This is motherhood

Yesterday I was answering an email while P was playing nearby. He had his back to me and I heard him saying, "Ma...ma...ma...ma...ma..." I glanced over and he wasn't calling me or upset in any way...he was just saying my name over and over.

I marveled at that - it was almost like he was just enjoying the sound of my name. I wondered if saying it reminded him of me, and brought him a feeling of safety and security. I felt so happy that I could make him feel so safe and so warm. I went over to him to give him a little hug.

And then I saw that he wasn't saying my name - he was just opening his mouth over and over so he could blow bubbles with his spit.

Thanks, kid.

P turned twelve months old this week. It's amazing what he can do. He walks easily and is learning to run. He can climb on the furniture. He's learning to use a spoon and fork and is mastering drinking from a lidless cup without spilling any on himself. He's started scribbling (although we don't usually let him have scribbling implements yet). He also uses these words consistently:

Mama (my name, not just the spit-blowing noise)
Dada
No (that one's charming)
Vroom (the car noise)
Good (Mike and I are split on this one - Mike insists that he uses this word when he's enjoying his food, and I say it's more the sound he makes when he's using his tongue to propel food backward in his mouth)
Ba (Mike says he uses this for bottle, but I haven't heard it)

I can't wait to see what comes next.