"Pa-pa"



Yes. It is beginning already. Just four months ago Magnus uttered that wonderful word that makes every mother catch her breath. But now, you say "mama" to him and he giggles and says "papa." And how pleased is papa?

"It's pretty cool," says Alan. "I'm very happy."

Indeed. Magnus first said it to Alan when we were on our three-day sail trip last weekend. (We intended to circumnavigate Vashon but because of a late start, we sailed to Winslow, then Port Orchard, then home to Seattle with a quick stop at Blake Island.) And in the middle of a crowded conversation (how much room do you think there is on a 28 foot sailboat with a baby and a 60 lb dog?) Magnus turned to Alan, put his hand on Alan's face and said "papa." We all just melted. Later in the trip we tried to get him to say "mama," which he used to say regularly, and he just grinned and repeated "papa."

Not that I mind. I have had many friends whose mothers were feminists or otherwise resistant to the label of "mother" and they called their mothers by their first names. But I remember what it was like to hear "mama" and to simply be recognized as one who loves him so much.

He has said other words, or words that sound like words. "Dog, cat, Kashi (his cereal)" seem to be stuttering out of the baby talk at opportune times. He also for sure understands "nursy, eat, juice, water, change." But there is still one very special word he says repeatedly at 4 am, or when he's scared that I am far, far away, or when he has a good kabonka. It's "bob. Bob bob bob bob bob bob bob." That's me. The one with the bobs.

Posted: Mon - November 29, 2004 at 10:34 PM        

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