gracias

Yes, we're the parents who are trying really hard to get our children to say please (por favor) and thank you (gracias). So far, por favor falls on deaf ears. Our kids repeat most everything we say, that's the fun of the language explosion. Including, 'oh, $#^+!' Strangely, however, we just get blank stares when we say 'por favor'.

Gracias, on the other hand, seems to be catching on. Sort of. Rafa repeats it, although he's still not super interested in using words for communication. Sylvia uses it appropriately from time to time. And my favorite, she also uses it when she gives something to someone else. I'm not sure if it's more of her speaking for Rafa or just that she knows that it's a word that should be associated with that action. Or if she's just saying, I got this toy for you, thank you for taking it off my hands. Whatever it means to her (probably nothing, probably just rote association), its pretty adorable.