Signing - Update

We started the new signing series last night - A new 6 week class. It was fun and I am looking forward to learning the "higher order signs" (not related to eating, potty, dress etc) Last night it was about colors and feelings. So now when we see a flower I can say Purple Flower or White Flower etc.  The above photo is Madison's version of flower. The correct sign is to sniff while holding your hand to your nose as if sniffing a flower.  At our last class a few weeks ago we learned flower and the teacher used very fragrant roses to demonstrate the experience to them. It stuck and she has done it ever since. She will sign this when she sees pictures of flowers, flowers in the yard, in a book etc.  She added the lip thing herself.  The really funny part is that Rick farted the other day (what day doesn't he? I digress) and he started sniffing trying to get her to sniff!  I told him "NO!" the last thing I need is for my 9 month old to be sniffing when someone farts!  I just love this shot and had to share it.

I do have a fun signing story to share that just happened tonight. When it happened I was alone and didn't have anyone to tell. Soooo....I said, I am going to blog it, although I know there are only about three to four people that I know read this, they are important people and I thought would share in my joy!

I was making some mac and cheese tonight and Madison was on the floor in the kitchen with me eating crackers.  We got all done and moved into the room to get ready for bed.  We were on book number 3 when all of the sudden she started to sign "more" and look at me.  I was like "more book?" and she just kept signing more and looking at the page we were on.  Then it happened....SHE SIGNED MORE AND POINTED TO THE PICTURE OF THE CRACKER! WAS SHE ASKING FOR MORE CRACKER? It wasn't possible!  I was so excited at the possibility.  Was she TALKING TO ME?  It was just a cool experience and while I told her that "eating" was "all done" that I was "proud" of her for signing it to me.  I probably should have gotten up and given her a cracker to reinforce that I understood but I didn't....We continued to read the book (It was a picture book of all kinds of things and the page we were on was on food and had about 20 different food items, so to pick out the cracker after signing more, really impressed me.  I was so proud and it encouraged me to keep up the signing even that much more. The possibilities are endless I think!

(I wish this was her sign for "Kisses" but it isn't, that is usually either a turn of the head away, or an open mouth with tongue!) I will take it none the less! I will try to get a video of it now that I know I can successfully do it with my new camera. Her little 'sniff' is so cute and her tummy goes in and out so hard while she does it. Everything just seems so exaggerated.

Man, I was so upset tonight coming home from an awful days work and just writing about this wonderful experience of being a new Mom is so cathartic I can't even explain it.

I have never been in love like this....everyone said it would be like this...but I had no idea.

I just had to post this photo because it reminds me of those "self portraits" that people take of themselves with her little arm outstretched...It almost looks like she has her head stretched out in order to not show her double chin (although she doesn't have one)  You all know exactly what I mean!