I have learned some fun signs that I can use to talk to Mum and Dad. It’s still hard for me to speak — I know a lot of words, but most of them sound like “ta” when I try to say them. Instead, I can make signs with my hands. These are the signs I can do:

• Mum
• Dad
• finished
• dog
• cat
• food
• hot

Mum and Dad do other signs as well, for things like milk, drink, more and light. I can’t do those ones yet. But I like using sign language because it means I can talk to Mum and Dad even though I can’t make the words with my mouth yet.

I started to walk by myself today. I was playing with Dad and holding on to him, and he put one of my toys down but it was too far away. So I walked over to it. Dad seemed very impressed even though it was only about six steps.

Later I was in the lounge with Mum and Dad. Dad kept going away from me and asking me to walk over to him. Normally I crawl, but he kept asking so I walked again. They both got very excited, so I started clapping and they got even more excited. I like the way they get excited when I do new tricks.

Walking is really easy once you figure out the secret. It goes like this: First step with your left foot, then your right foot, then left, right, left, right, then left again, then right, left, right, left, right, left, right, then left. After that I’m not sure, but I think I will work it out very soon.

Today was a very special day because it was my first birthday.

I knew it was special right from the beginning because both Mum and Dad came to say good morning when I woke up and were very smiley and nice and gave me lots of kisses. My friend Flint came over to visit with my first birthday present — some great blue paper which I had lots of fun tearing up and waving around.

Mum took me to be weighed and measured by the Plunket nurse Faye, who also said I was very clever because I was standing up so well and talking a lot.

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