L’s been babbling for months, but today, on the eve of her 15-month birthday, the girl really started talking up a storm.

This morning, she picked up an animal flashcard with the letter G and said, “Gecko.” Then, while Powergirl was making coffee, L looked up at the coffee machine and said, “coffee.” While counting grapes over breakfast, she counted to three (with minimal help). Finally (and perhaps most adorably), the baby stroked my wife’s face and said, “pretty.”

These developments came after accomplishments from earlier in the week; milestones that included repeat words such as “Power” and “Orca,” and an important new word: “Yankees.”

Granted, you could argue that in all of these cases, the baby was simply repeating words she’s heard time and time again. Still, there is no disputing the fact that the kid’s tiny brain is evolving in front of our eyes. It truly is a wonder to behold.

Of course Powergirl and I now are placing wagers (always for burritos in this house) on which words the baby will say next. My money is on “Good morning,” a phrase with which she’s been struggling for nearly ten days. Another possibility: “Snoopy,” as she and I are headed to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa this afternoon.

Whatever L says next, you can bet this word nerd will respond with excitement. There’s nothing like watching a little vocabulary grow.