One year.

We are really starting to see the power of the mind assert itself in big and small ways: recognizing the same object in different modes of representation; understanding call and response; beginning to build the language skills necessary to communicate their needs and preferences.

But my favorite part is the sense of humor, because it feels so personal.

Tonight I cooked Olin and Luca their first pasta dinner. We are at the baby-led eating stage, so mostly I spoon food onto their tray and they feed themselves. Midway, Olin extended an arm and offered me a bite of his noodles. I thanked him and gave Luca a significant look. He reluctantly extended his. When I was about to take my bite, he took his arm back and ate it himself.

People say Luca smiles with his eyes but when he’s being playful he also wrinkles his nose and shows most of his six teeth.

Luca’s arm came out a second time, and he pulled it back again, chewing on the food despite his enormous grin.

I prepared a really good looking spoonful of pasta and brought it close to his mouth. When he went to bite I pulled it back and fed myself instead. His eyes widened with disbelief but then he smiled again and looked at me as if saying “you got me good that time, papi”.