How many words is a 16-month old supposed to be able to say? I don't know. I see those questions on the developmental questionnaires, and I never finish reading them; the answer is always "No." The proposed range is different, depending on the doctor, but, still. No. She was born with lips that couldn't close, and until a month ago, she had a direct line from her tongue to her nose, soooo, No.

What does Shierry say? Her first word was "Eh-Eh" for her sister/dog, Eleanor. For a long time, that was it. And even that disappeared for a few months. She then would say "Mama." Both Dan and I were and continue to be Mama. No matter what we do, we're both Mama. She hears a difference between the soft "m" in "Mama" and the sharp "b" in "Baba", but girl cannot get that B out. So, now I'm "Mama" and Dan is more like "Mah...Mah." She has also somehow picked up "Elmo," even though she's only seen him, like, once. She pronounces it "Eh...muh." In conclusion, that is 3-4 words, but really only 2ish sounds. Everything is "eh" and "ma/muh." Not nothing, but not a lot.

The main thing worrying me now is the lack of progress. She understands everything: directions, questions, jokes(? I think?). But she doesn't seem super interested in using her mouth as a means of communication with humans, other than through laughter and song. She uses her signs for that. And she is a great signer! She learns new signs quickly and has made up several of her own. When she throws her arm straight up like she wants to ask the teacher a question, that means "take me outside RIGHT NOW" or "I am currently outside" (as applicable).

She doesn't use her voice-words to communicate in a functional way. She doesn't call "Mama" or "Mah...Mah" when she wants our attention. She cries. She only says our names when she's happy and calm and she just points to us and says them to, I don't know, show off that she can. It doesn't seem to serve any other purpose. Which, I'll take it, but still, I want to hear her voice and I want her to tell me what she wants.

We still see an ECI speech pathologist once a week, but it's not working. Our original, beloved, therapist had to leave for personal reasons before the palate repair. The new therapist is very nice! But, ECI's mission is basically to help the parents help the child. And we are limited in our ability to help. It's difficult to articulate without sounding like a spoiled, lazy parent. But, here it goes. After coming home from work, between shopping, cooking, feeding, laundry, and dog, we are supposed to work with Poodle on her speech. We have the letter boxes. We are supposed to go over every object in those boxes and using a mix of our voices, gestures, and prompting, get her to say the appropriate sound. We are supposed to use the same technique when putting together a puzzle. Or stacking things. Or reading a book. Or eating. Or doing anything. Prompt, wait for response, and only then do activity.

Shierry, do you want to read a book? A, b-b-b-book? You say it. YOU SAY IT. Shierry, you try, then we'll read the b-b-b-b-book. <<<a sound is made by Shierry>>> Good try, baby! Now, what is this book about? A horse? A h-h-h-horse. You say it...ETC FOREVER ALL NIGHT UNTIL ZZZzzzzzzz...

I can't do it as much as I'm supposed to. I'm tired. I'm bored. I'm not good at it. I want to just play with her. She doesn't even ever say the sounds, so there's no feedback from her. She gets upset because she doesn't understand why she can't just read an effing book. It's not organic. It's not fun.

We are not born teachers. I know that because both of my parents are wonderful teachers and I've seen them in action and I...do research for the government for a living. Dan works on the Internet. We are parents to a special needs child and we try, but maybe not enough. Maybe not enough, but we do encourage her and talk to her nonstop and a few of the therapist's techniques are part of our daily m.o. at this point. She needs more than that. She needs a therapist who focuses on teaching her. We just aren't equipped to be her speech teachers. So, off to private therapy options we go!