Skeptic Dead. Believer Born.

I had a rough morning. I had been late to baby sign language class. I had to park at the far end of the parking lot carrying Baby Boo, who at 10 months had been pushing 20 pounds. Baby Boo was fussy during class and I missed half of the experience walking around the room trying to distract her. Was she coming down with something? Teething? Colic again?

I had rushed home after class, eager to gulp down a quick lunch and pop ol' Baby Boo in the ol' crib for a the ol' past lunch nap. I thought I needed a post lunch nap myself.

Baby Boo whined to get down after eating a full lunch. "Man, this kid eats more than me. " I chuckled to myself.

Baby Boo crawled around and played contentedly for 20-30 minutes before the whining began again.

"Time for bed," I said happily signing 'bed'.

Baby Boo stopped in her tracks and Lord as my witness put her fingers to her mouth ( eat), put her fingers together and apart, together and apart ( more), and then miked the invisible cow ( milk).

"Eat....More....Milk..." I said as if translating a foreign language.

No. My eyes are deceiving me. Ten month old babies don't sign in phrases. She must be mimicking signs from class or randomly practicing signs. Afterall, she just had a full bottle and lots of food. There's no way she could still be thirsty.

I did, however, remember what my sign language teacher said about reinforcement. I reluctantly made her a bottle ....only half bottle, though. I handed it over to her and watched her gulp it down like she hadn't had anything to drink all day.

OK. This s**t works.

Skeptic dead. Believer born.