Butter is desperate to communicate with us, and is much more clear than I expected for this age. He signs “all done”( or “touchdown,” depending on your perspective) when he will not tolerate any more of something, and shakes his head viciously back and forth for “hell no!”
Like his mama, his two speeds are “absolutely not!” and “right this very minute!”
He’s also modified the sign for “want” to look like he’s conducting an orchestra. Make no mistake, though, it means “I must have that right now. Right now right now!”
So he makes it clear when he wants the doll on the shelf, refuses to eat any more of a new food, and is all done with me having time to myself. “Mommy, I must have that doll immediately! No way, oh hell no, am I gonna eat cottage cheese. Now, I’m done with Daddy holding me. Hope you enjoyed your twelve seconds of cutting an apple for yourself. Time to put me back on your aching back. Touchdown!”
NaptimeWriting 
Did he do the endzone dance? ;-)
Yes, toddlers are interesting. At least you’re avoiding frustration tantrums because you know what’s wanted…
@subwow always.
@kloppenmum oh, I don’t avoid the tantrums, even at 8 months. He’s a very opinionated infant. Today he signed “want” about my phone and when I told him we could play with some blocks instead, he bit me. Good times, already.
Our baby is a vigorous signer as well. His version of the “more” sign is to clap his hands in a very determined way, whilst pouting and grunting “mo.” He says “baba” for milk (both cup and bottle… he’s done nursing). And he slaps his tray to signal that he’s done. But he’s also very vocal. When he wakes up and wants me, he screams “mama” until I come to his crib and get him. He’s very clever, that guy. And he also bites. Maybe it’s a second child thing?
Fie, I’d pay a lot for a “mama”. And to have him actually still in his crib in the morning. ;-) We get tray banging for more and grunting for want. And AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! means look at what I did. He’s signed milk twice in two months, but it was the sweetest thing I’ve seen.
Freaking adorable, no?
Does your eldest sign with him? P loves showing off his old signs. Makes him feel totally grown up.
Ouch…power tantrums at 8 months. Well nurtured kid then?
The only sign language I understand: the bird, the cold shoulder, the come here, the be gone, peace sign, the i can’t hear you, the i can’t see you, the GFY arm salute, and Bowser’s Grease for Peace. Signing “jc” in ASL is easy too. Maybe Butter and I can invent a new language using the much-neglected thumb and ring fingers.
Those 12 seconds sounded blissful…
Miss D.’s sign for done: throw bowl/plate/cup/spoon across the room at stunning velocity. I’m a much bigger fan of the touchdown.
I miss the signing phase! Eldest’s, for “I’m hungry,” was to point as his stomach (so we of course used to say “Get in my belly,” from Austen Powers, every time).
Three cheers for Peanut’s big brother signing and for Butter making himself heard!
Parents are more in sync with their children than ever before. Understanding them, as you so eloquently point out, does not require much stretch of the imagination. The challenge nowadays is more about how to ignore them.
Jc, you also get the signs for thanks for giving me right of way, what the hell were you thinking, wtf is wrong with you, I could have had a V8, and stop in the name of love. Before you break my heart.
Ink that’s so much more intuitive than the ASL for hungry, which gestures food at the esophageal stage.
MacDougal you’re hilarious. And right.
ck it was lovely. Except for the ten seconds of guilt I endured when I noticed my spine decompressing.
Kitch, does she still do that? It’s a pretty effective form of communication, the throwing. I use it for the times when words fail.
Aaaaaaaw! Gotta love baby sign :-D What a cutie!
Nap – eldest DOES like to sign with the baby. Mainly, he asks baby “are you done” with the downward slap (in the air, though). And then he also asks baby if he wants more milk, especially when baby drops his cup ever so lovingly onto the floor. It’s really cute seeing them interact. It’s one of the better things I see on a regular basis.
Butter is a bit younger than my baby, so I’m sure “mama” is coming. I’m not much of an attachment parent, so both our kids have been crib sleepers from the get-go. I’m a personal space junkie, so I can’t co-sleep. I barely can sleep with my hubby, honestly. But I try hard to make sure there are plenty of hugs and kisses throughout the day. It’s a balancing act, being the head case that I am…
I agree, why use words when throwing items is so much more effective. Biting is also an acceptable form of communication in the gummy stage…not so much when you have had wisdom teeth pulled….
Adorable! Butter sounds adorable. But I’m sure after a LOOOOOOONG day of shouting baby-style and holding a baby every second, you must really want some peace and quiet and a hard drink.