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When you ask "how big is Sam?" or "how big is Zoe?" their arms go straight up over their heads to demonstrate the answer: "so big!" When they're busy eating or playing, only one arm goes up. When you ask Zoe "where's your nose?" or "where's your ear" she points to it (when she's in the mood). When you ask "where's your belly button" they'll show you. When you say "wave bye-bye" they'll open and close their hands and sometimes say "bye-bye" When you ask "where's the ball?" they'll dutifully retrieve a ball and chant "bah" When you ask "where's the baby (doll)?" they'll find it. When you say "hug the baby" they'll squeeze it close to their chest and rock with it. They'll blow kisses on request. When you ask for the shoe, sock, duck, bottle, or pacifier, they'll get it. When you say "dance" they'll rock up and down. When you say "shake" they'll shake the bottles in their hands. When you say "stand up" in the bathtub, they'll comply. Their comprehension is increasing at a rapid pace. They regularly surprise us with their understanding of words and commands that we didn't actively teach them.
After successfully completing a feat, we'll say "good job!" and Sam and Zoe will clap their hands with us. Sometimes Zoe jumps the gun and starts the clap before being successful, like when a block shape doesn't properly fall through the shape sorter hole. Zoe likes to get our attention before showing off a new skill, and then basks in the glory of our admiration.
Sam and Zoe have a limited vocabulary. They say "bah" for ball and block, but know the difference. They say "uh-oh" when they drop food or objects from their high chairs. They say "bye-bye" when waving goodbye and "hi" into the telephone. Sam (and to a lesser extent Zoe) says "mahhhhhh" all the time at varying volumes and emphasis which means "I want that!" and a short "dah" or "adah" which means "look at this!" or "check this out!" Sam is very verbal, whether its� saying "mahhh" or "dah" fluttering his lips or gently singing in the car seat. He's great at imitating sounds. His baby speak gibberish is very musical. Zoe is moderately verbal and likes to screech. She has a slightly throaty voice. She used to make "yeeeeeeeeehhhh" sounds when she was in a good mood and wanted to say something. Zoe has become more verbal recently and calls many things "dah-dah" A few weeks ago Jodi told Sam the word for flowers at breakfast. At lunch he pointed to the flowers and said something close to "flowers" They also comprehend and have words for doggie, kitty cat, and duck.
Sam and Zoe love books. Sam will bring us his favorite book (Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and attentively sit through a full reading of the book. Then he'll want us to read the book over again. Zoe mostly enjoys bringing us the books. She likes to constantly turn the pages of the book and point to objects in the book. She doesn't care in what order the book is read.
It's fun to watch Sam and Zoe eat. They're great eaters and chomp down their food like whirring machines with a continuous grinding "mmmmmmmmm" chant. Zoe eats almost everything. Sam is a fussier eater and is suspicious of anything new. He'll start with the assumption that the new item doesn't taste good, make a face, and then spit it out a few times before deciding that he likes it. When he really doesn't like something, he'll make a big face, spit it out immediately, and throw it on
