What are your best "unofficial' milestones for your baby/toddler?

[Sixfeetandcounting]

I am very proud of the fact that my 6 month old can locate and grab his 'bits' within two seconds of me removing his nappy. It may not be in any of the official milestones but I reckon it shows impressive dexterity :o

What are other MN's favorite milestones that may not make it into the baby books but still make us all very proud. x

My toddler 2yrs, said 'pappa' a few days ago, which she does all the time anyway, however this time it was accompanied by i love you, then she said the same to me. Now i know kids can say i love you earlier than 2 yrs but what made it special was she said it of her own free will, no coaxing from my part or leading and i consider it quiet special, all we managed was an 'oohhh' which almost brough DH to his tears,,cheeky monkey

When DD sang my favourite song in full. She can already do 'Wheels on the Bus', but the booming two year old voice intoning 'Israelites' was a happy moment in the festival household.
(she didn't get all of the verses right, but I struggle myself)
Raising an eyebrow for the first time aged 2 hours was nice - she still does

First slobbery face licking kiss (6 months ish?).

DS is now 19 months and played his first practical joke yesterday - we were at a toddler group and I was chatting to another mum, he ran off to crawl through one of those pop up tunnels. A couple of seconds later I heard screaming coming from the tunnel so ran over to see what had happened, imagining the worst. I bent down to peer into the tunnel and was greeted with a cheeky grin and a 'boo!'. :o

when I thought that dd at the grand age of 12 months could understand the word no. Problem was that when she went to do something she wasn't allowed, she would turn to me, tell me no and carry on

The first time I caught him deliberately throwing his dummy out of the cot, through the bars, then standing up before crying for mummy. Cheeky, but clever.

If you give my son (6 mths) something new to hold he looks at me as if to check whether it is food or not - he raises is tentatively to his mouth and shoots me a quizical glance to check! So sweet.

He also pats me on the back vigorously when I pick him up. Its lovely!

The first time DD heard DH come through the door at the end of the day and got excited was a bit special

When we were trying to get rid of DD's dummy (about 14 months old) and discovered she had a secret stash in her toy box that she hid inside the Mega bloks pieces!

I was amazed at her deviousness

DH gives DD her bedtime bottle while I make dinner and she usually zonks on his shoulder. He brings her in to the kitchen for me to give her a goodnight kiss and , without fail, every night, as soon as I say a word she sits bolt upright in his arms and spins like lightening round to look at me like some sort of meerkat baby. I get a sleepy smile then she back to zonked.

I was a bit worried that my PFB hadn't yet eaten any of the cat's food at 17 months, but thankfully he did it last week. Phew!

My twins were premature so in the SCBU for quite a long time. My very first milestone was just over a week in, so coming up to 29 weeks gestation, and my DD opened her eyes as I approached the incubator saying "where's my beautiful girl?". It wasn't a particularly "she's advanced" moment, it was just a "she knows I'm her mummy" moment [grim].

Other milestones - sitting up in the bath and splashing, made my heart melt.

A funny one - but realising they were switched on. Going for booster jabs (at about 14 months I think). Dr gets needles ready (in full view of twins) and then says, "Right, who wants to go first?" and they both pointed at each other!

Ooops, that was meant to be a grin rather than [grim]!!!

mandy that is funny!

These are funny.

Remember being a bit annoyed but also quite impressed by my DD determination and singlemindedness when at five months would very decisively shake her head 'no' when offered any food/drink/toy that she didn't want and put her hand up in a 'talk to the hand' manner for emphasis she's now six and very definitely knows her own mind!

Having a sweet heart at 12 months... Does this count as a mile stone? DS chased her all day long and learned to walk so he could get to his her faster. Very proud if not a bit worried!

• First sneeze
• First raspberry blown :P

Learning to pick his nose and....eat the contents...

When DS realised for the first time that he could do something specific to make us all laugh. So he'll look at us, wait for our attention then blow a big raspberry while laughing hysterically and waiting for us to join in.

First use of pockets, at 19 months (to store a mini babybel)

Love it. Have always meant to start a thread like this!

Laughs at own fart (can't remember when, but definately an important milestone)

I'll see your raspberry belly blower and raise you one raspberry-boob-blower-whilst-bfing!

Oh Oh OH and also the first xmas glittery nappy contents of any self respecting toddler!

oh, and first proper 'cats bum mouth' and furrowed brow at an hour old. Even the midwife was impressed, she said she hadn't seen a more furious newborn for a long time :o

Friends 9 month old DS licking the wine fridge and making an 'mmm' face

Nearly 3 year old DS struggles with speech. He echoes sounds, but still misses out most initial letters. Recounting a tale at teatime to DH of a badly behaved 7-yr old pupil telling his teacher to "Pi* off," DS piped up, with the clearest "Pi* off," you've ever heard. We were delighted! Clapped, and urged him onwards, with the empahsis on "pea", "plate" and "pie", etc.