Dear Molly,
Yes, yes, yes, it is the way that 'they' do it, that is, learn to speak and understand language. Just think not long ago, he couldn't make intelligible sounds, and he had to learn how to move his tongue and lips and the inside of his mouth to mold the words. Now he is experimenting and enjoying doing it his way. Don't you like to do things your own way? Sure you do. Just relax and love those first words.
My son died 3 1/2 years ago at the age of 46, and I now love to think of the baby words that he said it makes me laugh and smile and love him so much, and feel close to him.
Also, my gr grandson could even say sentences, well you know short ones, but they were truly sentences with a meaning - then he dropped the whole thing and didn't seem to try to talk, but he knew a lot, one could tell by his facial expressions they were precious. Finally just before he was 2 1/2 he started talking more and more. Now he sings twinkle twinkle little star to me over the phone. So, enjoy those baby words. You might need them some day.
C. N.