Finally!

Yes, I know some of you are wondering if I will post that Elyse can now crawl or even walk. No. BUT, I am posting a communication milestone. Okay, there's really no way to post anything that your kid is doing without sounding like bragging, is there? So, lest you think this milestone has puffed me up in any way, I fully realize that I have the going-on-10-month-old that has no interest in standing for more than a few seconds or crawling :) Today she finally learned how to sign "please!" I think this small success meant more to me than just about anything she's done to this point. There's something so fun about seeing her little hand sign something that can be used to communicate! {As I type that, I can't help but think of Brian Regan's Little League routine...} I started the whole signing process back in August, and some of the expressions she would make as I tried to teach her "please" would have me rolling with laughter. She had this blank little expression that really made us feel STUPID as we slapped our hands against our chests in hopes she would mimic us. Hilarious, really. I had just about given up on the whole mess. Anyway, today, she was on her changing table, and she randomly started signing "please." As I reinforced what she was "saying," she got more and more excited. As we ate lunch, we peeked in the living room where she was playing, just slappin' her tummy over and over again :) It was quite amusing. Although it's a simple illustration, it did get me thinking about the process that parenting really is. Each day is full of opportunities to make deliberate and intentional decisions about how to raise our child. Sign language is hardly a fair illustration, but I know as we focus on things we want Elyse to develop as she grows, it will be easy to desire instant results. I can only imagine how tempting it will be to get discouraged at times. I'm so thankful we have God's Word and are surrounded by a multitude of "counselors" that are striving to raise (or have raised) their children to know and love the Lord. I guess patience is one of those virtues I must keep striving to develop, because my battles will soon be a little greater than how to say "please."