Sunday, 9 February 2014: Three Hundred and Thirteen Days Old.

Ayla is getting much better at communicating.

Her garbled noises are now definite and deliberate, and I’m starting to see a clear pattern in what her different sounds mean.

Ayla’s cutest noise is her happy shriek, which sounds kind of like an “eeee!” that she lets it slip when she’s super excited and happy. Like the day she chased the cat around in her walker, or when I creep up to her with a favourite toy.

Ayla’s saddest noise is her whinging, which sounds mostly like “mumumumum” that she repeats over and over when she’s tired and wants a cuddle. Don’t get me wrong, I love being so in demand and I love that Ayla can call out to me but it definitely breaks my heart.

Ayla’s funniest noise is her “I’m stuck” noise, which sounds mostly like a “ah-ah-ah” or a machine gun in slow motion. Ayla’s been practising this noise a lot lately and I keep finding her in strange places.

Ayla’s scariest noise is her yell, which sounds mostly like a “raaaaaa!” and goes up in pitch the longer and louder she gets. It’s scary because I get forward-flashes to the so-called “Terrible Two’s” and it makes me shudder.

And then there’s Ayla’s giggle, which sounds to me like a “ha-haha-ha” and reminds me of a little old man’s chuckle. Although Ayla smiles a lot her laugh seems reserved for tickle fights and pretend acrobatics which makes it an extra special event when she does.

Lastly, and most fortunately, Ayla rarely cries. Her tears come only if she’s hurt, or beside herself with tiredness… but who could blame her for that? I’ve been known to cry for much less and I thank my stars every day for giving me a strong, calm and happy baby Ayla.