People and the Professional Conversationalist

Conversations with Bug have become more frequent and more real. It's as though I'm actually speaking to a person. I know, I know- she is a real person. From day one, people (and by people I mean books, doctors, people...you know) tell you to converse with your baby even though your baby cannot respond. Okay. For awhile I felt like I was talking to a wall. I'd pick her up from school at 6 months and I'd ask her how her day was and I'd get no response- maybe some burps and that's about it. Then around a year she'd babble nonstop, but still I couldn't really understand. However, I kept on "conversing" with her because the "people" told me to. :) Even though Bug's known a ton of words before, forming coherent sentences were never quite possible. Then one day, on our way home from school, the conversation went from Mommy and the wall to this...

Mommy: "Buggy, how was school?"

Bug: "Good."

Mommy: "What did you do today?"

Bug: "I run on the playground wid Leilah- like dis." (Bug motioning her arms as though she was running)

Mommy: ::GASP!:: "Wow! You ran with Leilah?"

Bug: "I run in circles!"

And right there, I had my first real, legitimate conversation with my kid. Amazing. Those "people" were right- having a conversation with your baby will one day motivate them to finally respond. Mommy no longer has conversations with the air or the wall. Bug is now fully engaged in conversation and it is amazing to hear despite that at times a lot of the conversations are demands.

This weekend we had the chance to practice having two kids when we babysat Lo for a few hours. Lo is just over a year old and experimenting with words and I caught Bug listening to her babbling and this is what I heard...

Lo: "Me-no-mine-no me." --Perhaps not necessarily in that order, but something like it.

Bug: "Mommy, why Lo say it like dat?"

Mommy: "I don't know. You mean you don't understand her?"

Lo: "Me-no-mine-no me." --Again, perhaps not necessarily in that order, but something like it.

Bug: "Lo? Why you say it like dat? Use your words."

Because Bug is now a professional conversationalist, she feels the need to correct Lo. :P

This weekend, Bug got to practice her conversation skills on play dates with school friends, talking with Daddy's coworkers at the Angel's game, and concerts in the park. :)

Saturday: Morning park day with baby G, her mommy, and baby C and his parents.

Pretty sure she's making a move on baby C.

Quite possibly the funniest kids ever.

Saturday night Angels game for Daddy's work family night! Our babies made it onto the big screen and they both danced away all nine innings! :) First time babies (and this mommy) have made it through an entire baseball game without complaints. Big news- Bug is slowly conquering her public restroom fear. She used her first public restroom at Angels Stadium! :) (And she had to wait in line to do it and we still had no accidents!) I'm still amazed and so proud.

Sunday with Lo, Ninang, and Ninong!

This might just be a picture perfect moment in a picture perfect town. I love where we live. It's such a great family-centered community. Seriously? Not only are Lo and Bug running down the street so happy with Ninang, but the kids running in dresses in the background, twirling ribbon? Come on! You cannot plan this moment. It's a great neighborhood.

My kid would leave them behind.

Helping Lo stand.

Big news- Bug used her second public restroom at Starbucks! And she had to wait in line again and still no accidents! Yahoo! We're slowly, but surely conquering this public restroom fear. Not even two years old and already showing us she can do just about anything she wants to (when she wants to).

Concert in the park!