We have ways of making you talk

We've been waiting for that "magic moment" where Eleanor spontaneously sprouts a fully formed sentence from left field. Chalk it up to being a naive parent but I actually thought it would be a distinct and easily recognisable milestone, though I'm beginning to realise that drawing a line in the sand on the beginning of speech is rather subjective. It might also have something to do with my high expetation that it's not good enough until we hear a full sentence with subject-verb-object out of her mouth.

The thing is, even with the impartial assessment of a doting parent, I am comfortable categorising our interactions with Eleanor over the last couple of months as valid bi-directional conversation. We aren't discussing the finer points of life quite yet but we aren't certainly enjoying little chats with our baby girl.

If pressed to admit what I think her first sentence was, it would be "Daddy do work". A little sad but indicative I suppose of what I have to look forward to being self employed. Here are a few choice quotes that we have saved for posterity. I may share a few more from time to time.

Eleanor staring at Blub Blub, a fighting fish we were looking after for some friends

Eleanor: Bah-lub bah-lub. Nummy nummy! (Nelly's current word for hungry or food)
Daddy: Yes, mummy is getting Blub Blub's food
Eleanor: No! Nummy nummy! (Pointing frantically at the fish bowl)
Daddy: What... do you want to eat Blub Blub?
Eleanor: *pause* (Smiles slowly) Yes...

Eleanor was being grizzly one evening and kept asking for a snack

Eleanor: Ga ga! (Eleanor's word for sultana) Gaaaaa gaaaaa!
Mummy: Your'e not behaving yourself Nelly. Only happy girls get sultanas
Eleanor: Hap-pee! Hap-pee! (Tries to smile) Gaaaaa gaaaaa!

Eleanor playing on the computer keyboard on the weekend while Daddy is checking email on the laptop

Daddy: You having fun? Are you doing work?
Eleanor: Yes. Work! (Continues to type away)
Daddy: That's good. (Finishes checking email and goes to pick up the guitar to play)
Eleanor: No! No! (Shakes finger angrily at Daddy) Do work!

While on the subject on language oriented exchanges, we've been delighted to see Eleanor really take to music and songs. She's fond of the guitar and often wants to play along or dance with Daddy and Mummy as we go through her favourites (my finger muscle memory have Old McDonald burned into them for life now). It's particularly gratifying to see her anticipate and preempt parts of the song that she knows. So cute. One day I'll have to actually tune that ukulele.