We’ve established communication!
Natalie’s communication skills have improved dramatically over the last month. She started nodding and shaking her head in response to questions! Yesterday while Grandma was watching her, Natalie nodded in response to the question, “do you want to sleep?” And then she went to sleep easily and slept for over 2 hours!
Natalie has also finally started signing! She signs “milk” which either means she wants to nurse, or sometimes means she wants mommy. Today she did the “change” sign, and I took her up to the changing table even though I had just changed her. Sure enough, she had a dirty diaper!
In terms of speech, she started saying “mmmmmm” whenever she saw a picture of a cow or heard the word cow. She also smacks her lips together whenever she sees a fish or hears the word fish (Aunt Kary taught her that one). When she sees a picture of an elephant, she blows raspberries trying to make an elephant sound.
We will continue to teach her more signs now that she’s mastered the basic ones. Being able to communicate has made our jobs as parents infinitely easier and it makes us so proud and happy to see her learning and using new skills.
Here she is practicing walking wearing a beautiful sweater hand-knit by Auntie Bethany:
