Wild Kingdom: Suburban Edition

Ever since Babe-O was little, she's always shown an interest in our pets (at the moment, two dogs and a cat).

What's really cool now is that she is just getting big enough to play with them. And they are finally comfortable enough around her to play back.

The cat licks her, swats at her hands with his declawed paws, and involves himself in anything involving a ball. The dogs will bring her toys and let her chase them around…either in her Jeep walker or with me carrying her as she kicks her feet and squeals.

The dogs seem to know that her toys are off limits for chewing or other destruction and if she drops something, like a ball or a small toy, they will fetch it for her or at least swat it back in her direction. It's cute.

But what REALLY gets me is Maggie Mae, our golden doodle. If Babe-O is just fussing or making noise, it doesn't bother her. But if she is unusually upset (startled awake from a nap, bumps her head, whatever), Maggie gets very distraught as well. If the baby lets out a truly distressed cry, Maggie will cry as well, sort of a low, whiny howl as she paces back and forth. It works out well, because Maggie's worried nuzzle can usually make Babe-O snap out of it and the two settle each other down.

Lola, our cocker spaniel, doesn't get quite so visibly upset but definitely keeps a close eye on the baby pretty much all the time. And the cat, who doesn't like anybody, seems to have found a buddy in the baby, too.

When I was growing up, I had a mutt that would follow me around relentlessly…long after she had gone stone deaf and far exceeded any reasonable lifespan for a creature who ate only Gaines Burgers and McDonald's for just shy of two decades. I always hoped that any kid of mine would have an equally diligent dog to keep on top of things.

Looks like Babe-O just might have two.

Lewd hand gestures and other educational opportunities

As Babe-O does the whole language development thing, I thought watching my mouth was all I really had to worry about. No such luck.

Just like those irritating "body language experts" on TV are always saying, a big chunk of communication is non-verbal. (A bigger chunk if you're in traffic. And an even bigger chunk if you're in traffic and pissed.)

Regardless, lots of child development types say that babies can pick up quite a bit of sign language even before they can talk. So we got Babe-O a sign language book and started doing a handful of signs with her: stuff like mommy, daddy, dog, baby, diaper (hell, what else is there?).

But first, let me point out that this isn't bona-fide American Sign Language or anything like that…it is super basic, super simplified, easily recognizable baby sign language.

The reason I mention this is because for about the first week of doing the signs, I thought we were teaching her American Sign Language. That lasted until I made some offhand remark to Mom-O to the effect of "Wow, I can't believe that deaf people really stick their tongues and pant when referring to a dog." Although my wife wasn't able to tell me the proper ASL gesture for "dog," she seemed awfully certain that it didn't involve barking or panting. She also seemed vaguely concerned about my role in Babe-O's early development education, but that's another story.

Anyway, Babe-O has been learning baby sign language and her baby sign language first word was "Mommy," which involves spreading out your fingers and poking yourself in the side of the head with your thumb like you're trying to flag down the short bus. It was very cool to be holding her and watch her reach for her Mom and make the sign. That girl's wicked smart. I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.

Oh, and I forget the name of the book we're using. It's big and comes with flash cards (don't you hate flash cards?). I just used this picture because it humorously implies that your baby is an idiot.

[photo from http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51H8knQKylL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg] 

More on the pointing finger

A while back, I wrote about Babe-O using her little index finger to point at things while I read to her.

Well it's not just for reading anymore. Since then, that little index finger has gotten completely out of control.

She uses it to poke her food. And push buttons. And to poke me in the face. And to probe her Mom's nose.

Whenever she explores something new, she breaks out that one pointing finger on each hand to poke and prod.

It's the strangest thing. It's kind of like watching someone play eighteen holes of golf using only a putter. It' perfect when you're on the green, but a little awkward everywhere else.

I think it has something to do with Babe-O watching Mom-O work on the computer all the time. One woman's mouse-clickin' finger is another woman's go-to digit.

On the plus side, it's perfect for poking grocery store lobsters.