Pardon me while I write in my baby book...

Pardon me while I write in my baby book….

At almost 15 months, Nora says:

More – ma (actually, more like MA!)
More milk – MA MA!
Cracker – kaa kaa
Cookie – kaa kaa (this can lead to angry misunderstandings)
Cupcake – kaaaaa kaaaaaa
Jack – Aaahhh (short “a” sound)
Grampa – gampa (could have been a fluke)
Clock – coh
Light – tuh (the “t” sound)
Dog – AH! (usually with excited pointing)
Thank you – dank oo (or some other sounds that rhyme, but with the singsongy intonation and the sign)
Apple – ahh, with sign
Bye – baaah (with wave)
Good night – baaah (with wave)
Shoe - shuh

Caw (what a crow says)
Moo (with lips way puckered out)
Woof – woo woo (deeply)
Cat – mow (for meow)
Eh-eh-eh – what a goat says; she really sounds like a goat
Quack quack – cah cah (with duck-beak hand movements)

Other animal sounds/gestures she knows: elephant, bunny, fish, hippo

EIEIO – eee eye eee eye eee eye
Twinkle twinkle, little star – wah wah wah wah wah wah wah (tunefully)

NOTICEABLY ABSENT FROM THIS LIST*:
Daddy
Mama

She signs “all done,” but it’s usually confusing because she uses it to mean “I would like to change the current situation.” For example, in the high chair, she might sign “all done” because has finished eating, and wants no more cheese. But it’s equally possible that she is “all done with not having more cheese;” that is to say, she wants more cheese. Well, this is a bad example, because if she’s talking about cheese, it’s always “I’m all done with not having more cheese.” But you get the idea.

Her other signs are improving. “More” used to be general pushing of hands together, but she’s graduated to using her right hand to point at her left palm as she brings them together. It’s very clear. The sign for “apple” is incredibly distinct, and she surprised us with it as it’s not one we have talked about all that much. If she’s thirsty, she will drag her finger down her chin if you ask her about it, and if she wants milk she’ll squeeze her little fists when you offer her some. In the past few days she has started to ask for water/a drink without being offered some by hitting her mouth with her fingers splayed; the sign is hitting your mouth with your fingers forming a “W.” And just today, during dinner, she kept putting her hands on her head and saying “Fawhh, fawhh.” She was starting the sign of the cross. (“In the name of the father…”)

She understands so much. If I tell her to go get her shoes, she gets her shoes. Or Pink Doggy, her lovey. She loves to sit on things if her feet can reach the floor, so she spends a lot of quality time in the doorway of the Tupperware cabinet. She tries so hard to play what Jack is playing; Not long ago, Jack was playing superhero with a towel tied around his neck and I caught her wandering around with a burp cloth draped over her shoulders. Jack also started a game where he shoots “goo” at people, and she played too, pointing her little fingers at everyone and saying, “Psshhh psshhhh psshhhh!” She dances by shaking her booty and I swear she sang a recognizable “Twinkle twinkle little star.” She kisses her babies and gives me hugs and and jabs me hard in the shoulder when she wants to nurse.

Fifteen months. I love fifteen months.

*I started this post about five days ago, so in the interest of full disclosure: She did say “Mommy” and “Daddy” two days ago but only with heavy coaching. And it hasn’t been repeated.