More

I have found that meal times are the best setting to try and integrate some sort of communication with my little one. After all, the child is somewhat confined to a high chair or at a table, so they have to pay attention. Also, there are reinforcements all over the place when you're eating. I mean, what better reinforcement tool than food, right?

Today, Danzo was sitting in his high chair after dinner. I gave him an enormous piece of chocolate cake and just a small amount of milk. (I knew he would want more milk soon, so I was ready to prompt him!) He got a mouthful of cake, then guzzled his milk down in no time. He shook the cup at me and started to whine.

"Oh, do you want more milk?" I asked as I demonstrated the sign for "more."
"Say "more" if you do." I said.

His response usually consists of whining louder and throwing the cup at me or starting to cry out of frustration, but today was different... He put the cup down as his eyes lit up with excitement. I swear I could see sparks fly out of his eyes from all the firing that was going on in his brain. He did the sign for more, which looks like this:

I grabbed the milk and poured him a full glass. His sign quickly turned into a full-on applause. He was absolutely elated. I was too. It was a huge step he took today. To have a desire for something (more milk) and be able to flawlessly communicate without frustration is just remarkable! Go Danzo!

New work in progress...

I've had a creative block for the longest time... I just haven't been able to break through what was stopping me until the new year came around. I have been busy, busy, busy cleaning out closets, cupboards, toy boxes. You name it. There is a mountain of stuff outside the front door just waiting for the truck to come pick it up. As the physical clutter clears out, I can feel a new space available to clear the air of residual spiritual negativity. This, in turn leaves me with a new perspective on the true freedom I have to be creative.

So I got out my brand new set of watercolor pencils that I got for Christmas and just went to town last night. The mantra I'm using as I create is, "There are no mistakes." This especially helped me when I took a little break and came back to find that a little child had got hold of my pencils and added a few scribbles of his own. I looked at it and instead of getting mad, I smiled and said to myself, "There are no mistakes." I continued to work and turned the scribbles into part of the picture.

As with most things I draw, I just let my sub-conscious come out so I really don't know where its going. Just letting it all out and seeing where it will take me.