My Journal - Week 59 (05Oct10)

Where Oh Where Has "Mommy's" Nosey Gone?

A couple of months ago I posted about how Hunter knew how to show me "nose" on my face.  Something we were very happy about.  After a while, the phase of locating Mommy's or Daddy's nose was just not as fun as it used to be.  While Hunter would certainly show you, it wasn't as often or even remotely as interesting to him as it once was.  It was "old news".

UNTIL, the "Baby Can Read" videos.  Since the video's have "nose" as one of the words often repeated, Hunter has rediscovered the joy to finding noeses again.  And this time it isn't about someone else's nose... it's the locating of his own nose!  How much fun is this?!  A ton of fun!  The video instructs babies to point to their own nose, something I had been working on for a while when Hunter learned what exactly a nose was.  I knew that it would be harder for him to figure out that he had one, since he couldn't very well see his own.  But, with this new video, (and I have to say, this "Baby Can Read" is terrific and I fully fully support it) the children on the video and the voice of the adult who instructs the child who is learning, constantly request and show Hunter to point to his own nose.  With noticing how attentive Hunter has been with this video, I started noticing Hunter pointing to my nose all over again.  I decided this time to ask him to show me his nose, just like the video does.  And would you believe, he actually pointed to his own nose?  This happened literally on the same day we noticed his German Measles spots.  I told him he was a good boy but in my mind I truly brushed it off thinking, I knew he just did it, but I didn't believe he did it on purpose... (or would repeat it again).  Obviously (once again) I mentally didn't give his actions the appropriate credit for doing it on his own without my prompting like I usually do.  Fast forward to the next morning, giving Hunter his milk in bed.  (Saturday morning).  I ask Hunter, "Show Mommy your nose..." thinking I need to prove to myself it wasn't a fluke.  And like clockwork, he points his left index finger, (since we are noticing everything gets done with the left hand....) and shows me his nose.  It was clearly a nose point as he squashed his nose while doing it. 

I was so happy!  He gets it!  He gets it!  I was yelling!  (Of course to no one in particular....)  I praised Hunter over and over each time he had done it, even if it was only once each day.  It would seem, (which is why I didn't fuss or get overly excited) that Hunter refuses to show you more then on one occasion.  I laughed with my own Mother about this, and we have concluded that Hunter simply is too smart in that, he is probably wondering, "Okay, you have asked me to show you my nose, and I did... Now, why are you asking me to show it to you again?"  OR, "Doesn't Mommy know?  I just showed her...."  I wouldn't put it past Hunter to think this way.  He is a child who makes it quite clear that he is not one for repeat performances.  Either take it or leave it.  He did it once, and if you missed it, too bad for you!  Truly, this is our son's personality.

So, just to make sure, I asked him again today during watching "Baby Can Read", and I got my 'one time showing' or pointing to his own nose.  It certainly makes me feel really good.  All the times I had let Hunter point to my nose and I always responded "Mommy's nose" and then took his finger and pointed to his nose afterwards and said, "Hunter's nose" or said, "Where is Hunter's nose" and then used his own finger to touch his nose and said "Here's Hunter's nose", has obviously paid off in tandem with the "Baby Can Read".  The other really great thing is it definitely is apparent that Hunter completely understands "Clap", "Wave", and "Cat" along with "Nose" purely by the sound of the word.  I think that in a few more weeks, (or perhaps sooner) he will actually make the visual association with the word and the meaning.  And yes - while it is true at this point the association will purely be from recognizing the word as opposed to reading it.  The reading (as instructed by the Doctor who created the program) will come later on.  In the beginning, recognizing of the words is from recalling and memorizing shapes of the words.  Understanding the pattern of the English language by reading will come later on.  Honestly, either way - I am completely impressed and satisfied with the purchase at this early stage.   I guess I would have posted this earlier if not for the spots and also if I had trusted that it wasn't fluky that Mr. Hunter recognized his own nose!  What can I say?  It's not that I don't believe my child, it's simply that I enjoy these surprises (called milestones) so very much!!