Nick's only just over a year old and he's starting to really surprise me, he is showing me that he's understanding what I say. Up until now I believe we've always communicated pretty well as I've always responded quickly to his cries and especially over the last 7 months I've known what he wants and when. I feel that reading him has been a skill that I've learned over time as, many mums will say, it takes time, and mother's instinct doesn't necessarily kick in straight away.

The last couple of days Nicky has started showing me that he can understand ME and this is such an exciting time for me. I know he understood me before when I asked him 'Would Nicky like some water?' or 'Nicky want the boo?' which is my way of asking him if he would like a breast feed. He would respond with a bit of a half cry that everyone thought was really cute and then he'd get his drink. Mind you, I didn't offer the 'boo' in public. That's our private thing. Hope no-one's offended - in my opinion it's the same as anyone else asking if their bub would like a 'bot-bot'.

Anyway, little man has been astounding me over the last couple of days by pointing at things, which he's been doing for a little while now, but the other day he said 'at' which is his word for 'hat'. He was pointing at his hat and motioning for me to get it for him. I was so proud!!! Aside from 'dad' and in the past 'mummum', this is his first word. He loves walking around the house with his hats, he has plenty of them, so I can see why he's learned the word hat.

Yesterday, for the first time he started following my verbal instructions....... whoops now I think of it it's not the first time. I've been asking him to do things for a long time now and he's understood me since he was 6 months. We've always read loads of stories together and he learned to turn the page on my cue way back then - I would say 'Nicky turn the page?' in a questioning would you like to? tone. So with this in mind and also remembering that I can say 'Nicky close the door' of a door I don't want him opening and passing through, or a drawer I don't want him opening; he follows directions then, too. My goodness, this kid is smart..... either that or I'm teaching him something. No matter what, it's all good, he makes me so proud!!!!!

It's only in the last couple of days that I've probably noticed this because lately he's really interacting with me on a whole new level. He's pointing at everything and smiling and laughing and, in general looking at me with love and a twinkle in his eyes that makes my heart melt. I'm absolutely wrapped with this kid and he means the world to me! Tonight, while we were playing in his room before bed, he climbed into his green blow-up racing car on his own and looked back at me so proud. I think he was also pretty impressed with his new Winnie the Pooh jammy jams heheheh so cute!! He grabbed his life size Garfield and started patting him and cuddling him the way he does the cat and I said kiss Garfield and he gave him a huge open mouth kiss. Again this is the first time he's done this and I can't believe it. This little cutie pie is going to never stop amazing me and I'm looking forward to everything we have in store. This is only the beginning.

I wonder if anyone else can remember when they first realised their children were understanding them and communicating back. It's soo much fun when kids start interacting with you.

PS Oops I was just proof reading this and I don't know what people thought when I wrote about Nick and our cat. He DOES NOT kiss the cat!!! hehhe I'm always telling Nicky to be gentle with the cat. Though he has been know to try to jump on the cat's back and ride him like a horse on occasion, and when he does I always say "no" and get him to pat Puddha gently - then I have a little giggle to myself. Poor Puddhas, he loves Nick too!!