ASL - Teach your children well.

Piglet signs "all done."

Piglet signs "fan."

Piglet signs "please."  Just look at his earnest expression!

I'll admit, I was a skeptic about ASL (American Sign Language) and babies.  A couple of years ago when my bestfriend Jess would put her infant daughter's chubby little hands together to teach her the sign for "more" I was like "dude, you are crazy." She'd say "maybe, but I want to try" and we'd have a little laugh over it. Lo and behold a few months later our families were out to dinner and when Miss A wanted more of her mom's pasta, can you guess what she did? She tapped her fists together asking for more. Seriously. I was chagrined. So when it was my turn on the mom merry-go-round, I read tons of material on sign language and the great benefits of teaching it to your child at a very early age. And I mean EARLY. As in starting at two or three months. I have to say, I didn't see the point in "teaching" Piglet anything at that age, I mean, REALLY. The kid was just starting to poop consistently for Pete's sake. Did I really think he was going to tap his hand on his chin saying "momma?" COME ON PEOPLE. Be realistic! Still, I did see the benefits of being able to communicate effectively with Piglet before he could/would verbalize things to me.

So dh and I set on a course to teach our little spawn a little sign language. At first, he was much more diligent at it than I was, but then one day around eight months old, Piglet slapped his hand on his thigh when the dog mosied by. The next day he did the same thing when he saw a picture of a dog on the Cottonelle package.  It was amazing to me. Piglet not only knew the sign for dog, but remembered it. He wasn't just copying us, but signing of his own accord. He GOT IT. And I got it too.  So THAT was what all the fuss was about!

From then on he's been an unstoppable signing machine...from milk, to help, to book, to please, Piglet is quite the savvy little signer. The other day he signed "sleep" and "milk after his bath, so he's starting to put signs together and form very basic sentences. I am thrilled! Though we're not launching into any debates about the economic stimulus plan, Piglet can effectively communicate his needs to us and we can do our best to accommodate him and avoid most meltdowns.

We use this book and this book and we think they're great.

Piglet signs "book"

Piglet signs "car."

Piglet signs "dada."

We, I mean, SHE did it.

This is how we expected to find Maren and Piglet when we got home...

Tonight we went to my best friend's daughter's Montessori school auction. It was a sweet, nice event and we were home by 9:00. We left Piglet with our trusty babysitter Maren, the ONLY person outside of my parents who has ever babysat for us. It was her second time and she did a fabulous job the first time, so I had MUCH less anxiety about leaving Piglet at home tonight. I'm pretty sure that was a run-on sentence. Anyway. Piglet is a very light sleeper unless he's being held and also nurses to sleep (yes, I KNOW this is a terrible habit) so we figured he would drift off and she would just hold him until we got home. I mean, that's the ONLY way to deal with Piglet at bedtime when mom's not around, right? I said, RIGHT?

Um, ahem. 

WRONG!!!

We came home to find an empty handed Maren and a SLEEPING IN HIS CRIB Piglet. 

IN HIS C R I B, PEOPLE. 

The place were I only put him when I have to run and pee or something. This is big stuff!

So, I just want to send a big holla out to Maren for her excellent baby whispering and sleep training skills. Thank you and GOOD NIGHT!

PS - I am still completely shocked that he is in his crib and snoozing away.

Night #2 Update: The remainder of last night went as well as could be expected with Piglet waking three times and taking about between 5-20 minutes to go back down each time. Tonight he went down in eight minutes and there's been no stirring at all so far. By George, I think we've got it.  

A real boy haircut.

As some of you might remember, Piglet got his first haircut at the end of November. At the time I told the stylist "Cut it but don't make him look 18!"  She did a great job and Piglet's hair was tamed...but not for long.  I swear cutting it made it only grow in faster and thicker!  I would've gotten it cut again in December but the blasted snow kept much of anything from happening then. We tried to get it cut again in January, went back to the same darling salon but Piglet was having NONE OF IT.  Just goes to show you, you can't take a kid with no nap at the end of a long day out and ask him to sit in the yellow car while someone flashes sharp things around his head.  I kind of don't blame him.  Anyway, haircut part II did happen but I'd say was minimally successful!  So, after just two weeks, and dh saying he looked like a "wild animal" we were off for haircut number three.  This time we went for convenience and had dh's stylist cut Piglet's hair right after he got his own haircut. We also skipped the car and just let him sit on mom's lap. I wouldn't say he was THRILLED, but he sat still and was amused by the barber shop dog Oscar.  Dh's stylist took the words "boy cut" to heart and we came out with a very shorn little boy!  He even used the CLIPPERS.  It's cute, but oh my goodness it is SHORT.  I can't wait for it to grow back a little.  I miss that one curl on the left side of his head.  

Here are some pictures of Piglet with his real boy haircut. I swear I cried.  I might cry every time he gets his hair cut.  Well, maybe not when he really is 18 and doesn't just look like it!

PS - In the second picture I look like I'm making some gang sign but really I was trying to hold Piglet's hand so he wouldn't bat at this scissors.  

Piglet takes home the gold...

*Warning and disclaimer: the following could be construed as (gasp) bragging.   Avert eyes if such things are found offensive.

Yesterday I took Piglet to see his pediatrician for what I feared was more than just teething symptoms.  He has been cranky, feverish and then yesterday started coughing (saddest sound in the world).  I chalked it up to teething but the advice nurse told me some startling news - fevers are NOT a symptom of teething!!! Everything of course is, but not fevers.  I was shocked (and felt quite bad). Anyway, we go in to see PD (Piglet's doc) who is by all accounts a wonderful person, but pretty reserved and not overly effusive.  Piglet despite feeling terrible, was shockingly good throughout all the poking and prodding.  This prompted PD to say things like "he is a very charming baby" and "what a wonderful disposition this little fella has" and "Piglet is a delightful boy."  Piglet of course,  just ate that up smiling and cooing at the good doc. Btw, turns out the only disease he has is the disease to please, that and a tooth about to come up. ;)

To Piglet, you have brought honor to our family with your highly favorable performance at the office of the healers.  Our great many ancestors are smiling upon you. With that said, I bestow upon you, the gold medal for "Happiness & Harmony While Being Poked and Prodded." Carry on little Grasshoppa.