"Katya is like ..."

Language development is amazing. I wish I understood the process, but I do feel as if I am in the laboratory watching it all unfold. Seeing Katya learn English is just fun and as my friend Sara is observing, the process happens quickly and we need to enjoy the idiosyncrasies while they last.

Today, after playing in the woods behind our house with Josiah for a couple of hours, Katya came running into the house. "Katya see Josiah's ..." and then eyes looking at the ceiling, searching her word warehouse, finger tapping on her chin, mouth screwed to the side, and then the lightbulb turns on ... "BUNNY! Katya see Josiah's BUNNY!"

But, this is my favorite. As she has been introduced to new foods like vegetarian chili, black bean soup, and lasagna, old familiars remain the favorite - anything with ketchup, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and of course potatoes. However, yesterday I went to the grocery store for the FIRST TIME since I returned last Wednesday, thanks to the AMAZING support we have around us and a superb husband who made sure the refrigerator was well stocked, and I brought home bananas. This morning Katya saw them for the first time and eagerly declared, "Katya is like 100 bananas!"

Since I've heard this phraseology when she sees the aforementioned favorites, but without the "100," I easily understood her to be saying that she REALLY likes bananas. :)

"Katya is like ... " We're treasuring these "Katya-isms," soaking up the moments, learning her "likes," and watching with wonder as this precious lamb becomes part of our family.