It was just recently that Oliver started using the number two. For Evie, I remember this phase going on for a long time, before she moved on to higher numbers. It was almost like there were two different levels of understanding: phase 1 where they realize that there can be more than one of something (i.e. two), and phase 2 when they realize there is value in knowing exactly how much of something there is.

After going with the “two” thing for only a few weeks, Oliver started in on “three”. I figured he was just parroting his older sister or something, but based on how Evie was, I figured he couldn’t possibly be on to three already. He definitely seemed to be counting three, not just saying it, but I assumed it was not what it seemed.

So imagine my surprise the other day, when I heard him count all the way to nine!

He’s done it several times since then, and even made it all the way to eleven. It just seemed so unlikely, especially considering how much of his speech I still don’t understand (although he’s becoming clearer by the day). In fact, I think it points more to the fact that he’s just becoming his own person. He’ll occasionally say things spontaneously that indicate he’s really thinking his own thoughts in there. Maybe it will be something about his day at daycare, or the other day he said, “I miss grandma” out of nowhere.

It’s really cool just watching him become his own person, watching his personality emerge. It’s one of the best parts of being a parent.