Just last week:
"Alam mo ba yang si Baby Lenin, nakikitawag sayo nung tinatawag kita."
My mom said.
"Sabi ko, 'Jaaaay! Jaaaaaaay!' Siya naman 'Eeeehhhh, Eeeeeeeehhhhh'"
Just before he goes to sleep, tonight.
"Ano nga ulit pangalan ko?"
"Eehh?" My 8-month old nephew seems doubtful of his answer. Just the same, the acknowledgement has put a smile on my face.
Many parents claim that their first born's first words are either Mama, Papa or Lola.
For Lenin, its different. His parents insists on being called Nanay and Tatay and the two-syllable sound might be too complex for a baby. Meanwhile, with the boy getting used to being carried around - in my arms, being tossed in the air - to his delight, and even being lullabied to sleep when he was a bit younger, his first word was not his parents.
Blessed with a one-syllable name.
It's
Ehh.