…when you assert your music preference in the car.
As soon as the car starts, you wag your finger accompanied by the now familiar to us peepeepee chant, an act which only we can decipher as your request for the Raffi toothbrushing song. (Couldn’t find a video but it goes – When you wake up in the morning and it’s quarter to one/you just want to have a little bit of fun/you brush your teeth…). We flip through to it, and we’re rewarded with a Yayy!!  Success! We’re getting good at this.

…when you make video requests as well.
by pointing to my laptop and doing a little body shake…which from trial and error, we’ve deduced to mean a request for the addictive Gummy Bear Song. And then you do the twist – that we’re so not prepared for. I mean, its not like you’re taking dance lessons….so where could you have picked that up?

…when the only things you care for from your brother’s birthday loot
are the balloons, that you clutch in your hand day and night, and you would even in sleep, if we didn’t pry them away from you.

…when you’ve graduated to sleeping in the crib in your brother’s room.
For half the night.

…when you’ve learnt mechanics from observation so well
that you drag vehicle toys on the carpet from room to room, each with its own appropriate engine sound.

…when you call your Bapa, Bapa.
Not Amma. Finally. The Bapa is relieved.

…when you’re at the brink of a vocab explosion…
..mee-aaam is meow
..wovwov is the dog
..moh-neee is water
..buck is book
..thik-u is thank you
..and many more phrases sprinkled throughout that tells us you’ve been listening and practicing behind our backs.

…when you make a civil attempt at asking for things
Instead of ear splitting screams, you extend your hand and say deeeey for about 5 seconds, after which you resort to the more effective ear splitting scream.

…when your mom doesn’t even make a mental note that it is your monthly birthday, till the day has come to an end.
16 months is the age when your antics have overgrown the boundaries of monthly bloggy updates.