Baby Signing

Before Ace was born I had these grandiose ideas that we would teach him sign language. I have know the alphabet for many years, in fact used it in high school to communicate across a room at church, school, wherever... it was the poor-man's texting in the 90s. I had some rudimentary knowledge of basic signs for mother, father, water, hungry, more, etc.. and for a while I was even attempting to learn it with a friend that is well versed in it.

My mother actually takes classes in her spare time and uses sign language with her kids at school (she works with the special need kids) She purchased a Baby Sign kit when I was in my early stages of pregnancy. I learned one new word at that time: milk. It's a simple sign just think of the motion your hand would make squeezing a cow utter and then repeat the open and closing of that hand and there you have the sign for milk. We began from the day Ace was born, my husband and I, to show him that sign every most of the time when Ace would want to eat.

My husband also has been relatively faithful in showing him the sign for diaper when we change him. I however have failed to recall this sign during the changing process as I am often more concerned with avoiding a shower or a second though of "I'm not done" with his business type extravaganza! So diaper isn't working out so well...

But I have to say how exciting it was the first day we saw Ace make the sign for milk! He was just around seven months old. It was right before we went to California for Grandma's funeral. He had started to get fussy and then made the sign. At first I didn't notice him doing it until I made the sign for milk and he looked at me like - duh woman that's what I've been motioning for this whole time. He already does the indignant look very well. (I know future trouble, right?) But I was so excited!

The milk sign though is not exclusive to milk, but more of an "I want" so it is when he wants milk, when he wants up, when he wants water, when he wants attention. :) So for now at least we know when he wants something and he doesn't have to immediately cry for it and if a baby sign works for that - absolutely! I'd teach it all over again! We are now expanding into "all done" "water" and "eat" and we'll see how quickly he picks those up.

But I am certainly a proud momma bear that my son can sign milk! Enjoy the picture that has nothing to do with the post, he's just too adorable!