10-minute nap...but don't get me started on his recent inability to sleep...AT ALL.


Note: Added 09/26/2011
Well, it only took me three years, but I finally found that list! Haha. Here's what I wrote on 9/22/08 for Lily's speech check.

SIGNS:
Bottle
Blanket
Pacifier
Please
Crying
Dirty (diaper)
Swing
Hot/Cold
Up/Down
All Done
Fan/Microwave/Spinning
Animal Sounds:
Cow
Cat
Dog
Horse
Bear
Sheep
Snake
Pig
Words:
*More
Mama
Daddy
Yes
*Juice
*Done
Pa-pa (grandpa)
Baby
Pee-pee
Brother
Cheese
Beep Beep
Bean
Bath
Ball
Mmm-hmm
Uh-uh (no)
*Thank You
Vroom!
*Down
*Up
Bra
Barbara

*Used to be a sign

And the Lily-related questions on that sheet:
OK to still take bottle to bed?
OK to take formula to bed?
2 naps still OK?

And her weight for this visit: 24.7lb