How's the Reception?

At some point in my academic and/or parental careers, I was introduced to the idea that babies' receptive language (i.e., what they can understand) develops much faster than their expressive language (i.e., what they can speak). Maybe it was in a child development course, or perhaps one of those ubiquitous What to Expect... books. Probably not here (OK, obviously not there, but that site is too funny not to link to).

And lo and behold, the books (or my education) have been right! Steve and I are continually amazed not only by what Bry understands, but the ancillary information that he gleans by virtue of living in our particular household. Like the fact that the cutting boards go on the bottom of the kitchen cart and that mama likes her martinis shaken, not stirred. Oh, who am I kidding, I haven't had a martini in years. Shame.

Last weekend when Aunt Dana and Uncle Ryan were visiting, Bry put on a good little show, demonstrating that he understood the following requests (because commands makes him sound altogether too much like a dog, or perhaps a trained monkey):

• Please put the trash in the trash can.
• Please put the plate on the table.
• Plates go on the table, Bry.
• Plates are not for throwing (sensing a theme here?).
• Let's go downstairs!
• Show us the circles, Bry! Where are the squares?
• Bry, where is Pajama Time?
• It's spider's turn to go down the slide!

Admittedly, this is a sampling of things Bry has responded to in the past, and not necessarily an exact replication of his feats last weekend since I neglected to take thorough notes on all of Bry's accomplishments. What, do you think I would do that? Because I totally wouldn't. Not yet anyways, since I just thought of it.

Sometimes it's fun to take advantage of Bry's receptive language skills and eagerness to help, for instance, when it comes to cleaning up the mound of food that manages to accumulate under his high chair after every meal. We've been trying to encourage cooperation and responsibility and blah, blah, blah, and having Bry help clean up has been a part of that. It doesn't always work exactly according to plan though, especially when Bry's own interests supercede those of the group. Like the other night when I asked him to put some cheerios he had dropped on the floor into the trash can. He picked one up, and before I could intervene, stuffed it into his mouth. Oops.

The other arena that does a good job of highlighting Bry's receptive language is human anatomy. When asked, Bry can (more or less) point out his nose, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, chin, cheeks, tummy, belly button, feet, toes, and hair. And he loves to point out these parts on others, especially the face parts. In fact he's so fond of pointing out others' noses that I only half-jokingly remarked to Steve that I hope he gets over the habit before he starts dating. Could be a little awkward in those early stages.