Will I am

Right around the time Brady started walking, he came down with something.  It wasn't the flu or a cold, but something nothing less difficult to cure. 

Brady has a will.

That's right, Brady knows what he wants.  Good, right? Yes, of course.  I mean, we all have been faced with the pain of sitting there with our spouse, both hungry but not being able to figure out what it is we want.  How frustrating!  Ah, but to say, I need chicken nachos from Armadillo Grill for lunch today.  Such decisiveness!  So satisfying!

So Brady, it's good to know what you want, but the problem comes when 1) nobody knows what you're "saying" 2) we know what you're saying but what you're asking for is unreasonable.

The lightbulb is definitely on in Brady's head and where he lived the first portion of his life in ignorant bliss, he's tuned in and pretty much has life figured out.

There are some advantages to this.  For instance, now when he approaches a step, he reaches for my hand to help him step down, rather than attempting to walk the plank.

Meal times are a new challenge.  Whenever Brady is in the kitchen, he's "Mmm"ing and pointing at the refrigerator.  "Mmm" is his 2nd favorite word (behind ball) and if figuring what he wants was an Olympic sport, I'd be lucky to take home the bronze.  In general he just wants whatever is on my plate.  Even though the same thing is generally on his plate, he doesn't seem to grasp that concept and I have to make a big showing of the food going off my plate on to his, or just let him eat whatever I'm eating.

Some other things his little brain has figured out:

-Credit cards.  Every time I go to the store, he grabs my card and attempts to swipe.  Scary.

-Cell phones.  Give him one and he puts it on his left shoulder and starts to talk.  He had a breakdown the other day because my phone started ringing while Brady was "talking" on it.  It was Eric calling, so I put him on speaker phone, thinking that would placate him, but Brady insisted on the shoulder-hold, which resulted in a lost call.

-Socializing. Like the cell phone talking, I'll credit Eric for this trait.  Brady has never met a stranger and is constantly pointing, waving, and talking to people, regardless of their interest in him.   He may get fussy if we're in an aisle in the grocery store by ourselves, but roll past some other people and his demeanor changes. Brady's never been unhappy in the checkout lane because there is always someone there for him to "talk" to.

Well Brady William, you're finally living up to your name!