Your priorities

Your mom and I are worried that you're not doing the same things as other kids your age.  No walking, no words, not a lot of the basic sounds.

BUT what's encouraging is that you seem to understand some words.  You're not a regular responder to them, but you can sometimes show us "daddy's nose" and "mommy's nose" though when we ask "where's Johann's nose?" you just sit as if to say "who's Johann?".

The latest "He understands us!" moment has come from "monster face".  The faces you learned to make at daycare, your mom and I have dubbed "monster face".  You've only been making this face for less than a month, and only your mom and I say "monster face" to you.  But now, when we say "monster face" without showing you with our faces what we're talking about (so we don't make funny faces), you will do it.  In fact, a few times, we've mentioned it in passing, and you'll hear the phrase, and do the face. It's thrilling to get confirmation that you do understand some of what we're saying.

What's even more fun/ funny/ hopeful/ interesting is that you've not bothered to show understanding of "more", "eat", "food", "cat", "diaper", or "johann".  But you have learned a word that's about making other people laugh.  You seem to value having fun, and laughing with people.  If that's the kind of person you are, you go ahead and take all the time you need to talk and walk.  It'll be so worth waiting for.

Your mom and I love you so.

Your mom read a very sad story about a woman searching for her lost baby in the mudslide that just happened in Washington state.  You won't know how horrifically sad that is until you have children of your own.  I don't think I'd do any differently than that poor woman, it would be all I could do with my grief if our roles were reversed. digging through a mountain with a teaspoon is nothing to find my lost child.