Martha at 21 months

Happy new year!



Three months have passed since the last message and so there is quite a bit of news to report. There has been much development with speaking and understanding, and we all have been to the UK again.

In October we went on a short camping trip. As I was expecting some problems, we only went to a site within easy reach of Oakland: Mount Diablo State Park. The park is large and quite well used, but being high up was freezing cold and very windy indeed. It was quite icy in the morning too so we were bundled up all night and day. It soon became apparent, however, that our Martha however was not suitable for the insides of the tent, wanting to climb about all night, and all over our heads when we were dropping off to sleep. Also, it was hard to keep her out of the reach of dangerous bushes and rocks during the day, so I think we'll give camping a miss for another six months or until next summer. It's a shame, but this age (1.5-2years) seems to be a bad spot; younger and she didn't move as much, older and hopefully she'll have some control of her own.


Martha wrapped up against the cold at Mount Diablo State Park, October 2007


Mount Diablo State Park, October 2007. Walking around the park in a considerable amount of wind


Martha in her Halloween bee outfit

For me, the most exciting part in her development at the moment is language and I am tending to concentrate on this to this exclusion of her other advances. She can say quite a large number of words, sometimes after only hearing them once as part of some other conversation. She must know 100-200 of them at least, but can only say about half of them in a way that can be understood by others. She can do a few three syllable words, but mostly she does ones, and a whole lot of garbling phrases that go on and on. Last month she started singing a bit of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but only a bit. She also sings "E-I-E-I-MOO!!!"

Martha demonstrating a small part of her vocabulary. Here she reads a book with animals in it:

cat, owl, pig, doggie, duck (quack), cow (moo), horse (neigh)



She's started showing motherly tendancies also, by pushing about a doll in a push chair (courtesy of Grandma Martin, found at Oxfam, £5) and putting her doll to bed. In fact she puts almost anything to bed by covering it with a nearby cloth (or napkin, or towel) and saying "shhh!" (loudly). Last week her dinner was put to bed.


Martha pushing her dolls in the doll-carriage


At Seacliff with Grampa Walter in November for Thanksgiving 2007


On the see-saw in West Malling with Grandad at Christmas 2007


With Uncle Tim in West Malling at Christmas 2007


Martha crosses her arms and legs when seated, for comfort


Playing with Asher in Oakland, October 2007


Martha using the Elmo sit-on thing (courtesy of Grammy Phylsie, $5 at a local thrift store). This thing has quite a number of features, including horn, steering, luggage compartment under the seat, talking/singing Elmo and a xylophone.

Thats all for now!
Adrian (corrected by Carrie)