Everything is Unfinished

Here’s a little more info about babies learning sign language. It’s been shown that children as young as 6 months can learn basic signs if they live in an environment where sign language is used on a daily basis. By the time they’re about a year old, they pick up signs even easier. This is a great way to teach kids to communicate before they can talk, so usually the first signs are things like eat, sleep, please, thank you, more, blanket, etc. Things that are important to a toddler. I first heard about this whole thing a few years ago, when my parents’ neighbor’s toddler was learning signs at day care. I think it’s a really cool idea, and it benefits me as well because I’ve always wanted to learn sign language. I even tried to take classes several times in Columbus, but they were always during the day. However, I just found Signing Online, which offers web-based courses and I’d like to take them.

There are books out there that have special signs for babies, but we’re going to use American Sign Language so that, hopefully, Jack will be able to use it later in life. I found a great site to use as a resource, Michigan State University’s ASL Browser. There are short Quicktime video clips of each sign being performed, and there’s a pretty big list of signs. I think the one we’ll start with is hungry. That one is important to all of us!

Since I never bothered to make any new year’s resolutions this year, I figured I’d make some now in anticipation of moving to a new house in a new city. Some of these I’ve already started, and others will have to wait until we’re unpacked and fairly settled.

• Brush and floss teeth before bed every night.

• Eat lunch at home at least 5 days a week.
• Cook dinner at least 4 nights a week.
• Scrap more often - goal is 2 layouts per week.
• Join Weight Watchers again and stick to it!
• Start teaching Jack sign language.
• Take a walk or go to a park at least once a week.
• Have picnic lunches with Johnny on campus often.
• Start sewing again - need to make Jack’s Halloween costume and a liner for my picnic basket.
• Schedule my time. Being at home all day is great, but it’s so easy to sit around and do nothing for days on end.

We’ll see how it goes. Wish me luck!

Last night, we went out to dinner. As we typically do, because I can’t be bothered to cook. I hope to change that once we move, but I digress. Jack slept peacefully in his car seat until the very moment that our food was set on the table, and then decided he needed to eat too. We got him out and fed him, after which he refused to be put down, so Johnny and I ate in shifts. Such is the way of parenthood. Anyway, when I was holding him he was standing on my leg and all of a sudden my thigh felt warm. I looked down and there was a wet spot on my pants - Jack had peed on me! This is certainly not the first time I have been peed on. After all, he’s a boy and when little boy parts are exposed to cold air they sometimes like to let loose with a stream. This was, however, the first time I have been peed on by someone fully clothed and wearing a diaper. But the most amazing part was that he didn’t even get himself wet! Maybe a drop on his leg, but his onesie was dry (which is good, because I didn’t have a backup with me - bad Mommy!). I’m still not sure how this happened. I guess, despite leakguards and ultra-absorbent filling, no diaper can stand up to a properly (or improperly, as the case may be) pointed little boy part.