Well, it's very interesting to see how Blaze is developing. I don't remember watching Midnight go through all this, but then again, I was only 18 so maybe I never noticed it, but I'm watching Blaze learn all sorts of new stuff now.
When we first got Blaze, he just played and was oblivious to stuff. One time, we couldn't find him and thought he got out (he didn't) and we were wandering around shaking his food box, but he didn't come out. He didn't connect that sound to food.
Now, when we shake his box, he comes running.
We're up early during the week. On weekends, when the sun comes up, if someone doesn't come downstairs, he sits in the hallway and meows until someone comes to feed him.
Our stairs to the attic and basement have doors. He's learned to recognize the sound of someone going up or down the stairs, and will stand at the door to see who is behind it.
Lastly, we have a driveway on the side of our house. When a car pulls in, he will jump in the window and look out and meow through the screen at you as you walk by.
He still hasn't totally learned to not nip at fingers, though.