Multimedia
August 30, 2007
Okay, now that I think we've got everything working with the new design, and now that my designer is off to Ecuador, thus fleeing the country and my emails, let me see if I can completely blow it the fuck up by posting a video window that will probably be too wide for the margins. Come on, it'll be fun!
It seems like people are still questioning the proper pronunciation of "Amalah." AIM-a-la. Like how you pronounce Amy? AIM-ee? Oh, whatever, here's me having a conversation with my dog about it.
AIM-a-la from amalah and Vimeo.
I probably should have enunciated Ceiba's name a little better too, now that I think about it. Her name is SAY-bah. Again, whatever, I don't even correct our vet anymore.
Just be happy I didn't name my kid D'Artagnaienalyah or something. Because you know it was on our short list.
Speaking of Noah, hey! Remember that time we qualified for free speech therapy? Our first session is on Tuesday morning.
He's made some progress in the past few weeks, although nothing to suggest that a true language explosion is right around the corner -- he's still gaining language right in step with a five- or six-month delay, but progress is progress, and I'm extremely confident that he's going to respond really well to the therapy. Plus, it's like free babysitting. I plan to paint my toenails.
We scored a gigantic set of Signing Time DVDs this week. My expectations were...not very high, since I've been faithfully signing (More! Milk! Eat! All done! Cookie! Cracker! WTF!) with Noah for over a month now and he's shown the same level of interest as back when I tried the infant signing with him. Which to say, zero. Mom, you're so lame.
But we started watching them about two days ago, and Noah...well, he likes them, but he likes pretty much everything on the glowing teevee box, especially since we've drastically limited his intake of Dora and Blue.
Well, let's not get CRAZY here. We do need to be good playdate hosts, now.
He wanders in and out of the room, which is fine, since I prefer that to the enthralled, slack-jawed video stare (see, uh, above), but I doubted he was actually taking any of the signs in, especially since he continued to pointedly ignore my clumsy attempts to sign along.
This morning he finished his milk and cereal and then, without a moment's hesitation, he said "eat" for the very first time while making the sign for "more."
Uh. Holy crap.
Baby Einstein? You just got PWN3D.
totally giddy for you! i'm so buying these...
We are addicted to teh Signing Time. Except where they remade the first three DVD's and keep sending the notices that I can re-buy NEW! IMPROVED! for discounted cost. Because my boyz is fine with the low rent production on the originals, k thx.
Also? How to be getting invited to playdates with the Amalah, because out here in the stix (3 years now, y'all) I am sorely lacking in geex0r chicks who get me, and my random references to pop culture along with Walt Whitman. And the wine. The wine playdate is not done in the Eastern Panhandle, babies... We might be moving to the Czech Republic, and all I can think is "phew. At least people will think I'm a total freak IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE" Because maybe then it won't be so loud, and at least the pilsner will be good.
... I know, right? I can't imagine why I don't play well with the other moms, either. *grin*
We are addicted to teh Signing Time. Except where they remade the first three DVD's and keep sending the notices that I can re-buy NEW! IMPROVED! for discounted cost. Because my boyz is fine with the low rent production on the originals, k thx.
Also? How to be getting invited to playdates with the Amalah, because out here in the stix (3 years now, y'all) I am sorely lacking in geex0r chicks who get me, and my random references to pop culture along with Walt Whitman. And the wine. The wine playdate is not done in the Eastern Panhandle, babies... We might be moving to the Czech Republic, and all I can think is "phew. At least people will think I'm a total freak IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE" Because maybe then it won't be so loud, and at least the pilsner will be good.
... I know, right? I can't imagine why I don't play well with the other moms, either. *grin*
Noah signed his first sentence! YAY!!! I swear, kids are really sneaky, making us think that they are not paying attention but they really do have sharp eyes! Sometimes I sign to my son and he's not looking at me but later he repeats back what I said to him. I'm like HOW???? Maybe kids have a third eye that we don't know about... The important thing is that they are communicating! =D
Oh yes, we also have the signing time movie set. They are fantastic.
AIM-a-la? Riiiiight....you said that. You will need to change that because We, The Internet pronounce it a-MAH-la.
I'm SO jealous you and Sweetney got to hang out. Betcha had good wine too. Damns...
Oh, and I have been faithfully pronouncing Amalah correctly for YEARS now, but, sadly, was screwing up poor Ceiba's name royally! SAY-buh. Hmmmm. Say-buhta buhta buhta sa-wing buhta buhta... Aaaaaanyway...
Sounds like Noah is in the background of the video yelling "AMALAH!" And I love the little *BARK* at the very end!
Oh hot damnation that's my favorite picture of Noah EVER!
Yay, go Noah!!
*shakes imaginary pompoms*
That's an adorable shot of Noah.
Also, I don't think that D'Artagnaienalyah is such a bad name....when I was little and didn't pay enough attention in Sunday school I got the idea that I really wanted to name my first baby Bathsheeba.
Eh, don't worry, they have Internet cafes in Ecuador. I'll keep him in line.
as Amy already pointed out, firefox = SUPERIOR
the conflict between the overlay and the video is a big flaw on Microsoft's part and unfortunately outside of the realm of my control.
So, if you can, download Firefox NOW and never ever ever look back!
(In reference to your post title earlier in the week ...)
Look! Flight of the Conchords T-shirts!
http://www.nerdyshirts.com/new-items?RefID=1019238
Um... does nobody else hear it? Noah, in the echoey background of the video (thanks to those fabulous new hardwood floors!) is saying, very calmly: "AIM-a-la. AIM-a-la. AIM-a-la." Isn't he? Or maybe it's the cat. How IS Max, by the way? There has been no evidence of him in some time. Or the tire.
Site looks awesome!! I can only think of one little thing that might improve it and that would be listing me on your links page. Well, pooh - it would look better TO ME. haha
We're heading into a speech therapy thing with my little one too. So good luck with that. The thing is, Noah is so damn cute he might not need to speak. He can just bat his eyes and smile and the world will fall at his feet.
Not all the links on the left menu bar are hyperlinked correctly?
My own little blondie, hardly talking, almost 3 yo also has those same jammies. He can't sign anything though (pity!).
My friend taught my son "more" before he could talk and she was oh so proud! He still does it not and again even though he can talk some. It's pretty cool they can catch onto stuff so fast though!
I feel I should warn you that Early Intervention people want you to do all the work. That's how they train them. I was trained in EI and thought "Oh my God! We have to follow the parent around and bug them and teach them what to do? You mean we don't just do a session and give these poor people some time alone??" I understand the "teach a person to fish" thing...but how annoying. It felt a little like inviting someone to dinner and taking out a whiteboard and going into an Amway pitch on their unsuspecting ass. So...yeah. Sorry about the pedicure. Maybe you could excuse yourself to the bathroom. For an hour.
Amy, you have truly freaked me out.
You and I sound IDENTICAL. As in, my roommate was listening when I played the video and went "Wait, what did you say?" and then I played it again and he went "UH. DUUUUDE. She has your voice."
I love reading you everyday and I am so freakin' excited about "eat" and "more." You and Noah rock! I had a late talker and every sign and word-approximation was cause for cake, cake, cake and wine.
Awesome! I told you I love those videos - I use them with my students. :)
You have got the cutest voice, AIM-uh-luh! And your dog SAY-buh is also cute! But neither of you are as scrumptiously cute as NOAH! Who is so adorable it doesn't seem possible for that much cuteness to be in one person's face :)
Also? Tracey's daughter? Getting so big!
Dear Amy,
I am hooked by your blog, absolutely love it (have been lurking for a few months now). I'm giving you a Thinking Blogger Award, if that's alright w/you. My own blog is written entirely in Spanish, but feel free to drop by (there's pictures..?).
Thanks again for your writing, and all the best :)
Like Starbuck, I'm pretty sure Noah was saying "Amalah" in the background.
Ok I thought I just heard Noah say AMALAH in the background. Ive listened to it twice!
Yay for World's Favorite Net Toddler!
He's so adorable I just want to give him a big ole zerbert on his neck! If I didn't already have two children and know that the cuteness fades and the paininthebuttness sets in? Pictures of Noah would totally be making me wanna be a mom.
That's awesome! Love the new look!