Where has the month gone? We are all doing well and are ready (well as ready as you can be with a 1 - year old) for Christmas. He is so much fun and very entertaining. I wanted to share two specific stories.
1. Understanding 'Thank you"
I have been teaching Nicholas sign language for almost 9 months. He is really grasping and using it a lot, a lot more than I thought he would anyway. He can sign almost anything he sees, often seeing a sign once and then repeating it without being prompted. Well the last few signs I have been working on with him are 'please and thank you.' When he wants something he will sign please, usually after he signs more and after he receives the object he signs thank you. Well three weeks ago we were at church and we went up for communion. Matt was holding Nicholas and we knelt down to receive the Eucharist. We were presented with the host and then the wine. I made the sign of the cross and looked at Matt. I see Nicholas signing thank you. I know that he probably did it as a gesture like he does at home when he is eating, and he thought of Matt and I as eating the host. But what a wonderful sign for him to do while we were at the Lord's table. Thank you seems so inadequate when thanking Jesus for giving his life for us, but coming from an innocent baby somehow it seemed just perfect. He completely melts my heart.
2. "Choking and water"
"Tis the Christmas Season...Matt and I have been trying to create our own family Traditions. We went to Sea World the day after Thanksgiving, were went to the local parade, to see Santa and last weekend drove up to a special light display. We took the opportunity to enjoy a dinner out. The restaurant was over the water (on a pier) and you could see lights and boats. It was really pretty. I was eating my dinner and started choking, not life or death choking just 'down the wrong pipe' choking. Meanwhile Nicholas was drinking out of his sippy cup. We left his juicy in the car so it was filled with water. Matt of coursed asked if I was okay. Then Nicholas hands me his sippy cup and signs water. He was pointing to my mouth and signing water. I would just hear him say, "Mama drink my water.' I pretended of course and drank some of my own water. After I take drinks of anything I always let a big sigh out and it usually cracks him up. But he just smiled and went back to his fruit. He is such a sweet little man.
Disclaimer: I have told of sweet and loving stories about Nicholas, however I must add he is a WILD man and if you happen to stop by my house you would find his stuff everywhere and him RUNNING around like he is Tarzan in the jungle, but he will stop to say, 'Hi." and smile!
