It is said that the baby’s first uttered words is the 8th wonder of the world (Brian Williams, NBC). We don’t care, so long as we hear some words. We are now in the stage of parenthood where we would always wait for the words (if you can call it) that would come out from Zach. And in this department, he seems to be slow. Perhaps it is because he has to learn two languages (not counting Hiligaynon and Bicol), English and Tagalog. His pediatrician suggested to us that since we are bilingual, one of us should speak to him in Tagalog, and one in English. For a time we followed that scheme, but, sometimes we lose our boundary and mind and kind of speak to him bilingually also.

Last summer, while we were in the park, the family of one of our classmates in birth class was there. Their daughter was on the swing. They were probably 10 minutes ahead of us there that after re-introducing ourselves and sharing our birth stories they bid goodbye. While their daughter was still on the swing, they asked her if she wants to come down. She nodded but her mother asked her to say “Please!!!.” Our eyes were all on her, and when she slowly opened her lips and uttered the sweet-crisp “Please!!!”, all I could care about was the reaction of Jaz. The minute they left, Jaz panicked and told Zach about what had happened. She pointed out to him that since he is older than her (by days), he should have spoken clearly also.

Well, we can only hope. And the hope is paying. From the simply Manamana (read: I need food) to a more difficult Dabidi-bidaaa (which we are still trying to decipher), now Zach has far more sophisticated language than we can imagine or not.

We have realized that he is more into actions than to words, he loves to dance the Sesame Street theme and when he hears the background music of Star Patrol of Phoemela Barranda (?), boy, he is drawn to it. We enjoy the moment when he acts out the song, “I love you, you love me” of Barny and Friends because he would grab our arms, give us five, and hug us just what like the scene shows. No amount of words can beat that.

Hence, we realized that it is not Zach who is drawn to our language but the other way around. We are the one who are speaking his language, and catching the meaning of every word he utters or gobbles.

Right now, we are contented with Dabidi-bida and Manamana, and that is enough, considering the sleepless and unsettled experience we are in now for being a brand new parents again.