aaang!
Our daughter, Katya, has uttered her first word. In fact, she has used in a gazillion times already. She has been saying it since she was less than two months old. Unfortunately, it is not an English word, nor is it a Russian word. As far as we are aware it graces none of the modern languages. However, it is definitely a word, and one with many meanings at that.
Ang (A-ng): (1) It hurts. (2) It is uncomfortable. (3) I’m hungry. (4) I’m here, where are you? (Origination: primitive word. Perhaps the basis of modern English words like angst, anguish, and anger) Often used at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a wailing cry. Also used without crying, in a statement, as in “um ah Ang.”
Katya has mastered many different uses of the word “ang.” Sometimes she repeats it many times in a row and other times she says it just once. She uses it in howls of rage, plain statements of fact, and in bodily agitation. She can utter “ang” quietly and with great resignation just to let you know that it still hurts even as she gives up and lets herself fall asleep. She sometimes uses “ang” in the spirit of fair warning, repeating it in a level tone of voice every minute or so just to let you know that if you don’t pay attention to her soon she will start to scream. Recently, she has taken to arching her whole body backwards and screaming “ang” when she has to make a big burp.
In response to this word, we find ourselves asking all sorts of questions and making pointed comments, such as: Where does it ang? On which side does it ang? What angs? Ok. Ok. We hear you. We know it angs. We just don’t how to help. Yes, it angs and angs, doesn’t it? Stop anging! It is just a burp. Does this help your ang? WHAT angs? Explain Ang! (To other adults) I’ve got to go and figure out what this ang means. (To other adults) What do you think is anging her? Katya, WHAT ANGS? Please tell us. Help! Help! Ang!
In other developments, Katya is now 11 pounds, almost three times her birth weight. She is 22 inches long and has an enormous head. Every time we visit the doctor, the doctor shows us the curves used to determine how fast babies should be growing. At birth, Katya was 2 months below the curve for a newborn. At one month, she was still 2 months behind. Now, at 4 months, she has caught up to the curve both in weight and in head circumference. In weight, she just reached the bottom of the curve for a normal 4 month old. In head circumference, she has already reached the 50th percentile for 4 month olds.
This has been a week of firsts. Last weekend, she learned how to turn her head from side to side. The first time she did it, Peter was holding her. I said something to him and Katya’s head swung round. I thought Peter had done it and exclaimed “what in the world are you doing?” “Nothing, nothing at all” he said and as he was saying it, Katya’s head swung back toward him. Now, she loves to be carried upright so that she can look for side to side, from side to side, from side to side. For several days now she has been sucking on her hands as if she were trying to eat them. It seems that she trying to suck her thumb but she cannot find it yet. And finally, this morning Katya had her first oatmeal. I think as much ended up on her bib as did in her stomach, but she seems satisfied and I was joyous and excited.
That is all for now. We are expecting Katya’s uncle, aunt and cousin from Seattle to visit next weekend and then possibly the following weekend she will meet with her other uncle, aunt and cousin from Maryland.