Be careful what you wish for - Talking to baby

For a while now, mommy has been having to remind daddy of the importance to talk to Sydney. She reminds him that Sydney gets to hear her voice all day long and that it is necessary for Sydney to hear daddy's voice as well.

Well, sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for....

Within the past few days, daddy has been busy talking to Sydney. As they sit in the recliner, Daddy tells him "You get to sit with DA-DA in DA-DA's recliner and watch the television with DA-DA." 

(He throws DA-DA into casual conversation wherever it is humanly possible because he is hopeful that if he keeps working at it, DA-DA will be the first words uttered by that precious little voice.) Daddy REALLY wants DA-DA to come before MA-MA because he feels that mommy has the advantage of spending 24/7 with baby and is convinced that mommy and baby practice MA-MA all day long while daddy works, which is FAR FROM TRUE.

Daddy has gone as far as to tell Sydney "You see that lady over there? Yes, that is DA-DA's wife and she will be providing you with supper since DA-DA doesn't have milk for DA-DA's baby, but DA-DA's wife does." Then, as he passes off the baby for his feeding, says "Here you go DA-DA's wife. Here is DA-DA's baby who is hungry - like his DA-DA. That's right... DA-DA."

As obnoxious as it is, it is actually kind of funny.... especially when the What to Expect the First Year book states that "despite many-a-mother's dismay, DA-DA is most often uttered before MA-MA despite the countless hours that baby spends with mommy; most likely because DA-DA is simply easier to say."

Needless to say, mommy asked for it! Mommy requested that Daddy talk to Sydney.

Every day, we ask Sydney "Can you talk?" The best time is when he is well-rested and has just been diapered. (This is the time that he tends to enjoy laying on the floor and kicking his legs. This is when he is smiley and you can tell he's trying REALLY HARD to talk, but can't quite grasp the concept of his tongue and vocal cords working together to make sounds.)

He says COO and A-GOO somewhat regularly. (Mommy asks him "Who is this A-GOO you speak of?", to which he just smiles or squeals with delight.)

Mommy warns daddy that because she is a stay-at-home-mom and has all the time in the world to talk to Sydney, he will most likely be a chatterbox, like his mom. (You can imagine Daddy's excitement about that.)

Funny how you spend countless hours encouraging them to talk, but once they learn to be sassy, you spend years wishing they would be quiet. (We'll hope for minimal sass.)

Tonight, Sydney made a MA sound. That's when DA-DA passed him off to be fed. (Maybe we'll just pretend that he meant to say that...)