Nina, Nina

Ivan's babbling is getting more and more complex each day. His babble vocabulary has expanded beyond single syllable babble into more complex syllable formations. So last week, when I thought I heard him say "nina" through his babble I just socked it up to him practicing new consontant and vowel combinations.

Until Saturday, when both Andy and I heard him distinctively say "Nina, Nina," while he was playing with his chuchu train.

Later that day, he actually told me "no, Nina," for something that he didn't want to do.

I was floored. It sounded too cute. But frankly, I didn't expect him to know my name or actually call me by it. Although as some quick post-incident consultation with other toddler parents confirmed, this name calling is rather common at this age, and yes, it takes all parents by surprise.

Then we tested him. Andy said who's Nina, and Ivan pointed to me. I said, who's Ivan and he pointed to himself, to "Ee ee," as he calls himself. Then I asked, who's Andy. He was stumped. He hadn't make the Andy-Dadda connection yet.

This was two days ago. Andy said while there were home today, Ee ee started calling him "Any" as well. (Apparently, Nina is easier to say than Andy.)