Hayes has always been facinated by the phone. In fact, I never realized how much we used the phone until Hayes started to mimick us as one of the first “big boy” things he ever did. “Hello” was his third or fourth word, largely because that’s what he heard us say when we answered the phone.

Still, the actual functions of the phone alluded him. If you were to hand him the phone with someone on the other end, he’d invariable look confused, then mash the keys or put the unit in his mouth. More recently, he’s taken to saying “Da-da” whenever the phone rings, then, if given the phone says “Bye-bye dada” and mashes the keys until it hangs up or makes the person on the othen and hang up.

Within the past week, as Hayes approached the year and a half mark (tomorrow!), he has started to get it. Now when he sees the phone, he yells “Ma-ma! Maaaa-ma!” and makes me call her. Then he listens — actually listens — to Jen talk and responds to what she says “Uh-hu” “Jess”(yes) and then says “Bye’bye Ma ma” and smiles as I take the phone.

Today, Jen’s day from home, Hayes and I were in the bedroom as Jen got ready and Hayes picked up our only land-line phone, put it correctly to his ear and began yelling “Ma-ma!” Yup, the phone is starting to make sense.