For about four or five months now we have been using some very simple signs with Emma - “cat”, “finished”, “more”. I know American Sign Language and want her to know some basic signs, and also want her to be be able to communicate with us before her language skills are fully developed. So far, she has watched me sign to her with great amusement, but has never used the signs herself. She also has not started talking yet, although she clearly understands what is said to her.

The other day, Mike said to me, “Emma finished her bottle tonight, pulled it out of her mouth and I could swear she waved it goodbye.” “Huh,” I said. But then I saw her do it. Repeatedly. “Oh cute,” I thought “she’s waving goodbye to everything.”

FINALLY, about a week after I first saw it, it dawned on me that she was signing “finished,” not waving goodbye. “Finished” is very similar to “goodbye,” especially for a baby who has never done it before. Um, DUH. And also, HOLY CRAP my baby is signing!!

Tonight at dinner she pointed to her food on the table, just out of her reach, and gave us her signature “Eh!” We both asked her if she wanted more, and did the sign out of habit. Then, she put her pudgy little hands together and signed “more.”

I am sure, maybe sometime fairly soon, I will be yearning for the days when she couldn’t tell me her likes and dislikes. For now though, I am totally excited about her ability to communicate.