#71 – 1000 Awesome Things

Sign Language

Do you know what is super cool? When I am reaching and whining at something and then I sign the word and Mommy can figure out what I want! Here’s the thing: I don’t speak English very well yet… and I can yell at Mommy and Daddy ’til I’m blue in the face, but they almost never know what I’m trying to say.

Enter sign language. I know about 20 signs and it is amazing how much I can communicate! To be honest, a few of them are the names of farm animals, which aren’t as useful in day-to-day life as baby books would have you believe (Really? When was the last time someone stopped you on the street and asked YOU what a sheep says? There are *very* limited careers where a major requirement is to identify cows and hens.), but I am able to have short conversations (with Mommy at least).

I know:

• more
• all done
• eat
• drink
• water
• juice
• milk
• apple
• cracker
• cheese
• please
• thank you
• butterfly (That’s right, I do! and you’d be amazed at how many butterflies you come across when you’re looking – they’re everywhere! Emma had a butterfly balloon yesterday at music class and even though I signed and signed she wouldn’t give it to me.)
• frog
• dog
• cat
• sheep
• pig
• fish
• bird
• duck
• horse
• cow
• monkey
• Mommy
• Daddy
• grandma
• grandpa
• aunt
• uncle

Honestly? I don’t form all of these signs perfectly – but I can approximate and get close enough to be understood. Also, Mommy taught me “thank you” and how to blow kisses the same week and I usually get those confused. She says she’s not going to correct me on that one. (If we had more energy, there’d be a video here. But we don’t. So there isn’t. Maybe later in the week…)