We’re getting into some extremely unpleasant nighttime rituals around here—screaming, crying, no one going to sleep until at least 10, sleeping all day as a result, lather, rinse, repeat…
But last night, I went to fulfill my part of the ritual with Simon and something possibly amazing happened. Simon, who used to go to sleep fairly easily, has started yelling his little head off. After a while I go in and voila! I need to change his diaper. Then I comfort him a little before putting him back in bed, whereupon he falls asleep quickly.
Last night, after changing his diaper, I sat down with him in the rocking chair. He lay his head on my shoulder and held me around my neck as we rocked silently.
Then I am absolutely sure I heard him say, “Ah love oo.”
My mind started racing a mile a minute. Did my baby just tell me he loves me? Is that possible for a little one to say? Could I have misheard it?
Whereupon he said, “Ah love oo ver muh.”
Darin was, shall we say, somewhat skeptical when I reported this to him. It is a complex thought for a 16-month-old to have, let alone express. He could be parrotting a phrase he hears quite often, but it’s not like he said, “Put that down, Simon.” And he’s not talking all that much, so a complex sentence is somewhat astounding, not to mention a complex sentence in an appropriate situation is doubly so.
Still: Ah love oo ver muh. What a beautiful thing for him to say. I got chills.
What sweet words!
that’s wonderful. my own little 17 month old daughter hasn’t said that yet, but she gives kisses and hugs freely and without prompting (or bribing 🙂 ) and it melts my heart. i’ve been reading your blog ’cause once i stumbled on it and then found out that your simon & my ali are about the same age, well, it’s kinda neat to see another parent’s perspective.
–brendan, ali’s daddy.
Aw! Diane, that’s so sweet. I’m glad Simon can say that to you:) It’s a wonderful “first sentence” I think.
Oh, he said it, all right. They save the big sentences up for when they really want you to hear them.
My melt moment was getting down on the floor with HM to help her with some studying. She said “You’re nice. I like you”
I don’t know what I’m going to tell all those people I was going to leave my millions to.
Give yourself credit. Learning comes easiest when the item to be learned is associated with strong emotion. You said it. Simon believed it and said it to you.