Tuesday, September 1, 2009

When does a child know their name?

It is just a shock... like wow! My child's brain works!

It was inevitable and I knew it would happen, but for it to happen in such a short amount of time is just surprising to me.
MJ has learned his name. It is actually pretty adorable... amazing, exciting, cool and just plain elementary, but as a parent... it's well... wonderful!

I noticed it on Monday morning. I woke up to the sound of my wife opening the bedroom door from the hallway on her way to the bathroom to take a shower. She had MJ in her arms and he was wearing a six-month old onesie which we had no idea he had grown into.

"I had to do it," said Laura.

"what?" I asked while rubbing my eyes with a sleepy tone in my voice.

"I had to open the next drawer.." she replied. "He is getting so big I didn't even notice his three months onesies were too small now!"

In MJ's nursery we have drawers under his changing table where we keep the bulk of his clothes. In the top drawer there are 3-6 month onesies and below that, in the second drawer are his 6-9 month onesies and t-shirts... and in the third drawer from the top are his shorts, pants and swim suits. Now granted until this past week he could still wear newborn shorts but now has graduated to 3 months.

"Noooooo.." I said with a gasp.

"Yep.." said Laura, "it's so sad."

First our little boy does not have to be swaddled, now he is growing into 6 months clothes and he is only 5 months old! This is so wrong!

Back to what I was saying... MJ has learned his name. Laura slide him down into his little jeep, where we put him while we try and get ready to go to work... it keeps him occupied long enough for "My Friend's Tigger & Pooh" to come on the Disney Channel... his favorite show.

Laura rolls the car across the wooden bedroom floor and you can hear a combination of beeps and car gears as his pushes each button on the quasi mobile toy.

"Good morning, Mauldin!" I said to him, and to my amazement, he turned his head... he looked right at me! Like "what up pops?"

I wasn't sure if he just heard my voice and turned so he went back to playing with the various buttons and acting as if he were driving his jeep.

I said it again, "Mauldin!" He jerked his head around in my direction.... I couldn't believe it! Laura smiled from ear to ear... Our little man is growing up... he knows his name...

Now if he would only learn to say mine... "Daddy," that will be even better!

I'm not too picky...I would accept "Da-da" too!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Knowing his name is great! He now not only recognizes the sound of your voice but that you are talking to him! Next great vocalization will be either Dada or Mama! Nana

Anonymous said...

I can't believe how fast he is growing. He loves his Daddy so much! I can't wait for the day when you call out "Mauldin" and we both turn around and look at you :)
-Laura

ericdbolton said...

Good Job Super Sleuths...

DCUrbanDad said...

Just you wait. Just you wait.

He is an adorable little one.

Chris said...

Must be an amazing feeling to see your child grow into a little person of their own. Next thing you know he will be talking and have learned the word 'no'!

Laura said...

it is truly amazing at how fast they grow over the first year! everytime the little one outgrows something or moves on to a new milestone it really tugs the heartstrings. glad mauldin is doing so well, he looks super cute in his little car!

James (SeattleDad) said...

That is fantastic. I tell ya Eric, it doesn't wear off either. At least for the first two years. He will just keep amazing you and making you smile all day long. Enjoy.

Dad Blog said...

Just wait until he starts saying dad. He might be calling you for his poopy diapers soon enough.

Mike said...

With both of ours the first sounds they were consistently making were 'Pa' and 'Da' sounds.

I was convinced that the kids were just asking for me all the time. Which really helped me get to like the little buggers.

Ron said...

It's pretty amazing. Babies actually recognize their names and the voices of those calling to them.

At age 12 they start having difficulty with this especially when told to clean their room. By 16 they still retain the voice recognition, but use it to ignore you when you call their name.

Medical mystery

S3XinthePantry said...

Yeah, he'll day Daddy. Then he'll get even bigger and say "I love you, Daddy" and if you think you're crying now...just wait!

S3XinthePantry said...

You have an award on my blog!

Anonymous said...

Little milestones! Good times.