Ishu’s Dadi got him this learner’s cup to help him transition from the bottle. When we unpacked it from the box, he was curious about the big red furry looking thing on the cup. I pointed to it and said, “That’s Elmo!”

“Mo,” he repeated.

“Yeah, can you touch Elmo’s nose?” I asked.

He put his finger on Elmo’s orange nose. “Naak,” he said. (“Naak” means “nose” in Hindi).

“Yeah, that’s Elmo’s nose!” I exclaimed.

“Mo,” he said.

Last night, he drank about half his milk and then pushed the cup away. I was kind of urging him to finish it off so we could get to bed.

“Where’s your Elmo dudu (milk)?” I asked.

Ishu looked around the floor and said, “Mo, dudu.” He spotted it and wobbled over to it. 

I was a little taken aback. I think this was the first time I heard him say three syllable sounds. It was definitely not fluid. He said “mo” and then paused for a second or two and then, “dudu.”

But he did it. 

So then I thought, “Hm. If he can do that, then he should be able to say ‘Babaji.'” “Babaji” is Ankur’s papa. 
I had him try.

“Baba. Ji.” “Babaji.” I first said slowly and then quickly.

“Baba. Baba. Jai jai,” he attempted.

He tried a few more times and then we moved on. He finished his milk, brushed his teeth, and then we got into bed where it usually takes about 15 minutes or less to get him to go to sleep.

Well, my friends, last night it took him over an HOUR to fall asleep. And you wanna know what he was doing the entire time?

“Baba. Jai jai.” “Ba jai ba.” “Jai jai ba-pa.”

There were moments during that hour that I thought it was time. His eyelids were heavy. Pacifier was in. It got quiet. And then, out of nowhere, he’d pull out the pacifier and say, yet again, “Baba. Jai jai.”

He wants to talk SO BAD. Persistent little babbler.

Sweet and endearing, sure. But definitely the last time I have him try to practice a skill right before bed. Ha. 

LESSON LEARNED.