Pretty

Ava said something remarkable to me this morning. I had an engagement to go to early so I got dressed and fixed up. In other words, I wasn't wearing my mom uniform of shirt and shorts and minimal makeup. I came into the kitchen where Ava was eating breakfast and when she saw me, she signed ''pretty.'' I was so surprised! And terribly flattered, to be honest. I don't know why it meant so much more coming from her than anyone else but I tell you, it really made my day - no, my week.

I was surprised because her communication usually consists of her telling us what she wants and of her naming everything that she knows the word for. When I taught her the sign for 'pretty,' it was in conjuction with the jewelry I was wearing that she was admiring. Since then, with a few promptings at first, Ava would say pretty every time and only when she was fingering my jewelry and I don't wear them often. So when she saw me and signed ''pretty'' this morning, it was the first time she applied the word to something other than jewelry. It tells me her grasp of abstract concepts (if that is the correct way to put it) and use of language at 17 months. Her communication is normally related to concrete things.

Gee, my child thinks I'm pretty!

On another note, I found lip smudges on my floor length mirror. Ava apparently was kissing her reflection. Funny, no?