Communication is the key

I am quite enjoying this stage in Daniel's life. He is becoming quite the chatter - babbling lots and lots. While I have no clue what he says, we make it up and repeat what he could be saying. But while I can't understand his verbal cues, I am increasingly understanding what he wants. He is getting good at pointing in the direction of something that he wants - whether that's the door when he should be having a nap at Jenny's house (like yesterday) or his water while he is having a meal. It is pretty awesome to see that he is understanding that he can ask for things - he now needs to learn that the answer won't always be yes. So yes, with increasing his communication we are also increasing the little tantrums (which I must say are very cute and funny! I am trying to get one on video but just haven't had the luck yet).

He is pretty good at waving to say bye now. Kisses are now few and far between though. It was very cute while it lasted.

Bye

He has started to learn that he can open some of the draws in the kitchen - mainly the tupperware draw because it isn't weighted down by plates, pans, etc. 

He loves pulling out the different lids and containers and then putting them back. Again with understanding what I am saying, he is very good at watching that he doesn't jam his fingers in the draw.

He also enjoys having the job of closing the fridge door whenever it has been opened (again, watching his fingers), closing the microwave door after watching whatever has been cooked in it, closing or pushing open the front door when we are going out or coming home. He is very proud of himself too when he pushing these things closed.

Another thing that Daniel understands is when I say 'It's breakfast/lunch/dinner time'. This morning I said 'It's breakfast time Daniel' and he crawled from the kitchen over to his high chair and started to pull his chair out - he knows what he needs to eat. This I thought was very cute and clever!

He does similar when I ask him if he wants some milk. Whether I am sitting in the chair or not, when I ask him he will crawl over to the chair quite excited! I am really not too sure how I am going to be able to wean him off being breastfed... He just enjoys it so much! Last Monday I forgot to leave a bottle with Jens when I went to work. I told Jens we'll just leave it for the day because he it would be too late for him to have the milk when I got home from work. When I got home, I was silly to sit in the chair that I feed him in. Well, the world apparently ended! Daniel crawled over and tried to pull himself up. When I wouldn't feed him he got quite upset. He was very happy when he had his bedtime feed!

So I am quite enjoying this stage of communication. It will be a lot better though when he can speak so it is clear what he would like - but then I know that answering back will start up too so yeah. I will enjoy this stage!

This morning has been quite a nice morning. At breakfast time I decided to try giving Daniel half a banana, not cut up. He was rather curious about it and hesitant to have big bites from it. But he got there in the end. Only problem was toward the end he just shoved in the whole rest of the banana - a bit too much for it to be comfortable, but he worked it and managed to swallow it. 

I'll just pick at it thanks Mummy.

Ok... so I can bite it...

I can do it on my own!

 

Too much in at once. Hahaha!

 He also 'helped' me hang out the washing. He just loves pulling the pegs off (not so helpful) so I give him his own row of pegs to pull off. It takes a lot of concentration to pull them off!

He has also learnt that he can stand on his couch to be able to reach higher shelves. After this photo, I then moved the couch away :-)

Loving hanging out with my little man!