Its a bright and sunny Thursday morning. The Mommy Woman, newly inspired by the latest expert advice on 'how to help your baby babble' from BabyCenter, heads to the bedroom where Nikki has just woken up.
The Mommy Woman: Good Morning Nikki!
Nikki: Aaaaaaaaa! Ah-goo!
The Mommy Woman: Say good morning to Mama! Good Morning Mammmma! Maaa-Maaaaa!
Nikki smiles encouragingly but remains silent.
The Mommy Woman (undeterred): Let's try again honey! Ma Ma! Mammma! Mamamamamamaaaaaaaaa
Nikki: uhhhhhhhh PAH! PAAA! PA PA PA! Pupppah!
The man in question, The Papa Man emerges from the shower, right on cue.
The Papa Man: Smirk Smirk Smirk
The Mommy Woman: Oh buzz off! Don't you have to get to work anyways?
The Papa Man: Not before Nikki spends some time with her Favourite Person in the Whole World!
The Mommy Woman: You are NOT her favourite person in the whole world! And anyway she just babbles indiscriminately. She doesn't know what it means!
The Papa Man: Why then, pray, are you trying so hard to make her say mama?
The Mommy Woman (loftily): Coz as her primary caregiver I want to expand her repertoire of babbling! Right Nikki? Maa-Maa!
Nikki: PapapapapaPAPAPA!
The Papa Man: Aahahahahaha!
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Evening falls and darkness slowly spreads her long fingers across the fading blue sky. The Mommy Woman is making one last brave attempt to make Nikki say Mama.
The Mommy Woman: Nikki look at me darling, see how my lips move? Maaaaa-Maaaaa! Mama!
Nikki (whispering softly): ppppppp pah, pah, pah
The Mommy Woman: Dammit! Oh all right say gaga then! Anything but papa. Ta ta? La La? Lalalala!
Nikki: rumble rumbe PAAAPAAA!
The Mommy Woman: Oh honey!
The Papa Man, bounding through the door: Yessss? Is my Nikki calling for her Papa?
The Mommy Woman: Yeps! She's calling for you loud and clear! Aaand she just pooped. I think she wants YOU, her favourite person in the whole world to change her nappy.
Nikki: Pa Pa!
The Papa Man: Aaaaarrghhh!
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Friday morning, 4 am. The Papa Man & The Mommy Woman are deep in slumber. Li'l Nikki however seems a little restless in her crib.
Nikki: rumble rumble. Ah- goo! Paaa paaa, papapapapa, pap-pahhh
The Mommy Woman: Oh honnneyy
The Papa man: AAAAAARRRGHHHH!
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