I've never had any problems communicating with my babies -- baby signing wss completely unnecessary for both Lulu and Nessie, thank goodness because I never learned nor used it. As babies though, Nessie and Lulu have learned to communicate in completely opposite ways. Lulu pointed to everything and was able to follow commands at 7 months - but she was completely silent until almost 14 months, when she finally starting making up her own vocabulary. She never said "Mama" or "Dada" or anything. Nessie, well, Nessie is just loud and talks. She started using words consistently at 11 months -- she says "Ma" when she wants more food. She calls balloons and balls, "Ba". She calls Babar, "Ba Ba". It's funny having such opposite communicators.
Eating with Nessie is out of control - her stomach is a bottomless pit, she usually polishes off all her food, plus Lulu's, plus more. When I ignore her "Ma" demands, she'll scream at the top of her lungs until she gets more. It's piercing.
Other things Nessie can do these days -- She'll put her fingers in her nostrils when you ask her to "pick her nose". Waves when you say "hola" to her. Blows kisses. She also likes to cry hysterically (and rock her body forward and backwards) until she gets what she wants. She still loves to be perched in the arms of anybody which always makes me especially productive...!
I don't get a lot of free time these days for myself....! :-)
cheerful