He Said Da Da

he said da da

May 11, 2025

It was a Saturday afternoon.  
We were getting dressed for our niece’s birthday party — she just turned five.  

He’d just woken up from his nap,  

warm, soft, and full from formula.  

And then —  
he said Da Da.  

Clear as anything.  
Maybe about me.  
Maybe about the window.  
Didn’t matter.  

Because I was there.  
I heard it.  
And I loved it.  

He’s been saying it on loop ever since,  
like it’s the best sound he’s ever made.  
Like he’s just discovered language  
and wants to gift it back to us, one syllable at a time.  

I didn’t catch the first one on camera —  
I was too caught up in the moment.  
But I got the next few with my iPhone.  
And even if they were about the window,  
I’m keeping them.  

Because this is what the beginning sounds like —  
not polished,  
not planned,  
just perfect.  

A baby,  
learning how to speak,  
and landing, again and again,  
on something that sounds a lot like Da Da.  

She was right there.  
She cheered. She teared.  
He smiled.  
And then we all did —  
one of those soft, full-body smiles  
you don’t plan for,  
but hope you never forget.  

No confusion.  
No doubt.  
Just three people  
exactly where they want to be.  

And just like that, slowly,  
we are becoming a three-person conversation.  

Turns out, all it takes is one nap, one word, and a solid hype team.