Really real first word

The Rooster said his really real first word yesterday! By that, I mean that it is something that he will repeat when asked.

He had picked up a picture of Sarah and was carrying it around. I asked him, "Who is that?" He pointed to the picture and replied, "Baby." It was more of a "bebee," but I knew what he meant. I asked him again and he answered the same.

Of course when I told Pete he said, "Oh yeah, he was saying that all last week." And he didn't tell me that?! Grrr!

Anyway, Rooster is too cool for school. :)

Sign Language

Now at 14 months, the Rooster is learning and doing lots of new things. For example, going down the stairs by himself (still learning) or kicking a ball (doing). He's also trying to communicate more by using gestures or high-pitched squaks. Typical for a baby who can't talk yet.

In the days when I worked with Autisic children, we would use sign language daily, which really helps those who can't/refuse to talk and REALLY alleviates the frustration on both sides. I should have tried it with Sarah, but being a new mother, I had other matters on my mind about raising a kid. It wasn't until Kim's son Eliot went to daycare that I thought about it. At his daycare they teach the babies to use sign language in order to communicate their needs better before they can talk. I smacked myself! Why didn't I think of that?! By that time, it was too late for Sarah because she was already talking - and a mile a minute at that. Not that I shouldn't teach her ASL now, which I will, but for the purpose of helping babies communicate, it was.

Anyway, I decided I'd teach the Rooster some simple ASL so he can "talk" to us before talking to us. Last night I showed him the sign for MORE. In order to make this sign, simply form your hands as if you were making a hand puppet of a duck. Then touch the tips of the two mouths together a couple of times. For a demonstration, go here.

I was eating ice cream at the time; I gave him a bite, and every time he would squak at me for more I would make the sign for MORE, take his hands and demonstrate while saying, "More," and then give him a bite. It only took about three times before he was doing it on his own. Such a smart boy! :D

I'll teach him some other signs as we go along. Sarah's learning them, too. She is a very good model and a good teacher, too. :)

Oh, and thanks Kim for sending Eliot to that daycare! :D