Language

We were told that since Juliet would be learning two languages, her speech would develop more slowly. But we've found that, just as she runs instead of walking, she talks, sings, babbles and laughs continuously. Most of what she says is in French, but she does a lot of mimicking in English. If we ask her a question in English, she will often answer in French. "Are you hungry?" "Oui!" And she sings several songs in English, though I doubt she knows what she's singing. She sang "Twinkle, twinkle little star" to Tom for his birthday this summer, and now the two of them sing it together. We bought the adorable recordable story book of the same name, from Hallmark, and we will read it to her while we're here, then record it before we leave. We've done two other recordable story books and she does listen to them.

Matt and Jeanne want to send Juliet to a bi-lingual school; there are ten in Paris, and they're expensive. But in talking with other grandparents it seems that pre-school is expensive everywhere, at least in big cities. Matt and Jeanne have been considering moving, but they'll wait to see what school Juliet will attend. She's really not eligible for pre-school in January; only those who will be two by January 1 are eligible. Juliet will be two on January 5, so they'll try to get her a special dispensation or something.

Meanwhile, Juliet is working on her own. The other day she was practicing the word "non" and saying it time after time, very loudly! Non, non, non, non, NON! (I suppose 20 month old kids hear that word a lot, and just can't wait to use it on someone else.) Two of her other favorites are "tien" which means yours, (she uses this when she hands you something, which is often and most of the time she wants it right back) and "encore" which means again, (she uses this when she wants another piece of cheese, another crayon, or she wants you to sing again or swing her again or read the same book again, etc., etc., etc.). Nearly-two-year-olds love repetition!! And new grandmas don't at all mind doing the same thing over, and over, and over, just for the smile of a nearly-two-year-old.