michelevgreen Every time I go to Intellicast to check the weather, I mistype it as “intellicats” — which seems like it would be a more interesting site

SaraJOY DIAPER, Y U NO CHANGE YOURSELF?

MeganBoley Benton is all, “Hey, Imagunna try stomach sleeping for the first time in 9 months. It’s fun. Until I wake up crawling. I’m a weirdo!”

SaraJOY This solid food stuff is too much work. Can’t I just nurse them ’til they’re 3 & hand ‘em a burger?

_Biscuit_ there should be a service where an idiot is sent to you for all your shaking-to-death needs. #idiotoncall

michelevgreen Hubby’s phone autocorrected the phrase “the baby ate a lot of oatmeal” to “the baby ate a lot of goat meat.” Might be my fav of all time

Depcrestwood If I had to describe the guy who just walked past me in two words, those two words would be “weed jesus”

TheNextMartha This exists people. yfrog.com/gy5dqhhj

TemerityJane Sheldon’s jingling rabies tag is going to be the death of me. I keep half-drifting off to sleep and jerking back awake. “SANTA??”

keli_h why is there a “no gas day” group on facebook? makes no sense to me. it is also known as “stranded car day” or “get gas the day before day”

exlibris Idea: Galactica uses Captcha to test its crew for Cylons. #iwouldfail#imatoaster

jimmycarr Morning. Here’s a house that looks like Hitler. You’re welcome.http://plixi.com/p/87787960

Shinga_the_Jedi “Mac or PC?” I swing both ways, baby. But just so we’re clear, I only experiment with Linux when I’m drunk and want attention.

thegrumbles I blow your face up.

anymommy Left chili I defrosted for dinner sitting in the sink all night. Microbiology is more religion than science, right? I mean, I can’t see it.

michelevgreen More Talk to Text: “Matthew: I am I want flavor syrup in your lifetime latte” Okay, honey. #huh

michelevgreen Actual texts Hubby’s talk-to-text sent me this AM: Matthew: just buckle current. Matthew: did not say that. Matthew: taco her hand

TemerityJane Is it out of context conference session tweets season again already?

GeorgeTakei AT&T is buying T-Mobile. In related news, Russia wants Eastern Europe back. #TheresAMapForThat

Crunchynurse I need the guy from Karate Kid to make J. pick up his coat off the floor and hang it on a hook, repeatedly, for a number of hours.

the818 Why is it that when my dog farts, it’s like I’m eating it for breakfast? How do those canine bungholes permeate like that?

nataliejanette I had a dream that my phone got wet, so I put it in a bowl of rice. When I came back to check it, the rice was cooked & had peas & carrots.

exlibris I had a dream that revealed the secret connection between Pearl Jam, the Oregon Trail, and the Illuminati. #enlightened

MeganBoley Shamrock Shake, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Iced Chai, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Peppermint Mocha. #Twitterseasons

BrunnerCircus I saw someone using a pay phone today. In other news… I had no idea that pay phones still existed.

thegrumbles Showering with a bulldog is always unexpected.

kch I propose a most amazing trade-off: Everyone adopts the US power plug standard, and the US adopts the fucking metric system. Everyone wins.

DaddyFiles I fully plan to will myself back to health using nothing but positive thought and NyQuil. Big N, small y BIG MOTHERFUCKING Q!

Mom101 Toddlers with British accents are cuter than puppies. Cuter than puppies with British accents too.

zhandlen Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and William Shatner were all born today. And we still don’t have a goddamn STAR TREK musical.

michelevgreen Hubby informed me a contractor is coming to fix our fence “sometime” today. This really disrupts my not-wearing-pants plans for the day

MeganBoley I think I just had an oh-my-gah-I-am-a-mom moment after that tweet. “what is this meme? Dern kids? These is jokes?”

swonderful me: what’s this movie called? luke: natalie portman

TheNextMartha I’m filtering the word “snow” out of my stream. The word denial is welcome to stay.

thegrumbles @tristina_wright monday’s only there to keep sunday from punching tuesday.

MeganBoley @laurahartgerink @typographitext yeah. I basically just use boobs as parenting tools.

milonguera Today Joaquin and I ate about 12 mandarins or clementines or whatever those dainty little oranges are called.

thek8escape I’ve decided that if I had a superpower, it would be to make babies sleep.

ordermeanother Why is there no milkshake delivery service?

PensieveRobin Dark chocolate peanut M&Ms: colorful afternoon vitamins.

SaraJOY Snark *can* be used for good people. #responsiblesnarking

sarahbartlett Morning again? Balls.

TemerityJane Don’t know how, but I’ve managed to log into Friendster & am now texting my sister pics of herself saying “HAHA YOU USED TO DRESS LIKE THIS”

MrsFreestyle Walking three 100+ lb dogs, while 4 mo’s pregnant, & wearing a 20lb toddler on your back is not as easy as it sounds.

CrunchyVTMommy Dear Jesus, Allah, God, Superman or whomever is in charge tonight, please let my babies sleep until 10 am. Sound good? Thanks so much.

GreenEnough4Me A guy on FB: “My fiance works too much.” Me: “You’re engaged?” Him: “No. But I assume she works too much & that’s why we haven’t met.” #ha

ecsuperhero In fact, it might even be in the Constitution. It’d be unpatriotic to not put Kahlua in my coffee right now. God Bless America.

sarahviola Trying to figure out how long it’s been since Vi nursed, but…DST… Uh… it’s too early for numbers. #carrytheone #dumb

bigcitybelly However, it was amusing to see a drunk girl fall off the curb outside my place and still keep her cell phone to her ear.

MeganBoley @milonguera @thegrumbles if iphone autocorrect was a person, it would look like dana carvey church lady.

laurahartgerink today is a feast of meatballs. i am ready for the ball-off. and i shall win. #deliciousballs

alwysabridesmd Oh boy I hope what I’m chewing is lobster.

Depcrestwood Umm – I just scratched my head, and half a Frito landed on my shoulder. I haven’t had Frito’s in months.#anothersignoftheapocalypse

thek8escape The dishwasher fairy didn’t come last night. Bummerrrr.

MeganBoley @thegrumbles twitter is the god of inappropriate juxtaposition. If I were in art school, I might have done a project on the subject.

michelevgreen I wonder if Dora’s fantastic world of singing creatures is a psychological cover-up for a grim, unbearable reality a la Pan’s Labyrinth

foldinglaundry Parents: please teach your kids to not be assholes. Plain and simple.

milonguera Heh @Pinterest During testing, we accidentally told a handful of really nice users that their pin of a kitten was objectionable content.

babyrabies Driving through rural TX, we get a whiff of cow manure. Kendall proclaims, “smells like daddy’s poopy!”

goodgoogs Late pregnancy is not realising you’ve had a marshmallow stuck to your belly for the best part of an hour

apocalypstick I’m a feminist, but these heavy boxes aren’t going to move themselves.

PBinmyHair Text I just got from my husband “do you know how to use the craigslist”

mommyboots I would like all of the chocolate today, please.

FamilySizedFun i bought 3 sticky rollers and i am giving up lint for lent.

foldinglaundry Noah was just naming mountains: Mount Fuji, Mount Everest and Mount Tin Dew. OMG, DYING.

tami_moore @tristina_wright I don’t think I’ve ever told you, but if I was ever a mother, I want to be just like you.

michelevgreen Slow cooker came with a strange giant rubber band. After trying to affix it to multiple parts of the machine I discover it’s a “lid holder”

exlibris @sarahbartlett losing a gnome is a traumatic event.

lindseyivory Is it a coincidence that fat tuesday and women’s day are the same? Oh the irony (and doughnuts…oh the doughnuts!)

exlibris Just tried to text my MIL on a calculator.

FamilySizedFun this is when they whine and whine. and then i wine. they whine. i wine. whine wine, wine whine wine wine. until wine wins.#wineforthewin

neilcole I love Guinness, but if anyone tells you it’s “good for you” – NO! That’s broccoli. They’re thinking of broccoli

DaddyFiles Gary Busey is praying for Charlie Sheen? Ouch. That’s crazy-person-on-crazy-person crime right there.

thek8escape Joe: I bet if you name any state in the union, I can name the capital. Me: Nebraska. Joe: … dammit.

mariasrandmrant Hey lady..wearing the fishnet top over a bikini w/ some wedge heels and pushing a stroller, yeah you. What were u thinking??#FasionNoNo

CrunchyVTMommy My 19mo son calls woodpeckers – peckersons and I think it’s freaking hilarious!

LordStewie when I die I want to be cremated and put into an Etch-a-Sketch

FeministBreeder Quickies were invented by parents. Definitely.

allisonzapata Sandwich with a Zantac chaser. #pregnantdinner

AmberStrocel A spammer is offering me tips on how to find a thoughtful wife. So I have that going for me.

pocketbuddha Today is one of those days where I kind of understand why some species eat their young. #badmama #toddler #CabinFever

cynthiaboaz I just found someone’s to-do list at the bottom of a shopping cart. “Saturday- Shutterbug, Michael’s Art Supplies, harvest pot.”

unxpctdblessing It’s no longer “I missed that memo.” It’s now “I missed that tweet.”

TychoBrahe When my mother felt something was particularly untrue, she’d say it was a “lie from the pit of hell.” This struck me as needlessly dramatic.

Dabobie I really wish when I peeled my banana that a cheeseburger popped out of it. #whynot #bananasareyucky

posielove What I discovered in the bathroom tonight.#bathtoysgonewild http://yfrog.com/h316eccj

DaddyFiles I was thinking: instead of going to work today how about drinking heavily & taking up smoking again? Feels like one of those days.

michaelfranti The national debt is $14,128,618,456,347.92 – can we stop worrying about gay marriage now?

ecsuperhero I swear too much. But since I make no effort to stop it, I’ll just say that a filthy mouth can be an endearing quality for some. Like me

If you think these are funny, check out my inspiration, The Little Big. She created the Follow Friday Blog Meme and posts her favorite tweets every Friday. Tears from laughter I tell you. TEARS!

i read this post over here and it got me thinking…a lot…

the lonely eats at you when you are home all day, locked in repetition.  it can even eat at you when you are out at an office.  or at the park.  or out to dinner.  or running errands.  i don’t think it’s a symptom of where so much as the what.  if that makes sense.

we are moving to st. louis in just two short months.  while i’m 98% ridiculously excited, there is a 2% of me that worries.  worries that it will negatively effect olivia.  worries that our grand plan to get our debt under control will blow up in our face because of some unforeseen obstacle.  worries about the fact that i have to solo parent one week every single month.    worries about this and that.

the other night stephen and i eschewed the television and video games for laying in bed in the darkness and talking.  come to find out, he has the same worries.  he never said anything because he didn’t want to dampen my excitement for going home and i didn’t say anything because i didn’t want to seem ungrateful for getting to move back home.

same worries.  different reasons.  stupidly kept to ourselves.

this life i chose….the one i have….is not what i’d envisioned for myself ten years ago.  i envisioned being a writer.  being published.  writing for the movies.  comfortable.  i haven’t written anything other than this blog in well over five years.  that thought puts a lump in my throat.  my heart’s dream since i was twelve lays untouched in a dusty corner of my mind.

so write.

it’s not that easy.

plus.

there’s this whole domesticity thing i’m trying to get a hold of.  if there was one thing i do well, it’s being a homemaker.  i can cook and bake.  i can grow, birth and raise a baby.  no, it’s not easy.  it’s never easy, but i can do it.  and i can do it well.  but even that comes at a price.  and the price is the alone and the guilt.  the guilt because i do nothing to contribute financially and we’re drowning.  the guilt when i’m tired and worn out from a fussy baby and dinner isn’t ready or the house is a mess.

i’m learning to sew.  learning to knit.  i want to learn to crochet.  i want to learn to make my own lotion.  random.  but all things that i could be good at and could keep me busy and maybe open the door to providing some sort of modest income for my family.  but i’m unsure of all of it so i put it off in practice but think about it constantly.

just about the only thing i am sure about is the jude. he’s a bright and shining star he is. he lights me up.

i love him, it’s true. but i’ve realized that my love for jude just can’t compare to my love and relationship with jon. i feel about jon something so deep and overwhelming and all-encompassing that nothing will ever be able to hold a candle.

source

this made me think of my own. olivia is my sunshine.  her laugh and smile are infectious and can chase away dark cloud.  she is the one perfection in my life that i can point to as a living example of my success as a mother.  but i find myself thinking often of when it was just stephen and i and we were just starting out.  the unknown.  the lust.  the love.  the wonder and discovery.  how i want to return to then at times.  but i love where we are now.  married.  growing.  creating.  we still learn and still discover but it is blanketed with worry and tired and concern and repetition.  laundry.  cooking.  baby.  dinner.  tv.  sleep.  repeat.

we are in a rut.  i am hoping the move points us in a new direction and we get new feet to stand on.  i hope we can, out from under the worry of money, return to how it was but with the added happiness of children.  meanwhile, i will do.  do my crafts.  do my housework.  do my baking.  do my cooking.  and i will love my daughter.  and i will discover my husband.

will you?

the doldrums of winter are starting to freeze my bones

i feel them crack and tremble under the weight of the brittle cold and the stress of the everyday

money mommy wife house clean dishes laundry sewing knitting dog sleep floors clutter dust broken want need can’t

the everyday

so i try to keep a positive in the forefront

something for my mind to hug and hold onto

something for my bones to gain strength and warmth from

- the way olivia hums in her sleep on every exhale… hmm [inhale] hmm [inhale] hmm…

- the way max curls up in the tightest little ball on the couch on as many pillows as he can

- the way stephen cuddles me close while we watch tv late at night, making sure my pj legs are straight and aren’t riding up my legs

- the hum of my sewing machine dancing along fabric making [something] pretty for [someone]

- the click click click of my knitting needles slowly, methodically churning out whatever-this-is

- the smell of freshly baked cookies

- the sun even though the warmth is just an illusion

- my warm bed and how it waits patiently for me each night after every wake-up and every nursing

- my health, my sanity and my marriage, although none are perfect they are all loved and cherished above everything

- ideas and dreams…thoughts and wishes…they keep me going…

what do you tuck in a corner to hang onto to keep yourself going through the cold, through the stress, through the everyday?

inspired by Grumbles…but going back further since I’m sans-toddler

Dear Self about 18 months ago,

AH MAH GAH YOU’RE PREGNANT!  Hooray!  Much throwing of confetti and jumping up and down with joy.  I realize it wasn’t planned at all but this is [good] and is one of the best things to happen to you yet.

The next ten months (yes, ten) are going to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in your life.  This is both hooray-happy and boo-uncomfortable.

So, I here in the future with a teething eight month old is going to give you in the past a few key pieces of advice.  Because, really, when I look back on what you’re about to go through, I think, “What did I actually DO for ten months at home?”  And when I remember something, “I did THAT? Why?”

12 Weeks

First thing is first, enjoy every second of your pregnancy.  I can assure you that you will give birth to a healthy, beautiful, perfect little baby so please do not waste one minute fretting, worrying or being anxious in any way.  Enjoy growing that little life inside you.  Relish it.

Speaking of growing a life, nap often.  And do not – DO NOT – feel guilty if you sleep more than you are awake.  You are incubating a human life.  This is a complex, taxing, tiring task.  Sleep every single time you feel tired.

Stop reading so much on pregnancy.  You’re just going to come across stuff that will scare you and make you worry.  Sure, sign up for those cute little emails that let you know that your baby is the size of a grapefruit and can twiddle its thumbs but stop there.

24 Weeks

Use the time you would normally spend scouring the internet for pregnancy stuff to learn a hobby or pursue one you already enjoy – writing, reading, cooking, sewing, knitting.  You will have precious little time that is [yours] after the baby comes so getting something under your belt now would be great.

Sew and knit and write your little heart out.  Blog all the time and use it as an outlet for everything you’re feeling and experiencing and doing.  It’s going to be an amazing record to look back on.

This may sound silly right now but get on Twitter and start making friends with some of the awesome mamas that are there.  I can tell you that their support, experience and genuine friendship is [amazing] and I wish so incredibly badly I’d known them when I was pregnant.

32 Weeks

get outside

Seriously

I know, you burn if the sun so much glances at you, but go for walks as much as possible.  Go to the park.  Go shopping.  Go for a drive.  Just go outside and do things.  Go on dates with Stephen.  You’ll have precious few of those afterwards.  You will feel so much better about life and everything that’s happening – plus you will have a great foundation of activity that will help you lose the baby weight afterwards.

Save your pennies.  Your insurance is going to be an almighty bureaucratic douche and not cover any of the prenatal care or the birth.  Start saving money now, so, in ten months when the hospital threatens to turn you over to collections, you can pay at least part of it out of pocket and not have to max out every credit card you  have to pay off the bill.

Find yourself an amazing midwife or doula who can talk to you about the birth and help you make informed decisions about what you want to do on the big day and for care afterwards.

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT spend any time worrying about any of the stuff for the nursery or the baby.  In fact, do not buy anything for the baby yourself.  You and Stephen both come from large families.  This is the first grandchild on Stephen’s side.  And it is your first child.  This baby will have everything it needs.

And then some.

Trust me on this.

Have fun with your registry but don’t go overboard on the frivolous stuff.  Keep it small and pertaining to that first month or so.  Everything else will be provided either at your shower or shortly after.

39 Weeks

Take lots and lots of pictures of your belly as it grows.  You can do a really cool video montage with all the pictures after the birth.  I really wish I’d done that.

Do not worry about the state of your house, the state of your bank account, or the state of your ever-expanding belly.  It will all be fine.  Stephen will be paid in time, you will stay healthy and your mom will help with housework when she comes for the birth.

Just relax, mama-to-be.  This is a truly amazing time in your life.  Go to the spa a few times.  Get your nails done.  Buy yourself a pretty hospital gown to wear.  Master a few awesome cooking recipes.  Learn to sew your baby clothes.  Learn to knit for the winter.

Above all, stay calm.

And carry on.

Love and support,
Future You

PS That gut feeling you have about the gender?  You’re right on point.

The other day, someone called me “crunchy” and it made me giggle a little.  And surprised me because I’ve never thought of myself as a crunchy mama.

I mean, I guess.  I do breastfeed and am planning on doing it for a while.  We recently switched to cloth diapers.  We’re planning on making her baby food.  We co-sleep a lot and she rooms in with us the rest of the time.  I babywear constantly.

Apparently, these are some of the checkboxes for crunchy.  At what point did I tip the scale and become crunchy?  Was it one or all of them?  Was it my openness to adopt them?  Are there different levels?  Like Kinda Crunchy, Pretty Crunchy and Rolling in Granola?

I don’t mind, really.  The wallflower-outsider-looking-in part of me kinda likes it.  It kinda makes me want to find more things to add to the list to be really crunchy. Like gardening and sewing and knitting and baking bread.

It means someone else made me a part of a group.

Growing up, I was the shy one.  I could count my friends on one hand; I was terribly smart; I wore glasses; I had obnoxiously curly hair.

obnoxiously

Any group I hung out with, I always felt like I was on the outside looking in.  Like I had invited myself along. I was that kid no one wanted to tell to go away so everyone just tolerated me.  Whether or not that was the case, that’s how I always felt.  No matter what the situation, the group of people, my relationship to them, I’ve always felt like I’m on the edge of the circle, carefully examining their dress, speech and manners so I can copy them enough to “fit in.”

But, at what point do I stop wearing a disguise and actually be part of the group?

What group am I in?

I fit many groups when it comes to my parenting style.  I’m skewing towards the more natural/green/crunchy way of doing things but I have my trendy/hip/mainstream qualities, too.

Is there a label for me?

Do I want one?

What about you?  Do you find yourself struggling to fit in to a group or style or way of life but feel like you’re faking it?  Do you care?  Have you succeeded and feel like you really are a part of something?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Inspired by Stephanie…

There are many things my heart wants that, maybe someday, I’ll have them…and it will be grand.

but not now

for whatever reason

- My mom has a photo album of me in Germany as a baby/toddler.  I want to take that photo album and Olivia back to those same places and take the same pictures

- I want a hundred acre wood with a lake where my family and Stephen’s family can build homes and we can all live together and grow together

- I want to give birth at home to a perfectly healthy baby and then snuggle in my own bed with my perfectly healthy baby and my husband

- I want to write a story that someone thinks is good enough to publish and put in a real bookstore

- I want to go back to school and study anthropology so I can learn more about where people came from and then watch my children to learn where people are going

- I want to go to sommelier school and become a grand master because I love wine that much

- I want to get a tattoo mural that covers my back and beautifully incorporates my Gaia

What about you?

What does your heart want?

Stephen and I took a Baby Sign Language class last night taught by a local speech language therapist in conjunction with the hospital we’ll be using to deliver Olivia in a few short weeks.

Both of us have different experiences with sign language.  Stephen’s mom teaches special education in high school and, as part of her training, learned sign language in the event any of her students were deaf or had a language need in which signing would be helpful.  I taught myself some sign language starting in high school and continued it a little bit into college.  I simply found the language to be beautiful and artistic and was attracted to it just anyone would be attracted to any other foreign language.

By using the phrase “foreign language” I refer to any language that is not your own.  By this definition, American Sign Language (ASL) falls into that category.  Yes, it is a young language and was borne out of necessity and research as a way to communicate with and among those who cannot hear and/or speak.  But it is a language nonetheless.  It’s an invaluable communication tool for thousands of people.

When I first found out I was pregnant nine months ago, this is something I immediately began researching and reading about.

Two quick points:

1) You may see the phrase “Baby Sign Language” referring to a modified version of ASL for use with babies.  This is not what we will be using and is actually not really advocated for many reasons.  Quite simply, as our teacher put it last night, why reinvent the wheel?  ASL is used in its standard form for deaf and mute children from birth so there is no reason not to use it for hearing children as well.  By using and reinforcing the proper sign with your child, you’re helping their development.  It’s the same as when they are learning to speak.  If they call their bottle a “ba-ba” do you always say “ba-ba” when you refer to their bottle?  Nope, you say bottle.  And you keep saying bottle and, one day, they go from saying “ba-ba” to bottle.  Same with signs.  Sure, their sign for milk may be a flapping hand instead of a squeezing one at first, but, with you reinforcing it, it gradually morphs to the correct sign.

2)  Baby Sign Language may or may not be a fad – and I’m referring to the dumbed down, easier version of ASL specifically developed for hearing infants.  Only time will tell.  Part of me hopes it is for the reasons stated above.  However, ASL is not a fad.  At one time, sure.  But, at one time, this “email” thing was  fad.  Keep in mind, we aren’t talking about clothes or hair styles.  We’re talking about a proven method of communication developed for a specific community and now being used in far more applications than it was ever foreseen.  Think about it, the internet was originally developed to just transfer files on a college campus.  Who would have thought then that it would be what it is today?  Same with ASL.  It was originally developed for just the deaf and mute community but is now used with hearing infants, people with speech problems and children with learning disabilities.  The applications for ASL are growing constantly and this particular application may seem like a fad right now but who knows what the future holds.

*pulls out soap box*

Bear with me.

ASL is not a crutch.  Humans desire communication and we seek it out and figure it out in any way that helps us get our point across.  ASL is the method of communication for those who either cannot hear and/or cannot speak.  It is most often used in conjunction with lip-reading and speech therapy (if applicable) and is wildly successful.  It saddens me when I hear about people feeling it will hinder their child in some way or it is a crutch.  Not so!  You would teach your hearing child every possible method of communication, wouldn’t you?  So why not your deaf or mute one?  It’s a tool just like any other tool your children need to grow, develop and go out into the world and make a life for themselves.  It doesn’t mean anything bad if your child speaks with their hands.

I realize every child’s situation is unique and there are many different levels of hearing loss.  There’s also a lot of research out there regarding ASL and speech therapy applications.  I am not a doctor.  I am not a speech therapist.  I only know what I know based on my reading, my experience and my conversations with those in this field.

I just hate it when ASL is viewed as something “lesser” or a “crutch” because then you are looking down on those that use it or feeling pity for them whether you mean to or not.  You may not maliciously but that is what comes across.

*puts away soap box*

Back to using it for hearing babies.

As it was explained to us and as I’ve read about it, babies can use larger muscles sooner and easier than they can smaller ones.  Makes sense, right?  You can flail and wave far before you can babble and talk.  So, a while back, people fluent in ASL started using simple signs for key words in everyday sentences with their babies who could flail but not talk.  After many months of repetition – always signing the word “milk” when you talk about feeding; always signing the word “bath” at bath time; always signing the word “toilet” for diaper changing – around 6 months of age, roughly 6 or so months before they would speak, many of these children began roughly signing the words back.  Sure, they were baby versions (which led to the aforementioned Baby Sign Language) but they were signs and they were communication.

A lot of the frustration that stems from infants in the 6 month or so range to about a year or more is the inability to communicate properly.  They can’t tell you “my tummy hurts” – all they can do is cry.  And you don’t know why they’re crying and they keep crying and you get frustrated and they get frustrated and it all goes downhill from there.

The development of speech in infants is still quite the mystery.  No one really knows when that lightbulb flickers on signifying the complete understanding that that specific word means that specific object.  Some are grasped sooner such as Mom, Dad, Dog, Bottle, etc.  Some are more conceptual and that’s where the signing comes in.

The biggest difference I can stress between using ASL for hearing babies versus deaf or mute babies is that you are not teaching them another language in the sense that you are not signing every single word in a sentence.  There is very little finger spelling.  You are only signing key words in sentences that you use every day.

Examples:

• Milk
• More
• Yes
• No
• Mommy
• Daddy
• Dog
• Cat
• Bath
• Water
• Diaper Change

By signing these key words in your normal speech, you are giving your child options for communication, giving them something to focus on and watch, and giving them something they can mimic a LOT sooner than speech.

Does mimicry mean they actually understand it?

Hard to say.  That’s why it’s conceptual.  They understand that signing this squeezy motion gets them milk.  They understand that shaking their fist a certain way signifies diaper changing.  It’s all about understanding concepts and communicating those simple concepts to mommy and daddy.

But does it delay speech?

That’s a tricky question with an equally tricky answer.  There is no magic date that your child should be talking.  There’s benchmarks and ballparks and bell curves that doctors will show you to say “This is roughly about maybe where they might say one or two words.”  Every child is different.  Some will talk your ear off at 10 months.  Some stay completely silent until almost 2.  I’ve heard stories of younger siblings taking much longer to speak simply because older sibling spoke for them.

The best answer I’ve heard was from our teacher last night.  Humans are “path of least resistance” creatures.  We will do whatever is easiest, most convenient, gets it done quicker – hence all our foods in a box, fast food drive-thrus and the like.  Children are the same way.  If a quick sign gets the point across, you’ll see a sign.  If a sentence differentiating which particular cookie they want is easier, you’ll get the verbal version.

Keep in mind that children are also mimics.  They will mimic what adults and older kids do all the time so the more you speak, the more they will.  They see that mommy and daddy speak, they will too.  They see that mommy and daddy read, they might, too.  They see that mommy and daddy clean, they might, too.  Kids are little professional mimes and are damn good at it.

In most cases.

The main point to stress here is that with any development of any sort – crawling, walking, speaking, reading, counting, etc. – every single child is different and will develop at a different rate.  Just because your child doesn’t start speaking when one of his playdate buddies does, it doesn’t mean the sign language you use made that happen.

All in all, Stephen and I are tremendously excited about using this.  It’s been shown to help improve communication which helps in overall frustration, it promotes bonding, and it is just something to improve hand-eye coordination and interaction.  Plus, it’s fun.  We talk with our hands normally, why not throw a little learning into it as well?

Some resources.

• http://www.littlesigners.com
• http://www.sign2me.com
• http://www.signingsmart.com
• http://www.lifeprint.com
• http://www.signwithme.com
• http://www.signingbaby.com
• http://www.handspeak.com
• http://www.babysigningtime.com

I love Mama Kat’s Writer’s workshop.  If you haven’t yet participated in this, it’s fantastic and easy to do.  It’s a fun writing exercise and highly recommend it to anyone whether or not you’re a “writer.”

Today, I picked a slightly harder prompt.  Hard because I haven’t written a haiku since grade school.  Sitting here counting syllables on my fingers made me laugh.

Write a Haiku that describes what you love about an ordinary day.

Ready?  Here goes:

Big mug of hot tea
Feeling Olivia kick
Bliss and motherhood

Ta-da!!

*accepts the accolades and applause with a slight bashfulness*

I stumbled across this today in my search for momma blogs out there and thought I’d pass it along. This is such an awesome way to gain readers and to find other blogs you didn’t know about.

One 2 Try hosts a Friday Follow every Friday (clever, no?) in which they simply use a Mr. Linky to publish an enormous list of blogs – you just submit yours, browse the list above your link and follow any blogs that jump out at you.

Here’s the blurb from their site:

“Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here’s how YOU can join the celebration:

–Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

–Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

–Follow as many blogs as you’d like.

–Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.

–Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one – but you can follow each blog. Follow a few or follow them all.

The list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.”

Very cool.  Very simple.  I’m a fan.

Today marks 14 weeks until you’re here – that is, if you stick with the due date your doctor predicts.  However, you’re already growing so fast, you’re ahead of the curve so you may come out a bit early and I definitely won’t complain.  I cannot wait to meet you and hold you and see your tiny little pink body for the first time.  I’m going to cry when I see you – I’ll just warn you ahead of time.  So you’ll be crying and I’ll be crying but it’ll probably be for two completely different reasons.

Your dad is excited, too, in his own way.  He doesn’t feel you squirming around all the time or kicking – all he sees is mommy getting rounder and a little more cumbersome with each passing day.  I bet if you kicked more for him when he talks to you, that may help.  Let’s try it, shall we?

Your nursery is still a mess but I promise to have it all beautiful and snuggly for you when you get here.  I have all these great things picked out for you to look at to help you develop your sight and lots of stuffed animals and toys for you to explore and chew on.  Chewing on teddy bear ears is great fun, let me tell you.

I’m already so completely in love with you and, truthfully, am quite overwhelmed at the thought of you depending completely on me and daddy for safety, instruction, health and everything else that you’ll need as you grow up.  I mean, I don’t even know what’s going on half the time and now I have to pass on sage wisdom and have the answers for you!  It scares me a little…

I’ll be absolutely honest with you, my little girl.  As your mom, I’ll screw up from time to time.  I’m not perfect.  I won’t always know the right answer.  I will have moments where I misunderstand you or just completely do not get where you’re coming from.  I may even tell you the wrong answer or withhold something because I somehow think that’s better for you.  I will promise you this, though: I will do the best I can always.  No matter what happens in your life, where you decide to go, what you decide to do, who you decide to fall in love with, know that I always love you and will always try to do right by you.

Just as you are about to figure out how to be a baby and a little girl and a teenager and a woman, I am about to figure out how to be a mom.  We’ll figure it out together as best we can.

Now you grow strong and healthy in there and I’ll see you so very soon.

Love always,
momma