Agua

Today I took Nora to the pediatrician to learn the results of a blood test she had recently. Her mild anemia has been rectified by the iron supplements we've been giving her. I mentioned to the doctor that we're mildly concerned about Nora's language development. Her only word is "no". No mamá, papá, mommy, daddy, bread, water, pan or agua. It's also totally unclear to me whether or not she understands anything at all that we say. Confirmation bias makes it easy to remember the times she gets a command or question correct and all too easy to forget when she has some random response. The doctor asked if we thought Nora's hearing was okay, and I said there's no doubt that her hearing is great. Whenever there's the faintest bit of distant music, Nora's gettin' jiggy wit' it. The doctor said that Nora's situation is a little unusual by this age, but that being in a bilingual household is known to retard initial language development. In the philosophy of "better safe than sorry", she's referred us to a specialist that is somehow going to "evaluate" her at some not-yet-made appointment in the near future. I'm almost more curious to see the means of evaluation than to get the result. Later, at lunch, I taught her to say "agua". Whether or not she understands that the word refers to the clear, odorless, thirst-quenching liquid is anybody's guess. But she sure did have a good time saying it! Agua is considerably easier to pronounce than its consonant-laden English counterpart.

This is Nora's favorite "corner" of the kitchen. She is already showing that cat-like propensity children have of trying to fit into the smallest space possible, and I think she really likes having the two stools and bar surrounding her. Recently she's been staying in this little fort while I wash the dishes in the kitchen.