Eleven-month-old Genevieve is thisclose to talking in a clearly meaningful way. For the past fortnight or so, she has added a new word-ish sound every few days. "Mama" was first, and she is more and more confident with "Dada," as well. (Tuesday night, riding in the back of the car, she called out "Dada!" over and over, pausing each time to see if I replied. "Yes, honey? Do you need something?" *long pause* "Dada!")
The most charming thing she "says" so far is "mwah," which she'll do anytime she sees something she wants to kiss, hears someone giving or getting a kiss, or hears the word "kiss." These few "words" ain't much, of course, but just as I did when Julia was starting to talk, I am just bowled over by how personality emerges through even these shards of verbal expression. I can't wait to find out what she calls her sister.