She Calls Me Baby...

So one of the funny "developments" lately is that LC is no longer calling me "Mama" or "Mommy" but has started calling me "Baby" instead.  It's pretty hilarious to hear her shout from her highchair, "BABY!" when I'm not paying enough attention and then, once we make eye contact, she signs "more" and "please" to let me know she's out of grub.  Clearly the child has a strong will about her and knows how to communicate exactly what she wants.  If she can't find the words, LC doesn't lack for expression that's for sure.  I'm not sure I've personally never seen such an expressive kid.

 

So far, she has a lot of single words that she can speak clearly...mostly the typical ones.  But those words have not - until today - strung together in any discernible way to form what I would call a sentence. 

 

I was on the phone with my Mom and when I was hanging up, I said, "Bye Mom..." and LC repeated..."Bye Baby!"  Everyone is baby apparently.  I chalked that one up to coincidence but only a few minutes later, I leaned down and gave her a bite of the mango I was cutting up for her dinner.  It was her first time to try it and she reacted very positively...her eyes lit up and she began frantically signing for "more".  I was still cutting it up so I didn't immediately respond to her but instead said, "Just a minute, please..." which she is learning means she has to wait. 

 

That's when the tiny human standing in my kitchen said impatiently, as clear as day, "Bite please, Baby."  

 

I stopped chopping mango to look down at her little face.  LC's chin was lifted almost stubbornly and her huge blue eyes were staring up at me expectantly.  I choked a little and slurred in surprise, "Imsorrybutwhaaaaatdidyoujustsay? Did you just say, Bite please, baby?" 

 

As if she knew exactly what I was asking, she repeated herself, "Bih peas" (Bite please).  Almost with the tone that suggested, "Ummmm, did I just stutter?"  It was adorable.  It was also freakishly weird.  It's so strange to me to suddenly have this person who couldn't talk a month ago speaking a pointed sentence at you, clearly expressing her desires.  SO weird...but so awesome. 

 

And then I did what any sane, rational, self-respecting mother would do...I tried to catch it on film for proof.  ;-)  As life always goes, I couldn't get her to say "Bite please, baby" but I did get her to do the "Bite, please".  And I love it so much I can't stand it that you can totally see LC's personality in this video...like, "Do I really want to say what she is asking me to say?  Or can I just get her to do it with my eyes?" 

 

My little Sasspot.  And please ignore my voice.  I want to choke myself for you.