Chatterbox

A snack for my jackerjack?
A hug for the bug?
Kisses for delicious?
Some food for my little dude?

We talk to Ivan about everything we are doing around him and the effects are evident.
The group leaders at the play groups tell us that his speech will come earlier than most. At thirteen months 'the books' say he should be able to say and understand the meaning of one word, perhaps two. I know it's not a race but I'm still giddy about it, I'm his mother, for greatness sake.

At nine months, his first word was “itty” for “kitty”.

These are the words he knows, he knows, these are the words he knows:

1. Daddy – Ivan says Daddy at least ten times a day, especially when someone picks up the phone.
2. Down – Be it an object he wants on the ground or if he wants to be put on the floor.
3. Up – Ivan’s word for a balloon.
4. Cup – Pass me my sippy cup please.
5. Tickle – Copying a song from playgroup.
6. Hot – The oven door is hot.
7. Uh-oh – Every time he drops something on purpose, it’s an uh-oh.
8. Mum – Usually he just calls me “E” but there are days when he says mum, not nearly as frequently when he addresses Daddy correctly, but there are days.
9. Hi/Bye – This is one of his baby tricks. He can say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ on demand.
10. Gone - Done with dinner, get me out of this restraining chair.

Though he can’t pronounce ‘milk’ and ‘food’ at this time, he sure knows what you are talking about. John and I have to spell these words if he’s within earshot or else he’ll charge towards us and start climbing up our leg to demonstrate just how in favour he is of these things.