The flood gates are opening

You may be aware that Claire and I have been concerned that Henry hasn't started talking. Well, I guess we don't have to worry about that anymore. (We'll have to find something else to worry about.) In less than one week, he has said these words for the first time:

• bye-bye
• please
• hot
• up
• open
• car
• why (he was imitating Gabe when he said that one)

I'm sure I've forgotten a few.

Claire and I can't get over how cute he sounds. He's always been a babbler, but it's lovely to hear him say real words.

Henry's catchphrase

I wrote the following in an email to a friend, and thought it worth posting...

Henry can say "Uh oh!" (when he's in the mood), but while he babbles almost constantly, it's almost always the same thing: "wha-jeez-dyatch" (or something like that). He makes it work for him; we've thought he was saying "What is that?" and "Me touch that." I'm told the crossing guard at Elleda's & Gabe's preschool was convinced he said "What's up Dennis?" He reminds me of Elleda, who babbled past the age of two, and then skipped the one and two word stages and switched very quickly to complex sentences.

Henry is starting to understand too. He's very happy to bring things to Mommy, Daddy, Elleda or Gabe. And he certainly understands what items belong to which of us--he'll decide to bring Elleda her teddy bear, or Gabe his blanket, or Claire her shoe. (He very proudly brought me one shoe yesterday as we were getting ready to go out to the park.)