Look Who's Talking

Please allow me an occasional post here about the boy's development and milestones... This week: WORDS! :)

The boy is 16 months old, and according to the books (specifically "Small Talk" by Dr R Woolfson) should now be accumulating single words at quite a rate.  By 18 months the "average" kid (whatever that is!) will have between 10 and 20 words.  But there are different methods of language accumulation, and different babies learn differently.  So far, the boy seems to be a mainly "referential" learner: he picks up on the names of people and objects.  Things that he can see and touch (or more likely stuff into his mouth!).  And I'm pleased to report he has a pretty good vocab for his age.  Makes life slightly less repetitive!  He also, as the book suggests, is capable of following simple instructions (when he wants to) such as "give mummy the cup", "put the toy in the basket" etc. 

Apparently (and we haven't noticed the boy doing this yet) the 16-18 month period might also herald the start of singing (delightful!) and first sentences (2 words strung together).  Ok - the husband has just pointed out that the boy has been talking in full sentences, with phrases, pauses and emphasis for months now - it's just that we don't understand any of it!

So here are the boy's "first words" in vague order of accumulation:

- Dada (of course he said this weeks before he said...)

- Mama

- CAT!!!

- Buh-Ba (bye)

- Hi

- Custard

- Yoghurt

- Breadstick 

- Toast

- Cake (noticing a pattern here?!)

- Juice

- Car

- Bath

- Doh (dog)

- TEETH!

- Ge-guh (gentle - we say this to him hundred of times a day, in our attempts to safeguard the kitten from his affections!)

- Out

- Keys

- Duck.

So nothing complicated like pronouns or verbs, but a pretty good mix of words for him to get started with.  

He still becomes very frustrated at times, when he does not get what he wants and he cannot express himself.  He is getting better at using non verbal communication however - handing me a toy if its not working for him, or leading me somewhere by the hand in order to get what he wants.  Unfortunately this does extend over into whacking me from time to time! 

So - how does this compare to your experience? Any tips for curbing the physical side of his temper?!?