Month 22: The Third Person
Do not adjust your screen: yes it really is another Stay-At-Home Chad newsletter! We don't have an entry for Month 21 due to me not doing it. But also, these months aren't as jam-packed with developmental leaps. Every day is still full of surprises, but we just have fewer milestones left to reach.
The Third Person
It is clear that our household now consists of three people - not two people and a baby. Toby understands so much of what's going on, and once she grasps a new concept, she wields it with a determined mind. She is not a passenger in this life. Even when she wants her daddy to carry her around, she still points the way.
But how can we say how much she actually understands? Toby does not hesitate to tell us. I've talked about talking before, and I know her chatter doesn't translate for everyone, but Szuyin and I have come to terms with Toby's vocab. She is an enthusiastic communicator, and she applies her words to great effect.
Notably, Toby's most versatile word is "Toby." Depending on context, body language, emphasis, and volume, Toby's third-person "Toby" may mean:
- Yay! I did it!
- I want/demand that.
- Stop! Let me do that!
- This is mine.
- Make up a new verse of this song with my name in it.
- Count me in!
- I don't need you to play with me right now.
- Peek-a-boo: "Where am I? Where is Toby?"
And this one doesn't exactly count, but it's still very cute. Whenever she shares something with us, she says "thank you, Toby!" And whenever she sneezes, she says "bless you, Toby!" It's her subtle way to urge us to say those phrases in response.
You may have noticed that I represent most of these Tobys as commands, but our sweetpea remains a very sweet girl. She is a sharer, a snuggler, a singer, a dancer, a builder, a runner, a helper, and a learner.
Being the caregiver for a toddler is not easy, and sometimes I'm too tired to enjoy the changes that come with a third person in the family. But there's always plenty to be grateful for, and a lot to look forward to.
Thanks for reading!