Maia Mi

Maia's communication has come along leaps and bounds. Not only can she can say a lot of words, some both in Norwegian And English (unless a word is placed in brackets, she says both words), but she has started translating, saying the english version to others and the norwegian version to me, straight after. She can also ask for things to be done (eg, she likes to have her hands washed during her meal, if they get messy) and can also construct simple two word sentences and does so at every opportunity.

She can point out a man with a bicycle (Mann Sykkel) or a woman with a hat (Dame hatt), or tell me that the picture in the book shows a baby running (Beibi løper). Most embarrassingly she says things like "Mann, kiss" and blows kisses to strange men on the train.

She has also started recognising colours (especially likes to point out pink (Rosa) and green (Grønn) things) and although she can't count yet she seems to understand the concept of One, Two and Many. She pointed out that she could see "MASSE SKO" (lots of shoes) when we looked at lots of people walking past and she looked at two fishfingers on the grill and said quite clearly "To fikkefiner" (two fishfingers!).

She is also getting good at singing the words to songs - including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Baah Baah Black Sheep, Row Row, Ring a Ring A Roses and more including some Norwegian songs, especially keen to singalong if the song is playing on the stereo, rather than when Mamma or Pappa sing.

Here's a list of some other words/phrases that come to mind although it's just not comprehensive at all, it's so hard to remember all of them as she learns about two-three new words a day!

Ja (yes) (just started!)

Vaske (wash) - used especially during her meals

Hjelpe (help) - used all the time if she can't get something to work.

Nei/no (the age old first word)

Takk/Thank you, when prompted

Please when prompted

Nikke (nod) and do a lot of nodding

Mamma/Mummy

Pappa

Dylan (says Dinnan)

Granny

Pickle (because Granny calls her "pickle", I called her "pickle" and she responded - "Granny Pickle")

Onkel Steve (uncle steve) (who she met out in Spain, who she took a shine to)

Bye bye / Hadet

Hola (!)

Hello / Hei

Morning

Tomorrow (says imorrow, possibly combining the norwegian word 'imorgen')

Cuppatea (Cup Of Tea)

Mann (man)

Dame (lady)

Fly/ Airplane

Bil/Car

Hus

Sun/Sol

Sko/Shoes

Bok/Book

"Lille Mus" (little mouse)

Ball/ball

Miaow for cat

Vov Vov/Doggie

Clippety clop for horse

Skilpadde (can't quite pronounce it though) (tortoise)

Snegle/snail (says 'nail')

Papegøye (parrot)

Monkey

Bade

Vann/Water

Music/Musikk (says 'sikk')


Mere / More

Mais (sweetcorn) (and often sings "Three Blind Mice" when you serve her sweetcorn because of this)

Couscous

Spaghetti (says "betty", possibly also because I often call it "SpaghettiBetty")

Tomat (tomato), says it more like "mat" though

Banan/Nana (banana)

Apple

"sin' for Applesin (orange)

Bringebær (raspberry), says bringba after which she quite often continues with a the song "bringba, bringba oh bringba my bonny to me to me!" which I think is rather sweet.

and it goes on.