To walk, or to talk?

In high-school, there comes a phase when we agonize about choosing between Arts, Science or Commerce streams. At 12 months, it is as if babies have to make a decision to "specialise" in either one of the branches: physical motor skills, or language skills.

In this house, I had one of both. At 14 months, EggEgg can walk and even climb up and down the tiresome stair case at the old townhouse. We explored further around the neighbourhood, played more on the playgrounds, and had more ballgames after dinner. However, EggEgg's frustration mounts as he could only speak his second word "Baba" after he turned 2. ("You should teach him how to speak" was the constant advice I've been bombarded with.)

At the same age, Cola is still not yet walking independently. ("Is he walking yet?" is what I have to put up with this time.) But it's delightful to hear him say new words every day. "Deng! Deng!" he says excitedly whenever we turn on the Christmas lights. "Fa! Fa!" when he discovers another yellow dandelion in the backyard. "Bao! Bao!" when he caught us having a bikkie in the kitchen pantry.

Learning new words is so effortless this time. I point to a cat in the picture book and say, "貓, 貓", Cola repeated "Mah mah". Just like that, without any coaxing, vexing, hesitating.

I couldn't believe my luck and tried another word. "車, 車" as I flipped the page and point to a car. "Ce ce", Cola's done it again!

To other parents, this might be an ordinary thing, but after a year of hard work to teach EggEgg how to speak, this is just too easy. Too amazing. Too unbelievable.