Monday, March 1, 2010

First Words!

You know how when your baby is little, and you just can’t wait for those first, magic words?  And then they happen, and your sweet, sweet baby says “Mama” or “Up” or “Vacuum” (Ben’s first word-I kid you not) and it’s wondrous and amazing and you feel a new and meaningful connection to this lovely little being.

Then one year later you are pulling your hair out because car rides are no longer Mommy Down Times, but chances to moo at all the cows, sing the lyrics to Barney’s I Love You, You Love Me song a hundred times, referee the fights that are breaking out, and play the “But Why?” game (“Mama, why do cars go on the road?” “Because that’s where it’s safe to drive, sweetie.”  “But why?”  “Because it’s not so bumpy.” “Why?” “Because they use special machines to make them smooth.”  “But why?”  “So they’ll be safe for driving.”  ETC!) and you wish you could stick a sugar-covered pacifier back in that prolific little mouth for just a few minutes’ peace.

Well, our sweet, sweet guinea pig Herbie has said his first words!  Ever since Santa brought him, he has purred when he is content, and has done little squeaks when we’ve held him, but he’s never offered up his own conversation.

And now that he is talking to us, we are gathering that he is saying something like, “Feed Me!  Feed me! I heard the fridge door open!  Feed Me! Is that the crinkle of a carrot bag I hear?  FEED ME! FEED ME!  FEED ME!”

Jack and I took this little video today.  I am manning the camera, Jack is manning the carrot bag.  It’s not long, I promise:

And what we are finding so incredibly cute right now, is that when he is hungry (and when is he not hungry), he will do this sweet, high-pitched, urgent sounding squeak!  Like when we walk into the empty room!  Or whenever we open the fridge!  Or whenever he hears any bag crinkle!

So cute!

FOR NOW.

I have a feeling this will not seem so cute when he gets a hankering for baby carrots or apple slices in the middle of the night.

But we love him anyway.  Aw, shucks.  The things we do for our kids.