Candid camera

A very tired and very hungry Dio signing "nurse."

Dio saying "uh oh."

Read more ...

First word and sign

Two days ago Eric taught Dio his first word:

"Uh oh."

Now whenever he throws or drops something, he says a soft little "oh oh." He says it all day long: dropping his food off his high chair at mealtime, throwing a ball into the water during mother-baby swimming lessons, holding onto our bedframe at night.

Then today, I was getting ready to nurse him for his afternoon nap. He was wrapped up in his blanket, and I unhooked my nursing bra. I said, "Dio, are you ready to nurse?" He laughed and started patting his face so enthusiastically that he was practically hitting himself. (I made up my own sign for "nurse": patting my lips. I don't like the ASL sign, which looks like you're milking a cow. Thanks but no. I am not a cow.)

I wondered if this was a fluke, so I tried it again at bedtime. I asked & signed if he wanted to nurse. He started laughing and hitting his face again. Definitely on purpose.

Read more ...

Crazy with signs!

About two weeks ago I checked out a sign language video from the library (My First Signs from Signing Time). We watch it together in the mornings while we eat breakfast and I check my email. Last night I brought Zari up to bed, and we played with my birth ball for a few minutes. I did the sign for ball and she did it back, over and over. She was so obsessed with signing "ball" that she'd repeatedly pop off while nursing and sign it.

And today she's done several signs back at me: water, dog, eat/food...where did this come from? It's hilarious!

Read more ...