Alex's Vocabulary

Here are many of the words Alex knows:

Can say and understand in American Sign Language:
Milk
Cracker
Banana
Bread
More
Food / eat
Drink
Juice
Water
Socks
Shoes
Cheese
Apple
Cereal
Cookie
Hat
Dog
Car
Train
Bus
Boat
Potty
Diaper
Sleep / sleepy
Please
Thank you
Hurt
Hot
Cold
Ball
Bye (waving)


Can speak and understand in English:
Ma ma
Da da
Alex ("Ice" or "Aikse")
Milk ("mek")
Ryanne ("Rye rye")
Apple ("happle")
Nose
No!
Uh oh!
Up ("Upff")
Down ("Dowww")
Hat
Book
Car
Hot
Cold
Tick-tock
knock-knock (he knocks with his knuckles)
Ball


Meanwhile he understands a remarkable amount that we say (probably more than we even realize!) We often ask him to do things, or interact, using words that I'm certain he's never understood before. It seems his ability to understand grows immensely every day. We often say things like "Alex, bring me the yellow block", or "Where's the froggie?", or "which do you want?" and he responds appropriately. Further, you can say "let's go for a drive in the car", or "let's go outside" and he'll get ready (go get his shoes, for example).

(We aren't sure yet what words he understands or can speak in Mandarin - you'd have to ask Christine, or possibly Uncle Richard, but we don't know enough Chinese to say)

He knows how to do "high five", "down low" and "knuckles". He will dance if you ask him to. He knows how to toast with his bottle. He knows how to clap his hands. He knows where all his major body parts are (hair, ears, eyes, nose, cheeks, teeth, tummy, legs, feet, toes), he knows most of his clothes (shirt, pants, diaper, socks, shoes, hat).

He is usually quite willing to do what you ask, even if it's against his interest. "Alex can you give me the stick please?" "Alex please pick up your bottle." "Alex what's in your mouth? Can you give it to me?" "Alex, wait.... stop... ok, go" (still practicing this one).