Do you understand?

So lately Guy has been trying to communicate more and more. And most of the time he is successful. He is doing pretty good for his age. But there are still times that I don't understand what he is wanting or tying to say. And I wonder how much of that time it is my own fault.

For example, last night he woke me up in the middle of the night standing by my bed. I was tired and impatient and didn't really want to know why he was awake in the middle of the night and didn't really think about it too hard. I just handed him off to my husband, who then took him crying back to his bed, and shut the door so he would stay there. I didn't think anything more about the situation until this morning I noticed that one of his blankets was on the floor next to my bed. It appears he brought it in with him. I then started wondering why he was coming in in the middle of the night. Was he cold? Not feeling well? Just couldn't sleep? I don't know, and I won't ever know, and it is all because I didn't take the time to find out. At this point I felt bad. I need to try to do a better job to understand what he is needing.

The other time recently that I didn't understand his needs or wants was on Saturday. He was sitting on the kitchen floor. He only had one sock on, and his pants had come off and were on the floor beside him. His other sock had come off at meal time, and I had previously found it by the table and put it in the wash. Well he pulled at his one sock and was saying "sock" so I thought he wanted it off. I took it off, and then he held up his pants, and said "pants". I told him to take his pants to Daddy, and then proceeded to take his sock, and put it in the dirty clothes. Well he picked up his pants and started crying coming after me. I figured he was trying to say that he wanted Mom to put on his pants. So I put on his pants, and he continued crying and pointing at the laundry room door. I then realized that he had been telling me he wanted his other sock on. So we fished both socks out of the laundry and put them on and then he was happy.

Communication

So Guy is learning to communicate pretty well. He doesn't say much, but he knows how to get his point across. Sometimes it amazes me what I understand.

For instance, last night, Daddy was getting Guy in his PJ's. And Guy was pitching a fit. I came in to see if Daddy needed any help, and started talking to Guy. I asked him if he was upset because he had lost his "pluggy" and didn't know where it was. He instantly stopped crying, while I went on a pacifier search. My husband asked me, "how did you know that was what he wanted?" I have no idea how I knew. Maybe it is because he is decidedly attached to that thing. He thinks he constantly has to have it in his mouth. Even when he is eating. He takes it out of his mouth, puts some food in, followed by the plug. Anyway, so part of it is just knowing him, I guess.

He has also started shaking his head, no. But I haven't completely figured out what that one means, and I'm not sure he knows either. Sometimes it means "no", but sometimes it means "yes".


He also does a pretty good job understanding you. He loves people and loves to say "hi".



Sometimes when I have the kids in the stroller, and am out walking, as soon as he sees someone coming our way, his hand starts waving. He is such a happy energetic boy. I love having him in my family.