Ten percent of nothing is -- let me do the math here -- nothing into nothing, carry the --

Jayne ,'Serenity'


Spike's Bitches 30: Going on Thirteen  

[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risque (and frisque), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.


ChiKat - Apr 26, 2006 9:34:27 am PDT #1390 of 10002
That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?

The big doings at work I mentioned yesterday? Now that it's been officially announced, I can share. My tiny, private, family-owned company is being bought out by a Big, Public Firm. They insist that we will be operating independently within one of the Firm's groups and that they don't want to fix what ain't broken, but color me skeptical. We'll see how it goes and what happens.

The best line from the press release:

All [my company] employees will be retained.


Volans - Apr 26, 2006 9:35:43 am PDT #1391 of 10002
move out and draw fire

So, I've been slightly concerned about Mal not talking for a bit, but the DH didn't seem concerned, the pede at the one-year visit seemed okay with it, and from what I've learned here, I know that it's too early to worry.

But of course the DH read some of the books I've been reading and freaked out tonight about how Mal should have several words and be making babble sentences. So now I'm freaking out.

I know he can hear, I know there's no physical issue. And I know that he started using his own words for things right on time...but then he stopped. I suspect he got scared. If all you hear for "Hi!" is "Hi!" then it's simple. He hears "Hi!" and "Hello!" and "Xeirete!" and "Kalimera!" and "Kalispera!" and "Gia sou!" and "Gia sas!"

Oh well...Greek babies learn to talk too. I'm just pretty tired of the all-purpose whine-cry.


DCJensen - Apr 26, 2006 9:38:22 am PDT #1392 of 10002
All is well that ends in pizza.

The best line from the press release:

All [my company] employees will be retained.

I don't want to be negative, but that line should have an asterisk at the end that says "*as far as we know".

IJS, keep your eyes peeled, but don't let the concept freak you out. Being skeptical is good in this situation.


ChiKat - Apr 26, 2006 9:40:19 am PDT #1393 of 10002
That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?

The press release comes from the Big Firm, not us. So, I hope it's accurate.

The long-term repurcussions are pretty much nil for me. I'm leaving in January to student teach (shhh! they don't know yet). I figure it'll take that long for any major changes to happen.


SuziQ - Apr 26, 2006 9:43:31 am PDT #1394 of 10002
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame

Empress - you rant wouldn't be aimed at anyone I might know, would it? If so, let me know if you need help. I'm good at poking.


Cashmere - Apr 26, 2006 9:45:36 am PDT #1395 of 10002
Now tagless for your comfort.

Raq, babies' brains can handle those differences waaaay easier than our stupid adult brains. My friend's son had no trouble learning Farsi and English simultaneously. He even tried speaking to his mother in Farsi but realized early on that she doesn't understand him so he switched to English only with her. With his dad, he uses both. At first he'd answer in English but moved on to answering his father in Farsi, too. Oh, and he's only 2 years and four months.

I personally discovered that some babies get on the verbal train quicker. Olivia seems much more vocal than Owen was. I worried about him up until he was 18 months. Even then from 18-22 months he wasn't really putting words together like I thought he should. Dude, was I ever worrying over NOTHING. I swear, it was like he picked up entire sentences overnight. It was quite freakish.

Then I realised I have the easiest haircut in the world, and with a pair of clippers with a #2 guard and a couple mirrors I was set.

Huh. I could cut ita's hair. This is how I do DH's. Only with fewer mirrors.


Volans - Apr 26, 2006 9:48:33 am PDT #1396 of 10002
move out and draw fire

ChiKat, cool! When my company (well, not MINE mine, but where I worked) got bought by Big Evil Defense Contractor, everyone was retained. And things got better, actually.

Cash, it's true. My Israeli friend's son speaks Hebrew with her and English with his father. (Unfortunately he speaks Hebrew with me, but okay)

In good news about the baby, Legion let Mal sleep on him today, and even purred.

ETA: Condi's visit poster: [link]


Cashmere - Apr 26, 2006 9:51:49 am PDT #1397 of 10002
Now tagless for your comfort.

Raq, as for worrying about dropping words--O did that some, too. I think once they master something making the sound it doesn't seem as important to them. Owen dropped a few words that he used early on and I tried everything to get him to repeat them but when he decided he needed them, he pulled them back out.

In good news about the baby, Legion let Mal sleep on him today, and even purred.

It's best they learn to give in early. Oz still thinks Owen should be the one to keep away from HIM. Ha! Silly cat. He's going to be wearing doll clothes in no time if he doesn't wise up.


ChiKat - Apr 26, 2006 10:15:58 am PDT #1398 of 10002
That man was going to shank me. Over an omelette. Two eggs and a slice of government cheese. Is that what my life is worth?

ChiKat, cool! When my company (well, not MINE mine, but where I worked) got bought by Big Evil Defense Contractor, everyone was retained. And things got better, actually.

Thanks, Raq! That's really good to know. The president of the Firm is coming here next week to meet everyone and tell us all about new Firm. It should be an interesting few months.


Topic!Cindy - Apr 26, 2006 10:19:50 am PDT #1399 of 10002
What is even happening?

Raq, as for worrying about dropping words--O did that some, too. I think once they master something making the sound it doesn't seem as important to them. Owen dropped a few words that he used early on and I tried everything to get him to repeat them but when he decided he needed them, he pulled them back out.
This was my experience with all three children, as well. And not just with speech. Lots of times, they'd master a new skill, get bored with it, and drop it for a while--stuff like waving bye-bye and playing peek-a-boo comes to mind.

Make a concerted effort to talk and read to him, and give him opportunities to answer, where it is clear you expect him to answer. He is too young (probably) to do it too much, but you can start. Choices are a good way to encourage speech; ask him things like: do you want apples or grapes?