English as a First Language

Some say the the English language is the hardest to learn for someone just starting out. Others say Russian and Chinese are the hardest. In our little Lily Grace, we are witnessing a language miracle from God that is gaining momentum each and every day and proving that English as a first language is not so hard after all. So I thought I'd better try to capture some thoughts on the subject before Lily completes her dissertation next week!

OK, OK, yes, the proud, boastful parent in me is probably shading my viewpoint a little. However, I think that even a non-biased observer would have to agree that Lily is conquering the English language (southern dialect and all) with lightning speed. She's reached a point where she simply repeats back anything you say and is beginning to make sentences. I'm going to try to remember as many words as I can that Lily can easily use in her vocabulary during this post, so forgive me if it gets a little hard to follow. I've always said that part of the reason for this blog is so that Lily Grace will one day be able to look back and read all about how she came to be a Southern Belle! So, sweetheart, here's a little glimpse of your early English skills.

I really believe that Lily could understand much of what we were saying even before we left China. She didn't repeat much English to us, but would occassionally respond in a way that led us to believe she understood at least part of what we were saying. A truly amazing feat at any age. As a matter of record, we didn't understand a single thing she was saying! When she began speaking, she kept saying over and over something like "ah youuu" and then laughing. It sounded like a common southern expression or greeting (howeru?), but probably had a significantly different meaning. Whatever it was, she thought it was very funny. Of course, one of the first words that Lily ever uttered in the English language was "Au'tin." She said that while we were still in China! As much as mama and I would like to lay claim to the fact that she recognized us first in the literal sense, it wouldn't be true. Congrats Austin for being the first American called by name by your neat little sister. So, what were some other early words? Hmm. Pamba, yes (you know, one of the little black and white bears so popular in China). Just so happens that Austin gave Lily a little stuffed Pamba when she'd just become a part of our family. Lily has held on to that Pamba since then - if we ever lose it, we're in "Big trouble with little China!" So, Austin, Pamba, ...

"Wolll Tie" was her first complete, grammatically and literally correct English sentence - Connie taught her that one, not me. HoHo was the name of that funny man in the red and white suit at Christmas. "Big house" is the plastic little tykes house now dominating the landscape in what was once the boyishly equipped upstairs playroom. And certainly, since she is a young lady, she has learned to say "telephone." (Uh oh, I'm probably in trouble for that comment!). She says "play, go, ride, car, truck, airplane" all very well. She can tell you the names of several animals and she will ask you to read one book at bedtime "One book, please." The one about the little monkeys jumping on the bed is the favorite.

"Mmm good" is used properly to describe Memaw's cooking (or really any food at all, sorry Memaw). Wa' is water and juice is juice (now, why is it that she stops short on water and completely says juice?). "Drink" is generic for any cup. Oh, and while we're on the subject, she says "eat" frequently, she knows how to say "spoon, fork, plate, cup, bowl" and even uses them in little mini sentences.

"Amen" is used frequently now (and usually loudly as well!) as Lily parrots back the preacher's Sunday morning prayers. "Please" and "thank you" were learned easily and early. And she really knows when to use them! She knows the kitty cat's name is, well, "kitty cat." She can tell you her dog's name is "Molly."If it's raining outside or on TV, she'll tell you "waining, waining!" She can say the names of the pictures of friends dotting the refrigerator door. And how could I forget "Whas at? (What's that)." Lily asks this so much that Austin decided one day to clue her in to some street lingo. Now an alternate version is "Waass Up?"

Lily can say Memaw, Pawpaw, Granny, and Billy. She can say Connie and Jerry, but prefers "Ma-ma" and "Daa-ee" and that's OK with us. "Be nice" is always followed by an offered kiss from puckered lips because she knows she's in trouble and that Daa-ee melts when she does it. She has learned several of her colors and can identify them and say their names clearly. She tells you that she is 'two' and shows you by holding up the correct number of tiny digits. And if you ask her where she's from, she'll say 'China!' That one happened by surprise. One day she just blurted out "China." I guess she'd heard us say so many times that she's from China that she began telling it herself. She can name her body parts and point to them if you ask her (elbow gets confused with Elmo, but that's ok).

She's beginning to make two, three, and even four word sentences. She likes to race up and down the stairs on all fours and if she gets there first, she'll say "I beat you." Some of this week's English language musings from Lily include "sit down, stand up, moey (more) eggs, I hungy (hungry), oa'meal (my favorite) please.

Finally, last evening (and probably the event that prompted this post), Lily Grace was sitting at the dinner table with all of us (Will and Amanda had spent the afternoon with us) and in a quiet moment in the conversation looked up from her plate said to her Ma-ma "I ove you." (She must have forgotten that I'd cooked some of the dishes offered up on the dinner table).

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace (expert in the English language)