yakkity yak

When Lilli first copied the sound "hi" in my high pitched, sing song, mommy voice, I thought she was just mimicking the sound and not the word. Within a few weeks she added "daadee" and then a few days later accompanied by a wave. At first, I had to initiate the combination, with an annoyingly loud and excitable "Hi Daddy!" But eventually she got the concept that it meant something more than just a sound we make when someone comes or leaves.

That was around June, and now in July she has picked up a few other connections. She knows that when we sing certain songs we clap. She knows when everyone claps at once someone did something wonderful (usually thinking it was her doing). She knows when she puts her fingers in her mouth she's telling me she is hungry and when she rubs her eyes it's time for a nap or bed.

It's not that I didn't want to tell anyone she had said her first word, I just didn't believe it was possible at 9-10 months. So I dismissed her signs, words, and other actions as coincidence time and time again. It wasn't until she accompanied the word or action with the correct setting that I really put it together.

I feel almost guilty that I didn't give her enough credit when she first made these monumental leaps in communication. I actually said out loud, "you really didn't just do that..." For that, I am sorry. Every single day she amazes me with her intelligence and ability. As I tell my youngest brother, I will always buy you books. I will always be their cheer leader.