Better Late Than Never

Lou said his first intentional word today. And that lovely word is…
Mama.
Just beautiful. Music for a tired mother’s soul. This, of course, effectively erases any lingering doubts about which of us is the favorite parent. Cedric spent the evening in the corner of the couch, arms folded, lips pressed together in a thin line, pretending to be interested in a magazine. But I know he’s jealous. Every time I left the room, I heard him coaching the boy – “Papa, pa-pa, PAPA.” But my son did not betray me.
Mama. Such bliss.
I was surprised to hear him saying “mama, mama, mama” as I went to take him from his crib this morning. I repeated the word, “mama,” and he repeated after me. So I suspected it was intentional. Still, I was cautious about drawing any conclusions, as it was the first time he’s said “mama,” even unintentionally. But this evening, he was clearly, purposefully repeating after me. Oh the cuteness.
Lou should have said his first word a few months ago, according to our doctor. She pronounced him delayed at our last check-up, telling us it was normal for babies to say a minimum of three words by the first birthday. She also recommended, as a matter of course, that we look into early intervention programs. Though we weren’t particularly concerned, as Cedric spoke only a garbled gibberish until he was nearly three, I believe it makes this moment all the more sentimental. We’ve been quietly waiting for it for months.
Son, you have made my day.