Monday, May 23, 2005

SOME MAGICAL MOMENTS

Tonight Millie and Bella brought their parents up to our flat for dinner, and afterwards Millie and I went for a little walk outside to find the moon.

It was a full-moon - beautiful! The waning crescent moon is a 'baby moon' and tonight's was a 'daddy moon' and as it sailed upon cloudy seas, we were both entranced.

Millie's teething, and it's not easy for her. She can now tell us where it hurts - her jaw and her head - and when she was given a little baby-prescription pain-killer she was sparky again within ten minutes.

They're both sleeping up with us tonight, as last night was awful for Millie and her parents.

Shalom!

Rowland.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Jesus' teaching about Children


Richard Rohr, in his brilliant book Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer writes: 'Jesus uses the image of a child to teach "beginner's mind." A child is one without ego identity to prove, project, or protect. Little children are not protecting identity yet. They know kinesthetically and respond to what is, not what should be or might be. That's why they cry and squeal with pleasure so much... When they see a little animal, they don't have to filter it through their heads and check to see if they like it. Nor do they ask if it is dangerous... If only we could receive reality so immediately and so spontaneously, without our adult judgments and calculations. Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.'

That's our Millie! This morning she watched The Wiggles and Bananas in Pyjamas and danced with delight. Interesting that she doesn't have to be taught to move her body/arms/legs - she does it spontaneously and gracefully...

And her words... She can say the name of her little friend - Victoria - perfectly! She repeats the last few syllables of everything we say to her. And she's so cute when she says 'Bye Bye' to anything/anyone (rabbit, bear, grandma) when she leaves a place. A flock of yellow-tailed black cockatoos flew overhead when we were walking yesterday, and when they'd gone she said 'Bye Bye Cockatoos!'

Small things are 'baby' things. Look at the little plane Millie! To which she responds 'Baby plane.' I think I've written about her 'baby moon!'

She's learning about 'time out' - when she hits the baby or our house guest's little dog. She sits with her mother in the darkened hallway, and is rebuked. She understands. But she asks for 'Daddy', 'Lockie' - or even 'Bella', the baby, to rescue her!

At present she's away with her mum at the church's playgroup: she loves it!

Shalom!

Rowland.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

LOTS OF WORDS!

Millie has lots of words. I've now been back home from a 3 1/2 week trip to the U.S. and we've settled back into our little routines. (At first she was very serious in my arms - not used to my going away like that).

We went for our walk this morning - a beautiful autumn morning - and she said 'Bye Bye bunny' to one of her cuddly toys. She greets the dogs: 'Hello Tear. Hello Lockie!'

She now has a habit of repeating the last few syllables of everything we say. 'No moon!' (but the other day we could see the moon in daylight, and I said 'It's a small moon', to which she replied 'Baby moon!') 'Two birds!' 'No cat today...'

We greeted a neighbor, and when we'd finished talking I said we're going to watch Bananas in Pyjamas on TV, and Millie told her the characters - 'Nunu' (sp?) 'Morgan' 'Rat'...

This morning her grandma gave her a little basket to store some doggy-shapes in. She took them out, looked at the wicker basket, and said 'oval'! Someone's taught her the difference between 'round' and 'oval'. Did I say before that she can count to ten?

Bella's very much part of our lives now, and Millie's not so aggressive with her little sister. We try to give them each the same attention, so Millie knows she's loved too, even though there's this little occasionally squawking invader in her life who demands our attention.

But she's a contented little one, with lots of smiles if she's not tired or hungry. We are truly blessed having such gorgeous babies in our home.

Shalom!

Millie's and Bella's Granddad!