"More" was the first sign that our speech therapist introduced to the boys, and the first one that Xander started using consistently and correctly. It is still his most frequently used sign, and is generally considered universal by him. It still means "more," but also "gimme" and "I want" and "let's play" and just about anything else you can think of that he might attempt to communicate. He has only recently added a few other signs, like "no" and "all done" to his daily interactions.
Sawyer has long watched and understood the signs we have been practicing (just as he knows and understands the words we use), but he wanted no part of any of it. He finally, after weeks of trying, did condescend to allow us to do the technique known as hand-over-hand, where I take my hand and help him use his hand to perform the sign. Stubborn little man that he is, he even resisted this part at first. Well, last week the therapist had a "breakthrough" moment with him, when she got him to consistently sign "more" during a little game of organizing markers (during an attempted art session). It was cute and unexpected, and a completely welcome sight to see him actually communicating, even with extensive verbal and physical prompting from the therapist.
And it was also extremely funny, though we both tried very hard not to laugh. Leave it to my son to find a way to show attitude with his first ever sign language. It was quick, angry and abrupt. He clearly was not pleased to be making the sign, and he absolutely let us know it, each and every time that he signed it. Attitude, from the quiet one. Good times.
