About Airplanes

Hamilton is obsessed with airplanes. We’ve been spending lots of time outside, so we’ve heard and seen lots of airplanes pass overhead. He learned the sign for airplane quickly, since the sight and loud noise are unique. Hamilton associates any loud, engine noise he hears outside with airplanes, though many times I have to say, “No, that’s a truck.”

As soon as he hears a loud noise that he thinks could be an airplane, his whole body gets still. His eyes open really wide while he listens, and he cocks his head ever so slightly.

Then he lifts his hand into the air and makes a grunt that sounds nothing like airplane, but I know what he means because the sign is unmistakable. As the sound gets louder, he looks into the sky to see the airplane.

Last weekend our dear friend Jenny babysat for Hamilton; and when we returned, she lifted her hand into the air and said, “What does this mean?”

“Oh, was Hamilton doing that outside?” I asked. She nodded. “Yeah, he heard an airplane and wanted you to know.”