Talking & Traveling

At our nine month check-up, the doctor proclaimed Jack's "excellent motor skills." He also asked, assumingly, whether Jack was saying "ma-ma" and/or "da-da" (like, of course he is, right?). Ed & I looked at each other and admitted no. On the drive back home, Ed talked only to Jack, saying "ma-ma," "ma-ma," "ma-ma." We're trying not to get too caught up in what Jack "is supposed" to be doing.

So, since the nine month visit to the doc, we've casually been saying "ma-ma" or "da-da" around Jack. But, his most coherent word- and one he seems to use correctly-- is "hi." That was, until this last weekend when we drove down to Tacoma for my Aunt Dale's wedding shower (she's marrying a man she dated over forty years ago!). When everyone woke up from their naps before leaving for the shower, Jack was (as usual) thrilled to see his cousins whose running, laughing, and playing keep his undivided attention. When he saw Lily, he began to talk and said over and over what sounded very much like "yi-yi." Mmm.. mama and dada don't hold a candle to Lily's power over Jack.

On Monday, Jack and I drove up to Bellingham for the memorial service of the pastor who I worked for while attending graduate school. It was Jack's longest car ride to date. After a LOT of singing, graham crackers, and a potty emergency (mine, not Jack's) at a rest-stop, we finally made it to the church. While I wasn't able to hear most of the service because of Jack's talking and need to explore, it was good to see people and spend a moment remembering Donel. Jack enjoyed crawling around between everyone's legs at the reception and I was able to catch up briefly with some of the women who were so important in my life for those three years at WWU. Jack fell asleep on the drive home, giving me an unusual amount of time to reflect and just be.

We're back on schedule today. He's sleeping well, still a bit anxious/interested in the washer/dryer and the vaccuum, and working on taking a step between the coffee and side table. I'm back to saying "da-da" now and then, hoping he'll just start rambling off those syllables along with all the other talk. Of course there's no hurry for him to talk. I'm just so excited to have a conversation with language.