Man of Few Words

Hijo may not use many words, but he sure knows a lot. One of our new favorite games is where I ask for an object, and he finds it and brings it to me. He can distinguish between the soccer ball and the basketball and can find smaller balls in his toy box when he's already brought me his two favorites. He can bring me a baby shoe and a daddy shoe, but struggles a little when I ask for a mama shoe (which is a little ironic since I have the most shoes in the stand by the door). He also knows his cars, his cup, and of course Panda. He not only is able to identify his toys, but can find to his head, belly button, and toes as well. I love asking where his toes are when he's wearing socks because he'll sit down and pull them off then spend a minute or two examining his feet. He'll make the same noises and intonations I do as I count each toe, and then cheer. 

He's also getting good at following some simple directions. Matthew can hand him something over the baby gate (like the car keys or a letter from the mailbox) and tell him to take it to Mom and he will. He'll carry his sippy cup from the kitchen to his high chair when I ask him to, and I can put him down to walk in public more often now because he'll actually follow me or go the direction I tell him to. Before it was an awful lot like walking a cat*. 

Like I said, he doesn't use many words, but he's learning to communicate with me. The other day he successfully started signing "more" and has his own sign for "I'm done and want out" (eg. out of the high chair or out of the bath). He asks all the time what things are called, then babbles on and on about the world around him. Occasionally a real word comes out. I'm sure he's just storing up all kinds of vocabulary and one day he'll just start talking. What fun!

*I remember being about 12 and my Mom thought it would be a genius idea to be able to go on walks with our cats. She bought them little harnesses and leashes and we took them out for a stroll. Ha! More like they took us for a walk (along fences, under bushes, around trees). Putting a leash on a cat is about the most futile use for the object.