A Small Version of Daddy

Whenever John sits in Daddy's big chair, I have to laugh because he's a miniature spitting image. This morning Chris had to take a work phone call while I was cooking pancakes (the first ones ever I didn't ruin!) and the second he exited his seat, John crawled up there, holding the remote control, morning news playing, coffee cup within reach.
Then John began imitating his dad, using the remote control as a telephone. These days when John pretends to talk on the phone, he actually "talks" babbling nonsense words that sound very much like a one-sided conversation, with pauses for the other conversant to speak.

Speaking of speaking, John is on the cusp of saying "no!" I really don't know when toddlers begin saying "no," but I'm surprised it has taken John this long. Of course, he has long been able to express "no" non-verbally, such as by collapsing on the ground, crying in a limp pile of limbs. And he has long been able to physically say the word, as his word for "nose" is a nasally "noooo." A couple of weeks ago, John saw Chris waving his hand once and quickly adapted his own sign--which looked much like "talk to the hand!"--which meant, "You are telling me no." John only used the sign to confirm that Chris or I was telling him no, he couldn't do or touch something. Sometimes he would even use the sign days later when he saw an object he had once been told not to touch. Then a few days ago, John suddenly began wagging his finger and mocking in a sing-songy voice, "no, no, no!" in imitation of a parental figure doing the same. But he still has never said "no!" defiantly and to one of us. I know that cognitive leap has got to be weeks, days, or mere minutes away . . .