The Milk Sign

Yesterday, to our amazement and joy, Clara made the milk sign! I have been showing her the sign for milk since she was 6 months old, and yesterday she made the motion with her right hand like she was milking a cow, the milk sign! We happened to all be sitting in the computer room at the time and like crazy people, we all started making the milk sign back to her. I hope we didn't confuse her. After our excitement died down a little, I nursed her briefly to reinforce the fact that she had asked for milk. She only wanted a little drink. I'm wondering though, if maybe she just happened to be learning that she could do this thing with her hand, and it had nothing at all to do with actually wanting any milk. If you are reading this and you have ever taught your children any sign language, what would you think? Does it start out this way, and gradually they connect their ability to make the sign with their desire for what they can sign? I did not even know about signing with babies until after my boys were way out of babyhood, so this is an exciting new realm for me. How awesome to think that my little baby will be able to communicate in this way!

We have consistently showed Clara the sign for kitty, since she adores Becca. Since she started crawling, I have to watch her like a hawk if Becca is in the same room. So far, Becca has been very patient and has allowed Clara to touch her, pull out handfuls of fur, and today Clara even had the joy of yanking the kitty's tail (without nary a meow from Becca!) How is it that pets can sense a baby is different, and will allow them to do things that no one else in the house could ever do without paying for it?

Other signs we are showing Clara are: More, Book, Blanky, Mama and Daddy.

I first read about signing with a baby from this book: Sign With Your Baby

And just the other day I wanted to learn the sign for blanky, so I went to this American Sign Language website, which has a wonderful dictionary of words and pictures showing how to make various signs.

If you have ever signed with your baby, I'd love to hear about it!!!