First steps, first words. These much–anticipated landmarks in your baby's development are only months away.

Listen closely to your nine–month–old and you'll notice a change in his language abilities. He's not just babbling anymore. Word sounds like "baba" for bottle are the precursors to real words.

During the last part of the first year, your baby experiences dramatic cognitive developments. Child experts call this breakthrough acting intelligently. All of a sudden your baby seems to understand the world in a new way, making decisions and adapting to situations as they arise. And suddenly you're a teacher as well as a mother. Follow your instincts to encourage your baby, and guide him as his intelligence grows.