In Ethan's words...

One of my favorite phases of early childhood is learning to talk! It is obvious that Ethan can understand much of what I am saying to him, "put this on the table"..."go find the stairs"..."where is your brother." And it is also obvious that he is, in turn, trying to communicate with me, but he can't quite find all the words just yet. It's not nearly as cute as hearing it in person, but I thought it would be fun to share some of the things he is saying—or trying to say—at this stage, and in a few months maybe I can report back with an update on his progress ;)

Mommy and Daddy He's got these two mastered of course, but he just started saying them both in the same breath, "Mommy Daddy" (who needs conjunctions anyway?! :)

Shelby This is one of my favorites, it sounds like "Dalby" I'm seriously considering changing Shelby's name to Dalby!

Caleb We're still working on this (and grandma); when prompted to repeat "Caleb." he usually just gives you a blank stare
 
banana This one has been in the works for a while, but he still just says "nana" or once in a while "nummy nummy!"

ball so far just sounds like "bah"

bike sounds like "bye"—today he saw a couple motorcycles drive by the house and he pointed and shouted "bye!"

bye With a little more emphasis than when he means bike, this sounds like "byeee" and he always says it with a very distinct, energetic wave!


hi He can finally say this too! "hi!"

guy Another easy one "guyee"—in reference to any toy figure—male OR female ;)

outside "eyee? eyee?" If he hears mama say "it's time to go outside," he usually repeats it a couple times—as though he's asking me if that's what I really said?!

eye Obviously he's got this one down. And for some reason, when we look through his Big Book of Animals, if he doesn't know what the animal is, or what sound it makes he usually points at the picture and says "eye?" 

cow Another easy one— "cowww" (he likes to hold his vowels for an extra second or two), but it's the subsequent "MOOOO!" that is so stinkin' adorable! And he always moos at the cows on the way to church. Initially, it was a very accurate, low pitched "mooo," but then last week, out of nowhere he screeched "MOOO-OOO!" as though the cow was getting kicked in the groin! From there, it quickly developed into a "mooing" match with Caleb (awesome).
 
puppy and kitty
Before he could too many other words, all animals were "puh-pees" and I'm not sure why, but at some point we'll have to clarify that a "tih-tee" is not actually a furry critter ;)

fishy usually comes out "ish-ee" and he always says it so adoringly!

 
sticky or stinky These two sound about the same for now—"stih-ee." Two qualities that are commonly used to describe a messy baby, and therefore very important to learn ;)


And the latest, just today..

nukie This is what we call his pacifier, and when Ethan says it, it sounds like "noo-nee." Can't you just see his cute little lips forming the "ooo" and "eee" sounds?! Aww.


That's all I've got for now. Maybe I can capture a video of some of them soon!