It's A Sign!

Alex did his first "real" sign today--a la Baby Signs book from Auntie Cate. He, like so many little ones, signed the word for "more." I think it's the first sign that most babies do, because there are not many things a baby needs to communicate except for "more."

So far, Alex has created a fairly useful set of impromptu signs--ones that we understand, and that make sense, but that he kind of made up/picked up himself. This is the first one we tried to "teach" him that might be understood by other baby-signers.

Just for kicks, let me tell you about the other "signs" he has done....

Up until now, his sign for "more" was to clap. And it was effective. He usually got what he wanted: clap=more cheese, clap=more grapes, etc. This also extended sometimes to other situations. We'd be unbuckling him to get him out of his carseat, and he would clap.

Instead of the conventional "finished" sign that we have shown him, Alex used bye-bye for things he did not want, or to say something was over. For example, he would throw the green beans off the tray and wave bye-bye. Or as I brought something towards him he didn't want--a shirt, more oatmeal, etc. he would express displeasure with bye-bye. Or he would fight me as I put diaper rash cream on a nasty diaper rash while crying and waving bye-bye.

There was the obvious arms-up-in-the-air "pick me up!" sign. And then if he wanted something that he could see he would do a "come here" sign--hand out, palm up, fingers flapping against his palm. This is a sign that I would give him a lot--come here and get your shoes on, come here and sit in my lap for a story, etc. So I guess he picked this up--"Milk Cup that is on the counter and out of reach...(hands both up, opening and closing) come here to me!" And, it usually worked :-)

Better late than never...

Let's pretend that this party didn't happen 2 months ago, and just enjoy the pictures now :-)



Hmmmm....If only I could read, I would know who this birthday cake was for. (He just looks so serious!) That is A's little buddy Elijah, who is about 2 seconds away from sticking his finger in the frosting!



Whoo! I love to wash down my cake with a little margarita! Mmmmm.




I'm all out. Could someone pour me another? This is an emergency!




We're all out of Margarita. Since I'm the host ( I found that out after picture #1), I guess it's my job to go on a little run to store to get some more. No, really, the rest of you just stay there. I'll take my football and go by myself!!

An Update

Time goes by so fast, and before you know it, a whole month has passed with no posts. Oops!

Here is an update: Alex is faster and cleverer than the last time I posted, he's also bigger and--hard to believe--even cuter :-) He is a master at moving objects around the room in order to reach things that were previously out of reach. He has pulled boxes, books, even his entire toy box over to the counter so that he can reach things. But his cleverness has limits--he's tried to use the wagon that Elliot and Denise gave him for his birthday. You don't have to be a genius (just older than about 2) to know that a wagon does not make a good step stool! If it weren't for some parents who are just as fast as he is, Alex would have a few good bumps to show for all his mischief!

Other news...Alex is in a Gymboree class. We go on Saturday mornings, and it's really great. The best part is that the membership comes with "free play" times. There is about an hour free play time every day. Most days it's while we are at work and day care, but we have gone-and managed to talk Daddy into joining us!-the last two Sundays. It is really fun to follow Alex's lead in this amazing little playground set up just for the little guys--up and down slides and ramps, through tunnels, over bridges, finding hidden toys, sitting in inner tubes, and checking himself out in the mirror. By the end of the hour, we all need a nap!