Language

Monkey's dad is traveling this week for work. Two weeks ago it was bonding time for Monkey and her daddy, not it is bonding time for us. A little yin, a little yang.

Monkey is becoming more verbal. She repeats words, and phrases. Recently we've heard her say (something approximating) "barnyard dance" which is the title of one of her favorite books. Mine too - it makes me laugh. And this morning she kept repeating the word "eye" in response to me pointing out the eye (singular) on her Ugly Doll.

She also understands things now. When I say "let's go play with your blocks" she'll run into the living room and tip over the box of Haba sticky bricks (awesome for toddlers!). So she is starting to "get" things.

But more importantly, she is starting to use words to communicate.

Which is how our week started. Dad flew to Geneva on Sunday night, so Monkey and I ate breakfast together (sans papa) on Monday morning. And what, you may ask, did our beloved insane toddler "say" that morning?

Dada. dada. dada. dada. dada. dada. dada. dadaadadadadadadadadadadada.........all with a little lilt to her voice, a questioning tone.

She wanted to know where daddy was. Awesome. Heart-achingly wonderful.

I have a sense that we are on a river of words, getting ready to go over a waterfall...we can't see it, but soon there is going to be a torrent of words streaming out her her little mouth. And once she starts talking, I don't think she'll stop.

Yeah, yeah. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. But hey, she looks and sleeps and has beautiful brown eyes just like her dad, so she might as well talk like her mom!