We have ongoing stories around here about a little dog named Sika and her canine friend Bat. Some days Sika is small and white, other days not. Her breed may change, but she's here to stay it seems after hanging about for close to a year now. I'll miss hearing stories of her when Helena outgrows her someday!
In the meantime, the stories are great!! Sometimes Sika has to fight of mean foxes who are out to eat the chickens. Other times she befriends a kind fox to go berrying. Bat is often a part of her adventures. However, recently Bat died and then Helena got a "Lassie" dog. (Ok, so she has to get over the convenient death to replace a character plot so common in cheesie movies). Bat remained "dead" for about a month until one morning Helena announced to me "Mommy, remember I thought Bat had died? Well, she didn't! She had run away to get married!" Oh my did I laugh!! "I thought I saw a shadow in the woods this morning and then I heard barking and I was like 'That sounds like Bat' and sure enough it was her!!" she continued.
Today Helena told me about Sika's puppies. Let me see.... there was Doodle, and Track and Flower and I can't remember the names of the other two...
What cracks me up the most is when Helena will stop suddenly what she's doing/saying and go yell towards some bush "Sika, get back here!" Then she'll continue her conversation with you saying "Sorry, my dog was running away" or something to that affect. Too funny!! She even went thru a stage of opening the door to let the dog out, but we put a quick stop to that one, explaining that since it was a pretend dog surely she could pretend let it out.
And don't worry. She'll be quick to tell you they are "only pretend dogs". But she'll expect that you'll pretend pet them too!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Our Sweet, Sensitive Little One
We mark some of the bigger occasions in Helena's life with a special piece of jewelry. Daddy gave her a pretty flower necklace in a little pony box when she weaned, and there is a Pooh necklace in her future when she finally gives up using her binky at night. Also ice cream the next day for the first time she goes all night without it.
Today Helena sat on her bed, having just discovered the pony box which she hadn't seen since before we moved. "I remember when my Daddy gave this to me... when I stopped nursing" she murmered to herself. "It's so special! And my heart, my heart was just filled with such joy and happiness" she continued in a soft, rapturous voice. "It's just so beautiful! I've never seen anything so beautiful" she gently declared all the while shaking her little head in wonder.
As for the binky, Helena will sometimes say that tonight is going to be the night, but she hasn't quite gotten up the nerve to give it up. Later on she'll declare something like "Mommy, I'm NEVER going to have ice cream EVER again. Not til I'm 5 or 6 or 7!!!!!" Or "I don't want a Pooh necklace - EVER!" Then mommy has to laugh because my little binky loving 3 year old sounds quite like a dramatic little teenager.
Today she was playing her instruments "I'm playing a song called 'Hugs and Kisses all Day Long'" she told me.
But the most sensitive thing of all came one afternoon last week after she was corrected for fussing about not being able to open a Christmas present *now*. I explained that she needed to be grateful because some children in the world don't have presents. "But their mommy and Daddy can buy them some" she protested.
"Their mommy and daddy don't have any money to buy presents" I explained.
"Well, they can just go get a job then" she said.
I explained that there are no jobs where they live and that sometimes they don't even have food to eat on Christmas. Well, that was too much for her. As I continued on in the other room, I heard her cuddle up to her trustworthy canine confidant and in a teary voice saying to him "That just makes me so sad. That's so so sad doggy. Some children don't even have food to eat on Christmas and they have to have hungry tummies." Over and over she was telling him about it, her little heart just broken.
So we talked about what we could do to help someone. We are now sponsoring a child through Compassion International, a little 4 year old from Guatemala so Helena can be involved in writing to her, sending her pictures; they can sort of grow up together as pen pals, and maybe even correspond someday in each other's languages. This is something Joe and I have wanted to do for quite a while now, and we are thrilled to have Helena involved in it. Lately she has been wrapping up little papers or even trying to wrap toys to put under the tree "for other children who don't have any presents". One day she even drew some food on the paper and wrapped it up "so they can have some food to eat."
I love her sweet, sensitive spirit!!
Today Helena sat on her bed, having just discovered the pony box which she hadn't seen since before we moved. "I remember when my Daddy gave this to me... when I stopped nursing" she murmered to herself. "It's so special! And my heart, my heart was just filled with such joy and happiness" she continued in a soft, rapturous voice. "It's just so beautiful! I've never seen anything so beautiful" she gently declared all the while shaking her little head in wonder.
As for the binky, Helena will sometimes say that tonight is going to be the night, but she hasn't quite gotten up the nerve to give it up. Later on she'll declare something like "Mommy, I'm NEVER going to have ice cream EVER again. Not til I'm 5 or 6 or 7!!!!!" Or "I don't want a Pooh necklace - EVER!" Then mommy has to laugh because my little binky loving 3 year old sounds quite like a dramatic little teenager.
Today she was playing her instruments "I'm playing a song called 'Hugs and Kisses all Day Long'" she told me.
But the most sensitive thing of all came one afternoon last week after she was corrected for fussing about not being able to open a Christmas present *now*. I explained that she needed to be grateful because some children in the world don't have presents. "But their mommy and Daddy can buy them some" she protested.
"Their mommy and daddy don't have any money to buy presents" I explained.
"Well, they can just go get a job then" she said.
I explained that there are no jobs where they live and that sometimes they don't even have food to eat on Christmas. Well, that was too much for her. As I continued on in the other room, I heard her cuddle up to her trustworthy canine confidant and in a teary voice saying to him "That just makes me so sad. That's so so sad doggy. Some children don't even have food to eat on Christmas and they have to have hungry tummies." Over and over she was telling him about it, her little heart just broken.
So we talked about what we could do to help someone. We are now sponsoring a child through Compassion International, a little 4 year old from Guatemala so Helena can be involved in writing to her, sending her pictures; they can sort of grow up together as pen pals, and maybe even correspond someday in each other's languages. This is something Joe and I have wanted to do for quite a while now, and we are thrilled to have Helena involved in it. Lately she has been wrapping up little papers or even trying to wrap toys to put under the tree "for other children who don't have any presents". One day she even drew some food on the paper and wrapped it up "so they can have some food to eat."
I love her sweet, sensitive spirit!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
You've All Heard of "Baby Wearing"....
I'd like to introduce you to "bunny wearing", the new trend courtesy of Helena Grace. She made the carrier all by herself too!
Gingerbread Houses and Fruit Garlands
After helping me string together some fruit we'd dried on the wood stove, Helena decided she wanted to make her very own fruit garlands. She worked hard on it for another hour perched in a sunny spot on the floor and made 2 beautiful garlands: one for Daddy and one for Starbuck. Now all of our LR windows have fruit garlands hung in them. Honestly, I think hers came out better than mine too! She did very well making them with the sharp needle - didn't prick herself once. Mommy only had to help tie the knots at the top and bottom and to help put on the cinnamon sticks. Getting the needle thru them was a bit tricky!
The Gingerbread house, Helena made at a craft fair with help from daddy. He helped her build it and then she decorated it herself - tho the lovely little tree was a daddy addition.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Moments of Helena
Helena woke me up singing today in her bedroom - belting it out at the top of her little lungs "a la sound of music" which we'd just watched yesterday.
"I love you doggy!
With all my dear heart I love you.
My dear heart loves you doggy
When the skies are gray I love you doggy!"
And on and on. Oh how I wish I'd had something handy to record with!!
She and I are recovering from a full week of being sick - highly unusual for us. Actually, she's recovering great and I'm wallowing in sudden coughing fits throughout the day, especially at night where they keep me awake for hours at a time. Seriously, if I could just sleep I'd feel so much better!
Today Helena told me she wanted to change the color of her blog. Haha - she chose the only other pink choice.
When we came downstairs this morning, Helena ran off with her compass which doubles as a camera in her imagination. She still hasn't figured out the reality that it doubles as a whistle lol. Anyway, she ran off to the other room after informing me "I'm going to go take pictures of the children. Thomas is 13 and he's in the barn taking care of the horses and my girls Tomato and Annja are taking care of the cow". Oh I do love her imagination!
Daddy and I are learning to become more "sneaky" after Helena asked us why Mary and Joseph only travelled at night rather than sleeping at night. Even tho she knows we move them, she looks with wide eyed wonder at their new locations each day on their long journey. Each day they get closer to Bethlehem!
At present Helena is "going for a little picnic" with a little basket of play food draped over her arm and covered with a little yellow playsilk. She sits herself down on the floor in front of the bunny house she built earlier, complete with a red playsilk which she informed me was the porch. With a little piece of broken cinnamon stick, she "peels" each of her wooden carrots and places them in front of her bunny. Now I hear her saying "Come on everyone" and when I ask her what she's doing she replies in a funny voice "We are storing our food in my snug hollow home in the chestnut tree. I'm a squirrel," she tells me. Then she clarifies "I'm not really a squirrel, but I'm pretending to be a squirrel."
Sometimes I wish I could just video her all day long!!
"I love you doggy!
With all my dear heart I love you.
My dear heart loves you doggy
When the skies are gray I love you doggy!"
And on and on. Oh how I wish I'd had something handy to record with!!
She and I are recovering from a full week of being sick - highly unusual for us. Actually, she's recovering great and I'm wallowing in sudden coughing fits throughout the day, especially at night where they keep me awake for hours at a time. Seriously, if I could just sleep I'd feel so much better!
Today Helena told me she wanted to change the color of her blog. Haha - she chose the only other pink choice.
When we came downstairs this morning, Helena ran off with her compass which doubles as a camera in her imagination. She still hasn't figured out the reality that it doubles as a whistle lol. Anyway, she ran off to the other room after informing me "I'm going to go take pictures of the children. Thomas is 13 and he's in the barn taking care of the horses and my girls Tomato and Annja are taking care of the cow". Oh I do love her imagination!
Daddy and I are learning to become more "sneaky" after Helena asked us why Mary and Joseph only travelled at night rather than sleeping at night. Even tho she knows we move them, she looks with wide eyed wonder at their new locations each day on their long journey. Each day they get closer to Bethlehem!
At present Helena is "going for a little picnic" with a little basket of play food draped over her arm and covered with a little yellow playsilk. She sits herself down on the floor in front of the bunny house she built earlier, complete with a red playsilk which she informed me was the porch. With a little piece of broken cinnamon stick, she "peels" each of her wooden carrots and places them in front of her bunny. Now I hear her saying "Come on everyone" and when I ask her what she's doing she replies in a funny voice "We are storing our food in my snug hollow home in the chestnut tree. I'm a squirrel," she tells me. Then she clarifies "I'm not really a squirrel, but I'm pretending to be a squirrel."
Sometimes I wish I could just video her all day long!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Missing Month....
Where to begin.... after several weeks absence, there are just so many cute things that Helena has said and done.
Finding hippopotamus and hens in the clouds during long car rides
Telling me she wants banana with peanut butter "like I used to have at our house in city/state" I cracked up that she used the address.
Telling me she is "rather skittish about Grandma Dress-up" Her real name is Jessup. Not sure if that or the use of the word "skittish" was funnier.
Being soooooooo endlessly patient while watching Aunt Kt try on wedding dresses and dancing around the bridal platform in a pretty flower girl "princess dress".
I love the way she eats! We brought her out for Thai and she loved it! She is such a good, healthy eater and not afraid of trying new things.
More as I think of it... Daddy is home now.
Finding hippopotamus and hens in the clouds during long car rides
Telling me she wants banana with peanut butter "like I used to have at our house in city/state" I cracked up that she used the address.
Telling me she is "rather skittish about Grandma Dress-up" Her real name is Jessup. Not sure if that or the use of the word "skittish" was funnier.
Being soooooooo endlessly patient while watching Aunt Kt try on wedding dresses and dancing around the bridal platform in a pretty flower girl "princess dress".
I love the way she eats! We brought her out for Thai and she loved it! She is such a good, healthy eater and not afraid of trying new things.
More as I think of it... Daddy is home now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)