My college roommate had her first daughter right around the time I announced I was pregnant.  I got to hear first hand what it was like to be a new mom.  As her daughter grew, she told me she began using sign language with her. I wasn't too sure what I thought about that. It sounded neat, but I wondered if signing would take the place of language development or even delay it. I was proved wrong! Now, her daughter is not only loving her little signs she can make to express what she wants or observes, but also accompanies language with it as well.  Double reinforcement!  When I met a few other moms doing it with their children, ages 10 months to a little over one year old, I am now thinking I want to try it with Abigail. For those who have/had young children or have spent a lot of time around children who can't yet speak, we know they understand more than they can say. Even now, just shy of six months, Abigail understands certain phrases I use. I'm sure it has to due with my tone of voice and the context, but she is understanding and using body language to let me know.  When she is in her stroller and asked if she's ready to get out, she will roll her body over and fuss. Same goes with her high chair, even though her food isn't coming for another week;)  When she gets distracting by EVERYTHING when nursing and asked if she is still hungry, she will turn towards me to finish.  When I call out our cats' names she looks for them to appear from another room. When I ask, "Where is Daddy?" she whips her head around to look for him if he is home.  But one thing she cannot do yet do is request specific things. She can grab at something, but that can be almost anything within view/reach. I know when she is tired or hungry...but she can't yet tell me if she is cold or warm.  Her ways of communicating are limited. While I think I am pretty quick to read her cues and tackle them by trial and error, it will be some time before her language is more developed.  To be able to give her another way to communicate would be amazing. My friend sent me the 2nd DVD to a series she has called Baby Signing Time. She is sending the 1st DVD this week, which has the words I would love her to grasp first. I'm sure there are many methods to teach signing, however, this one has other children signing to music. Not only is she already enjoying the tunes, but the signing goes to a rhythm. I see how quickly she picks up on songs I sing to her so I am sure these will make an impression as well.  From what I hear, things don't all connect at first. But once they reach a certain age, I hear it's like wildfire. They begin to show all they know and pick up very quickly with new ones.

I am not looking to sign every emotion and feeling with her. I am not looking for a whole other language to communicate with, although I admire anyone who is that advances. For now, I am simply trying to build upon the one we already know and give her little ways to express her world.  What's neat is we are learning together. It was quite a sight Sunday afternoon. My husband, Abigail, and I were sitting on the couch signing along to the words shoes, socks, hat, and coat. She lost interest after about 10 minutes..but my husband and I watched half the DVD just so we had some starters in our pocket.

I will keep an update on how things go once we get the first DVD, and I get a sense she is making a connection. If anyone has personal experience on this...I would love to hear more stories.