Talking

Quite often, besides asking whether she can walk/stand, the next question people ask is whether she can talk. Well, babies start babbling and taking turns to speak (baby language, naturally) within a few months from birth. Carlsen heard Sammie at 4 months cry out "Ma-mee" or "Ma-Ma" when I wasn't around. But we don't know whether she had started attaching meaning to the sounds. She has been making many sounds since birth but those that seem to have meaning (especially since she was 11 months) also include "Da-Da", "Ba-Ba", "bear", "bird", "bed" as she points. But then again, she also says these "words" when she points at other things too.. Hmm.. .

We often remind ourselves not to "compete" in trying to prove how much Sammie can say or do, especially in this success-driven world that looks at success by the externals (like how much we have or can do)... but rather to remind ourselves that it's more important for Sammie to grow up in godliness, having hope in God and living life according to His Word...

Will definitely need this timely reminder very often because worldly values will often challenge us as Sammie goes on to school (what school/university, her grades, class/stream/degree), and work (what job, her salary) etc (boyfriend/spouse/kids and what they have/do) etc.... the list just goes on and it's so easy to get caught up in this rat race. Not that we think competition is bad, but competition for the sake of competing with others to prove one's worth isn't how we want Sammie to grow up. Healthy competition helps each other strive to improve and we hope she'll have the right motivation and attitude so she learns joyfully even from failure and she develops skills so that she may help others and give God the glory.