Funny about kids saying dad first - but I heard that it's just common because d is physically easier to say (bc you don't have to pull your tongue back in your mouth the way you do with m). My little boy's first word was not mummy or daddy, it was button. Go figure. Milly makes a huge range of sounds and is very good at letting us know what she thinks, but she is not attempting any words as yet. Astrid, I reckon Maggie is so intent on practising standing up, she can't be bothered to be interested in other things like food. They do seem to have little bursts of concentrating on one aspect of development. Re my MIL, I kind of get on OK with her, it's just that we get on a whole lot better when she's in Sydney and I'm in Hobart. She does help out a lot when she comes to stay, but I'm always relieved at the end of the stay as I like my own space, KWIM? Stormi, that thing with the washing on the bed - happens in our house quite often