Learning

Jules, it seems, is actively trying to learn the names of things. Today, he's been pointing at everything he sees and saying, "dat, dat". He moves on to the next object after I name each object. So our conversation goes like this:

Jules (pointing): dat

Mummy: That's a chair.

Jules (pointing): dat, dat

Mummy: Oh yes, there's a cushion.

Jules (pointing): dat

Mummy: That's your table.

Jules (pointing): dat

Mummy: Oh, and there's your beanbag!

Etc, etc

I never realized a child would actively try and practice his vocabulary like this. It's quite amazing to me. He instinctively knows how best to learn.

He is also choosing to do as we ask or not, depending on how he feels about what we are asking. This was proven tonight when Steve was giving Jules a bath. These days, Jules likes to stand up in the bath, and of course sometimes he falls and hurts himself. So we try to get him to sit down. Steve tried the usual, "Jules, please sit down in the bath. Jules, bum on the bath. No standing in the bath, you might hurt yourself." Jules remained standing. Then came the kicker, "Jules, if you don't sit down, I'll wash your hair." Jules hates having his hair washed (tears, screams, etc), and guess what? He sat right down. He understands what we're saying; he just doesn't want to do it!

Here's a video from after bath time. He loves escaping from the bedroom and going out to the kitchen to see whichever of us didn't do the bath that night. Notice the squeal of glee as he runs away!