Can You Hear Me Now…

We got back from Thanksgiving with Rakicy’s family in Missouri (more on that in another post) this afternoon, and on the way back we encountered a major development. Al Capone know how to sign!

Around Lincoln he started to get really fussy because the sun was in his eyes in the backseat. After about 15 miles of my trying to hold up a blanket from the front seat, we pulled over and I hopped in the back to be the sun visor, song singer, toy retriever, etc. We were about 20 minutes from home and I noticed him put his hand out and pump it. I thought he was reaching for a toy, but then a few minutes later, he reached out touched my shirt and then very clearly did the sign for “milk.” I told Rakicy and we decided to stop even though we were very close to home to reward his signing.

He signed milk once more before we got to the truck stop and responded positively each time I asked him if he wanted milk and signed back to him. As soon as I finished breastfeeding him, he got back in his carseat and was happy for the rest of the ride home.

We haven’t been doing ASL for very long, we’ve only really been consistent about it for the last few weeks. While he only signs milk back to us, he also knows the recognizes a few other items: all done (finished), bath, bed, Daddy, dance, eat, goat, and tired.

I was thinking it would be much longer before he would be able to communicate back to us with ASL, but I’m thrilled that even though he can’t talk, he is now able to start expressing his needs and wants.