calling sign gurus!

For days now, DD has been patting her chest and saying "ba," and looking at me so intently while she does it. She is definitely trying to communicate SOMETHING. But I can't figure out what!

We sign with the babies, but so far she only does one sign; and we haven't done any signs remotely like the gesture she's doing.

I know this is probably something that nobody can answer. (If I can't figure it out and I'm her mom... ) But does anyone have any ideas or similar experiences?

(She is having a real vocabulary explosion right now, btw - a new word every day, seems like - she has words for cat, book, doll, door/drawer, apple, ball... And today the light bulb finally came on with signing too.)

 

No experience here but the first thing that popped into my mind was baby. Do you call her/them that?

 

Has anyone else been teaching her signs? babysitter? I think rubbing your chest in a circular motion means hungry and patting it fast means scared. If there is no one else that may have taught her one of those, or if they don't seem right I would try giving her these things when she does that, and see if she is excited that you "got it": binky (if she takes one), ball, book, baby doll, say "Yes, DD is Mommy's baby" GL & let us know!!

 

My first thought too was 'baby' One dd in particular is enamored of the word and just recently did she really start adding the ending 'bee' So now she says bA-bee and often points to herself too.

Hope you figure it out! I get driven batty when I feel like I should know what they're saying to me and I can't figure it out!

 

I was thinking "baby" too. The sign for baby is like you are rocking a baby in your arms. Mine often had their own variation of signs when they first started, like Ainsley would sign cat on the top of her head, instead of her cheeks.

 

Bib?

 

Do you watch Baby Signing Time? I know that 'bath' (or 'wash') is taking the hands and rubbing the stomache up and down like you are washing. Maybe the ba is for bath??

 

QUOTE(seamusnicholas @ Apr 7 2008, 08:44 PM) [snapback]710713[/snapback]
Do you watch Baby Signing Time? I know that 'bath' (or 'wash') is taking the hands and rubbing the stomache up and down like you are washing. Maybe the ba is for bath??



Yes, this was my first thought. You use open hands and move them over your torso to mimic wash/scrub your body to sign 'bath'. Other chest-related signs:

Please
Sorry
Like
Don't Like
Shirt
Clothes
Baby
Scared
Happy
Excited
Sick


Hmmm....I'm sure there are many others (I'd have to consult the boys, they're the real experts in our house. But my money is on bath.

 

Maybe she's trying to say "mine" or "me?"

thea

 

My girls always patted their chest (instead of their leg) when they signed "Dog" Do you have a dog?

 

Thank you for all the brainstorming!

We don't have any of the videos, so the only signs they've seen are the ones we've shown them (eat, drink, more, all done, diaper), which aren't even close to a chest pat.

I wonder if she is trying to say "me" (as in "Look, I exist!"), or "baby." It definitely feels more like she's telling me something than asking for something.

Or maybe it means "Mommy, I love you so much, thank you for being my slave 24 hrs a day since before I was born!" If not, let's pretend anyway! :lol:

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Apr 8 2008, 01:22 PM) [snapback]710968[/snapback]
"Mommy, I love you so much, thank you for being my slave 24 hrs a day since before I was born!:


Oddly enough, that was exactly what I was going to say. That's what my boys tell me anyway. :winking0009: :laughing:

Shannon

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Apr 8 2008, 01:22 PM) [snapback]710968[/snapback]
Or maybe it means "Mommy, I love you so much, thank you for being my slave 24 hrs a day since before I was born!" If not, let's pretend anyway! :lol:


Thats EXACTLY what she is saying :good:

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Apr 8 2008, 05:22 AM) [snapback]710968[/snapback]
"Mommy, I love you so much, thank you for being my slave 24 hrs a day since before I was born!" If not, let's pretend anyway! :lol:

[SIZE=18pt]THAT'S IT!!![/SIZE] What a smart little girl you have!!