We've experience all sorts of fun new challenges in the communication department these last few days. I started attempting to teach some basic signing when Elyse was about 8 months old, and it wasn't exactly successful at first :) Really, I've never been very committed to it, but I did decide that since we're with her 100% of the time, we might as well give it a shot when we remember! And, I am glad we stuck to it. If for nothing else, it has convinced me how much she can learn in other areas. My sis-in-law Anneke says often that these little kiddos know a LOT more than we give them credit for, and this is one of those areas. We started with "please" and moved to "all done" and "more." The first was and is a great challenge. For some reason, she will not sign "please," but she'll sign "more" and "all done" almost consistently. I had all but given up on "please" when she proved Aunt Anneke right :) The other day, she was rolling around under the piano bench (yes, she rolls around here since crawling and walking are still not on the radar) and managed to get herself wedged pretty good between the bench and the piano. She started whimpering and looking at me with those sad eyes, so I asked her to say "please, Mommy" before I would free her from the bonds of the piano bench. She was holding a small block in each hand, and the first time I asked, she looked at me with the "blank" look. I asked her again, and almost impatiently, she dropped her blocks and signed "please." I just lost it laughing. Well, needless to say, we aren't giving up on that sign.
Now, the fun issue (and I KNEW this was coming) is listening to her "speak."
Elyse now signs "more" for books she likes: Cute.
She signs "more" for food she likes: Good!
She signs "all done" when she's ready to get out of the bathtub: Helpful.
She signs "all done" when I have just removed her diaper: Nope.
She signs "all done" after one bite of veggies: Nope.
She signs "all done" when she's sick of playing alone: Okay *sigh* (how do you resist that?)
She signs "all done" when she's tired of Daddy tickling her: Kind of funny.
She signs "all done" when she gets put in her crib: No, ma'am.
She signs "all done" when I'm trying to cut her nails: Dangerous.
We've definitely laughed a lot during this phase, because it begins the verbal communication. Yes, hers is still mostly nonverbal, but ours has definitely become verbal & very instructional. I have no idea how much of "No, honey, Mommy wants you to eat 790 more bites" she understands, but it's got to start somewhere, right?
Ahh, the joys of communication. Hasn't it baffled anyone else how much these little people have to learn from scratch!? Wow. Stay tuned: right around the corner is "not getting her way," and I'm sure that will be just as fun. I am definitely learning to listen, and I sure hope she is, too!
