My son didn't talk until he was 6. My wife and I made the mistake of thinking he didn't understand us, and we used to talk about him in front of him. When he started to talk, we realized he did understand us, and we felt bad about the way we used to talk.

It was wonderful to read about the joy you experienced when you realized there was content in your son bursting to get out. I remember that excitement.

My son's speech still doesn't have a lot of content. The words are still a jumble in his mind, but I listen to each word and savor it, thankful that I'm hearing the words at all. i hope you experience that joy as well.