Dear Evan:
More, more, more. You want more. We know you want more, because it’s your favorite sign.
Normal sign language for “more” is to hands made to look sort of like duck heads, fingers resting on thumbs, with the tips of the fingers moving to meet each other.
Somehow, you learned it as one hand (your right) in the normal position and the other flat vertical, like a duck head pecking at a wall. That’s okay. We know what you mean.
Well, mostly.
“More” began (as did “all done,” which you also know) so we knew when you were still hungry at meals. But now you sign more when we least expect it.
If I slow down in the middle of a tickling? More.
If, as last night, you see some animal on television that you feel a special affinity for? More.
If we finish a book and you’re not done reading? More.
And yes, when you’re still hungry. More.
Sometimes we just don’t know. Yesterday you toddled through the house to the open window, looked up at me and signed “more.” More outside? More walking, as you and your Mommy had done earlier? More of the kids playing outside? We have no idea.
We want you to learn other signs, and your Mommy tries her hardest to get them to catch on. It hasn’t happened yet. You’re expressive enough, though, pointing at whatever catches your interest and saying “this” or “that.” (“Dishhh” or “dat”)
And your words! You have actual words. More on that later.
