“NO!”

Our precious Juliette (I say that somewhat sarcastically) has started to speak. Mostly babble, but there are some recognizable words being spoken. On occasion she’s said things like “peek-a-boo”, “mama”, “papa”, and now “NO!” Sometimes we’re not sure if she’s really saying a word or not – it can be a quiet but clearly-enunciated “peek-a-boo” one moment and then a “mee-bahow” the next… so was it a trick of our ears or not? Overly-proud Becoming-A-Dad hearing what he wants to hear or was it real?

The one word that has gained real prominence in the last 2 days (for me, anyhow) is her saying “NO!” to us when she doesn’t want to eat or do something. She’s becoming clearer and clearer with that word – today especially I was under no delusions that she was saying no.

I’m now bracing myself for the next year or so of “NO!” to be followed quickly by a year or two of “Why?” and then another 30 years of “NO!”

Oh, and Happy Father’s Day to all those other dads out there!