Beckie and I are convinced G is saying Kila, and if so this would in fact be her first word. I’m cool with it, Beckie seems ok with it too. It makes sense, since its a word G hears more than just about anything but her own name, the first word she hears when she gets home. All the effective means of associations are there — repetition, paying attention, happy times and positive reinforcement, unambiguous. At first we would go “Kila!” and G seemed to be going “keeewaahh.” Maybe a coincidence, the kid babbles a lot…but lately she will say it when the dog comes in the room, and last night when the dog was barking at the door she said it too.

Today for the first time G held out her face like I do for the dog to lick her. Everybody seemed to enjoy that, especially Kila, who would greatly appreciate if the damn baby would just start to learn to treat her in a manner befitting civilized dogs.