First Words

This afternoon I was just chillin' in my bedroom , doing some cleaning, rearranging some pictures... nothing really of great importance. Actually, I was just enjoying the fact that I was not in charge of feeding Sadie her lunch. As today was Saturday, Ryan was on lunch duty. Out of habit, and as a mom tends to do, I was casually listening in on what was going on in the kitchen.

Sadie was just about ready for a nap which means she was on the ornery side. On top of that, Ryan had chosen green beans for her to eat...not her favorite. So she was actually just a little more ornery than usual. So in my eavesdropping I was hearing some whimpering and some fussing. She must have decided she was done eating because the fussiness suddenly escalated into a full out complaining whine. I am no stranger to this escalation from ornery to angry, so much so that I can almost completely tune out those cries when they are not directed at me. Suddenly I heard something that made my ears turn on full blast. A clear and distinct "Mama" came out of Sadie's mouth.

I walked tentatively out of the bedroom and poked my head around the wall to peer into the kitchen, a smile slowly spreading across my face. Ryan returned my gaze smiling himself. "Did she just say what I think she just said?"

My baby just said "MAMA"!!!!!

Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke I picked her up and like a total idiot started saying it over and over again to her. "Sadie, say Mama." 'Mama" "mmmmmaaaaa, mmmmmmaaaaa" (Sounding it out slowly for her so she would know exactly how to say it). Of course I got silence in return. What else could I expect?

So telling myself it was just a stroke of luck, her baby babble just happened to create a word that I wanted to hear, I started to get her ready for her nap. I was wiping off her face with a wet washcloth (something she despises) and again, "Mama" (this time with a slightly more annoyed tone).

OK. I am NOT making this up. There was no other babble before. No other babble after. Two syllables spoken closely together...word-like. AND you must consider the context in which the word is said: both times she was getting upset...times when she would want her mom.

Yep. I am officially declaring Sadie's first word to be Mama. And now that Sadie can talk Ryan and I are walking around the house pointing everything out to her - D-O-G, D-A-D-D-Y, B-I-N-K-I-E...Ha, Ha, I am sure she is thinking "What retards! My parents are weirdos!!!" I don't care. My baby said Mama!!!!! This may just be my proudest moment ever!!!!!!!

So, am I crazy? Can babies verbalize at 8 months????? (And if you are going to comment you better say yes...don't steal my thunder!)