Stupid baby tricks.

[rivka]

When I got home last night, Michael wanted to show something off. "Colin, do you want to go to Mama?" he asked. Colin's head bobbed up and down in an enthusiastic nod as he reached for me.

I said I'd noticed a nod or two myself, and Michael proudly described how Colin had answered several questions (e.g., "Do you need a diaper change?") with a nod. We discussed how useful this was going to be from a communication standpoint, and how Colin's receptive language must be much better than we'd realized.

Then I asked Alex a question. (I think it was "How was school?") And felt Colin's nursing head go nod, nod, nod.

Oh.

We tested it out a few more times. And yep, Colin will nod in response to anything said in a questioning intonation.

I suppose that the helpful, nurturing thing to do would be to now give him lots of concrete experience with being offered something, nodding, and then getting it. But frankly, we'd have to be much, much better parents than we are to refrain from using this new skill of his for our own entertainment, instead.

Comments

[naomikritzer]

"Do you want me to eat you up? Oh, good, I'm totally in the mood for baby today...NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM."

[ailbhe]

I'm not sure it would make you *better* parents... more humorless ones, perhaps :)

[rivka.livejournal.com]

In sharp contrast to Alex, who has built up her logical argument skills over the years by coming up with more and more reasons why I shouldn't take bites out of her head, Colin actually seems to like it when I slurp his brains out through his skull.

Which is good, because ZOMG BABIES ARE SO TASTY.

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

"Don't eat me!" is a common protest around our house, as well.

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

I agree. Parenting quality and using your children for your own entertainment are definitely not mutually exclusive.

[ailbhe]

My eldest asserted that "you can't eat you OWN children!"

[moobabe.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on! Humor at your unsuspecting child's expense is a parental privilege, along with taking photos for the sole purpose of future blackmail.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I feel you should use this for political ends.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

zomg baby bobblehead!! :)

Munchkin (who will be 14 at the end of the month, how did THAT happen??) also build up logical arguments as to why I could not eat her brains and why Dad could not Chop Suey her (NO! You'll get chop suey all over my new pants!!) At this time, to my knowlegde, she was not aware the Chop Suey is actually a *food* and not some sort of wrestling move. Although she is now.

She still protests when I try to eat her brains. This will likely persist until she is taller than me. :)

[anthologie.livejournal.com]

I opened my mouth wide and nibbled on L's cheek yesterday. She responded by doing it right back. :)

[laurarey.livejournal.com]

ROFLMAO....I can't wait until Rachel does this. The possibilities for amusement are enormous. Enjoy!

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

If you ever get the chance, ask my children about the video archives of them we possess. We are evil, I tell you, *evil*.

Also? I read this this morning before heading out to work a rather grueling day, and thinking about this post kept me smiling. Thank you!

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

One of my nephews, at about 1 and a half, or maybe a bit older, would answer any question with "yah". We had LOTS of fun with that!

[lizzibabe.livejournal.com]

I dunno. You can always counter that with Bill Cosby's standard, "I brought you into this world. I'll take you out."

[lynsaurus.livejournal.com]

Yes! Besides, I think being entertained is part of the positive feedback for language acquisition.

Yay, baby tricks!

[(Anonymous)]

It does seem as though there is a good chance that Colin would love baby sign language. You could start with two or three signs to see how it goes.