Over the past few weeks Henry has evolved from calling me "dada" to calling me "dawa". And, because I sometimes yell his name with enthusiasm when I see him he has turned the tables and does this to me. He will look at me and yell "Dawa!" and if I say "what?" he will yell "Dawa!" even louder until I remember how I am supposed to respond. I am supposed to yell back "Henry!" When I comply he smiles and says "Dawa" in an indoor talking voice and I respond with a "Henry" in my indoor voice. You can see this in action at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOJeecMh8Ko
Although he has new words every day one of his favorites continues to be "Boots". Boots is our new cat (3 months or so) and Henry takes every opportunity to mention him, chase him, tackle him and pick him up (often by his neck). Boots is very tolerant and seems to like the games of chase. Henry has created a knock-knock joke about Boots and even invented his own sign to tell Boots to get down from the counter. The knock-knock joke goes like this: Henry says "knock knock" and knocks on the table or whatever is closest. I say "who's there?". He gives his winning smile and says "Boots". That's it - no "boots, who?" or any other punchline, but it's a start.
For "down", Henry will see Boots on the counter and declare "Boots!" After you turn to see Boots on the counter Henry takes his left hand and pats it on his right forearm (he'll make a great 3rd base coach) and says "down" (or at least a word that sounds very close to "down").
We honestly can't keep track of all his words - I will have to sit down to take a complete inventory but it is overwhelming. He likes to help push the buttons on the coffee maker when grandma or papa sleep over and the other day when we took out the coffee maker for them he said "coff-eee, papa". When reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?" Henry will pat the animals in the book but he really likes the teacher at the end - he comes real close to saying "teacher" almost perfectly. I was so shocked when he said it for the first time.
All in all we are so blessed and it is fun to watch the H Bomb develop and learn and love. I really like being his dawa.
