If you’re new to Scottsdale Moms Blog – WELCOME! We’re so happy to have you in our little corner of the world-wide-web!
Here’s a little recap for you newbies…Over the past year, Joy and I have been posting Steph vs Joy posts mostly for our own personal enjoyment BUT also to illustrate how friends can be total opposites and still 1) greatly appreciate each other and 2) be good moms.
Just to give you a taste of our crazy differences be sure to check out Steph vs Joy | Baby Essentials List, Steph vs Joy | Meal Planning and finally Steph vs Joy | Pregnancy Announcement .
Now on to today’s topic…. Babies first “Words”
{Steph} I’ve said it in a number of my posts, but I’ll say it again. I confess…I am a people-pleaser! So much of what I do personally as well as with my family revolves around making sure everyone is happy and well fed 🙂
Now I’m sure a number of you are thinking “What does being a people-pleaser have to do with ‘Babies first Words'”?
A LOT! Let me explain…
When we started doing baby sign language (we consulted the book, Baby Signs) with Nora around 6 months we had decided we would choose a few signs that we thought were the most important signs for her to learn. Obviously there was the standard “more” and “all done.” We couldn’t get around the practicality of those signs BUT for both my husband and myself two other signs became equally as important – “please” and “thank you.”
Thankfully Nora caught on to how important these words were to our family and now does them with excellence (if I do say so myself). Although it does sound to the average person like “tease” and “thants.” Which is fine with us!
{Joy} For me, I’m all about functionality, simplicity and bare-bone basics. If there is one word that I love, it is the word “practical”.
*Sigh* I really love that word.
So, for me, the most important first Baby Sign and words that I wanted Reagan to say more than anything is “More” or that she’s “All Done”. In fact, since I can’t even explain to you what “please” and “thank you” really mean, I was set on waiting until actual words started coming out of her mouth. I mean really, how abstract is “Please”? Sure, it’s polite, but it doesn’t help me with my problem of trying to figure out what in the world Reagan needs. Thank you very much 😉
So, while Reagan’s actual first word was “Bu”, in reference to a “Book”, her first full/practical/helpful word was “Mooore”. And, to my delite, it was in context. (i.e. her bowl was empty and she was still hungry= success). She quickly followed up with “DaDan” and the sign for “All Done”. Which is also so satisfying EVERYTIME she says/signs it!
For the record, she does now know the signs for “please” and “thank you” and she uses them… sometimes. For now, my hubs and I just try to actually use “please” and “thank you” with her and with each other. As her vocabulary grows, we will be sure to work in the social graces, but most importantly, I just want to know what she NEEDS!
{Steph again} Isn’t Joy hilarious? Practicality, practicality, practicality. I love it! She always encourages me to consider Nora’s NEEDS before all of the other things. Yes – even before politeness 🙂
So there you have it ladies… two Scottsdale Moms… two VERY different perspectives & experiences…but still two GREAT moms!
Haha, you two make me laugh at how ‘different’ you think you are… did you notice that the words you BOTH said were important were ‘more’ and ‘all done’ ?? Anyways, I LOVE it when little ones say Please and Thank you! It is my favorite by far!
OH… and good for you guys for teaching the girls sign! I never even attempted this with Parker. I think I just talked his little ares off, and thats why he is such a talker now!
Steph,
When I first saw you writing about baby signs, I was so hoping it would sound a little like how it went with Kyler. Kyler, like Nora, is very spirited. I’ve tried baby signs for months, but the boy is so stubborn and hates for anyone to force him to do something. So after weeks of showing him signs, I did what the book told me, and tried to make his hands do it so he knew the motions. This makes him SO mad! I’ve pretty much given up on baby signs, but he pretty much has his own signs anyway…banging on the highchair tray for more, and slapping your hand for all done. haha….oh spirited children!
Oh Lauren! Girl – I hear you! Just so you know… it usually takes MONTHS of doing baby signs with a child before they usually catch on. That was certainly the case with Nora. (should have include that little bit of info).
Oh the joys of spirited children!
oh steph…i am much like you, but desire to be more practical like Joy. my hubby is much like Joy and didn’t see why i was so insistent on “please” and “thank you” when the kids were babies. “please” really is somewhat of an abstract concept right?! but i gotta say, it all became habit for the kids and to this day “please” and “thank you” are a natural response for them. not sure if they actually always mean the words (ha!) but they sound polite! 😉
Glad to know there are other mamas out there like me 🙂
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