Our CSA farm has rows of raspberry bushes that have had a fantastic yield this summer. Eleanor figured out how to pick and eat raspberries very quickly. At first I thought this was a clear sign of her genius. And then I realized that being able to pick and eat brightly-colored, toddler-height, sweet and easy-to-chew berries is pretty much a basic qualification for mammalian or even repitllian survival. If you can’t figure out how to eat tasty berries, you’re probably not in for a long run.
Since most toddler foods do not grow on knee-high bushes, Eleanor usually has to let me know when she’s hungry. Her main methods of communicating are as follows:
# 1. Pointing and grunting. Ellie walks to the kitchen and points to the cabinet where Cheerios and bunny crackers are stored and makes a less-than-charming grunting sound.
# 2. Whining. Ellie sits in her high chair with an array of tasty foods set before her. These foods are not what she would have chosen for herself, however, so she whines and yearns for a food that I am not providing. Eventually she gives up and returns to method #1.
#3 Sign language. This is a great one. Ellie’s old New Mommy daycare taught her the signs for “More,” “Hungry,” “Milk,” etc. I wasn’t aware Eleanor had picked up so many signs and for a couple of days noticed she was frequently franticly waving at me, especially at mealtimes. I would wave back with great enthusiam and say “Hi Baby!”. When I did this, her waves would become increasingly insistent and she might throw in a little #2. After a good week, I realized she was signing “Milk,” not waving. Oops. She also uses sign language when I have forgotten her sippy cup or a snack. The other day, she was walking around the Carleton lawns, sadly signing “Milk” and “Hungry”. I had nothing. Again: oops. 
#4. Taking things into her own hands. In this self-actualizing method, Eleanor finds old dried-out and dog hair-covered Cheerios or long-forgotten raisins in corners of rooms or under the carpet fringe. While technically silent, this method sends a clear sign: I do not vacuum enough.
#5. Actual words (well, word). The only food item Eleanor has deigned to speak is “banana,” or, more accurately, “nana.” This works extremely well. Except when we run out of bananas.Then it becomes a study in sadness and disappointment.
and mom ‘knew’ you were gifted because you didnt fall asleep during ET.
Oh, man. This takes me back! When kids learn to talk, the whole world gets easier.
On the other hand, talking kids are less prone to making hilarious faces like the one in the second picture – the toddler version of “WTF?”