Finally!

Jude said "mama" - and meant it for me! I've been waiting and waiting. After having two early talkers, it's been a long hard wait for me, trying not to compare him to his older siblings. I sometimes worry about his ongoing thrush, and systemic candida and learning disabilities/immune issues, etc. And of course, he was just on a course of antibiotics for pertussis (incidentally, it doesn't make HIM better, it just reduces transmission). But it seems some words are coming now. I know I shouldn't be worried, he's only 13 months, and "on track" for his age. Here's what he has these days:

Mama, Baba (for Ali, and the same sound is also "bye bye"), ni-ni (night night), "bop" ("flop", he loves to flop on to the bed or on pillows), "yay-yah" (seems to mean both Leila and Elyas), uh-oh, uh (up), teet-teet (birds), and a kissing noise for kitties (like when you call them).

He has a lot of signs - "mine"/Jude's (touching both hands to chest), shakes head no and nods yes, signs up, all done, water/drink, eat, made up sign for pacifier, night night, waves hi and bye.

I think there may be more that I can't think of at the moment. He certainly is communicating - combining signs to make sentences, nodding or shaking his head when we try to guess his meaning. He understands and follows 2 and 3 step commands. I know it will come. It's just so strange to look back at videos of Elyas, speaking in 2-3 word sentences at 13 months, clear as a bell. Leila was a bit later and not as clear, but by 13 months had a lot of words too. Maybe Jude will be the strong silent type in life. :)