Coffee with Barretts

The Story of the Mean King

2010-01-26T18:55:00.002Z

I try here to capture something of the picture book that Ellie made today and the way she tells the story it conveys, though each telling is somewhat different, so this is just one snapshot of a developing tradition.

The story of the mean old king. You can see him shooting an arrow at a bird to hurt it because he was so mean.

Once upon a time there was a mean king. he was so mean that he had a sister whose dress was black and was so old that it had a hole in it.

There was a lady who lived in the castle and she didn't know what to do with the king. But she had an idea.

She made a card for the king. Then she went for a walk and she had the king's card in her pocket. She was very afraid because she didn't know what the king would do to her.

When she got to the mean old king, she gave the card to him, and it made him happy.

After that, they loved doing things together like making pizza, and the king liked making cards for the lady, too.

The lady and the king liked each other very much and decided to spend the rest of their lives together. They loved each other and got married.

THE END

Father-Daughter Art

2009-11-15T12:57:00.001Z

Ellie and I had lots of fun making a crayon and tape craft this afternoon -- one each for her and Isla.

Sink or Float

2009-11-14T11:18:00.001Z

Ellie needed to know whether broccoli sinks or floats, so it was time to introduce the scientific method, complete with formulating a hypothesis, running experiments, and doing analysis. Upon discovering that it sinks, we wondered if cooked and raw broccoli acted differently. Sure enough!

Meanwhile, Crystal has decided to see how small she can knit as she made a lovely, tiny doll to adorn the walnut shells that Izaak collected for us on his way to the office.

We've also discovered that Isla can open her mouth very wide!

Dancing

2009-11-10T10:24:00.002Z

She's got the moves!

Pumpkin Pot

2009-11-09T20:05:00.001Z

What better pot to cook pumpkins soup in than the pumpkin? Crystal and the girls sure know how to turn a regular ol' Saturday into a unique experience...and a tasty one, too!

Language Acquisition

2009-08-24T19:10:00.003+01:00

Ellie is really enjoying German kindergarten. It's more akin to preschool than what Americans think of as kindergarten -- mostly free-play time as a socialization environment for 3-6 year olds. But more than that, it's a place where Ellie can learn how to navigate this German-speaking world we now inhabit.

I knew language acquisition worked differently for little girls than for me, with my hours of intensive language study, but I didn't really understand the magnitude of the difference.

Ellie came home today saying that the children sat in a circle at kindergarten and passed around a stuffed animal, with each child saying something about it before passing it along. Ellie reported, "When it came to me, I said something in German!" "What did you say?" her parents excitedly inquired. "Well, I don't know...it was in German." Ah so.

Getting to Kindergarten in Style

The Up-And-Coming German Student

New Skills

2009-05-23T18:59:00.003+01:00

Sometimes photos just don't capture the essence of it all. So here are a couple of videos for you.

Ellie has been enjoying the scooter she received for her birthday. "Kick and coast" is the rule, along with "Look where you're going!" Crystal found a really nice Swiss-designed model that intuitively steers wherever you want to go. (Even through puddles....) The detail you don't want to miss is at the end, after the dismount, when she gives the brake a little press — I guess just to make sure she's stopped, or maybe to set the parking brake!

Isla has been learning her signs. She's got four of them down for sure: Milk, Eat, Sleep, and Cheese. She also signs All Done, but its meaning is a little dubious. (I've always thought that this one is too ambiguous, since we use it both for The Food Is All Gone and I'm Full Stop Feeding Me!) One more is Bird, which Crystal taught her by pointing to all of the birds in a picture book. But now she refers to every picture everywhere as Bird.

One subtlety in here is that right after she asks for more food, she sticks her finger in her mouth and blows. That means Please Blow On My Food To Cool It Off, or possibly, I Think Mummy Does Funny Things Like This Sometimes. One is never quite sure.... Also, don't miss the sleight-of-hand at the end where it looks like she's eating that bean, but she slyly drops it into her chair for snacking on later. I'm not kidding.

Birthday Girls

2009-05-16T18:26:00.004+01:00

'Tis the season for birthdays in the Barrett house. Isla reached the milestone of her first year and Ellie will proudly tell you that she is now four. As you can see, Isla had no problem diving into her cake with gusto. She was also thrilled with her Bobby car, especially the horn!

Along with becoming one comes some other new abilities. She's happily signing away with her own style and flair. Here's "more", which is usually in the context of food, so is largely superceded by "eat". One of her favorite signs recently is "sleep", which she has been doing lots of. Instead of calmly placing her hand on one side of her head and leaning to that side, she just grabs her head with both hands in a classic "Oh no!" look. But we know what she means.

The other thing that goes with turning one is going vertical. Isla is now the pull-up queen -- anything that will hold still for a few seconds is a viable candidate for pulling up on. Fortunately, she's now mastered the art of getting back down, which makes for a bit less frustration.

Ellie is bursting with personality, creativity, and chattiness these days. She wants to know why? and how? about everything. Some of my favorites are in the theological domain, including such things as: "When God makes people, does he have a bunch of eyes and arms and things that he puts together?"; "If God made Adam out of mud, what does he make peach (i.e. Caucasian) people out of?"; and one night around Easter time when I had prayed that God would bring Mummy home safely from her German class, Ellie said, "God will bring Mummy back safely because that's what he does -- he brought Jesus back from the dead!" Sure 'nuff, Ellie.

Bursting with creativity and opinions can also pose challenges. Ellie drew a picture of her birthday cake a few weeks back and then explained to Crystal that this is what she wanted it to look like. It's on a green plate, with pink cake, yellow frosting, and red candles. Hmmm....ok, where to find a green plate? The pink cake was made with a couple of pounds of strawberry puree. It was a definite hit.

I know I'm biased, but I think our two birthday girls are amazingly beautiful.

Artists in the Family

2009-02-05T09:34:00.006Z

Ellie produces artwork at much too high a rate to properly document — or even store! But I particularly liked this one, so thought I'd share it with you. It's a favorite activity: making pizza with Mummy. (Crystal might describe it more as Ellie's excuse for eating lots of olives before they make it on to the pizza).

So here's Crystal (in her stripey sweater) constructing the Friday night pizza with Ellie -- you got your pepperoni, your mushrooms (the T-shaped black things), olives, and cheese. The reddish purple line coming out of Mummy is her arm, but the purple shape behind them is the door to the dining room, where undoubtedly I'm ready to eat the results!

While packing up for the move, I ran across my "Watercolor a Day" calendar that I was supposed to be painting each day (back in 2006....oops!). Well, I did do two of them, so only 363 to go. I thought I'd share them because they're more fun to look at after they've mellowed in a desk drawer for a few years.

While we're talking watercolor, our church home group gave us a lovely going-away gift last night: a painting of the Welwyn Garden City fountain, where Ellie has enjoyed many a run. This will be a nice reminder of our time here.

And to finish off our artistic packing break, here's a photo of the same fountain that I snapped a few months back while trying to learn how to use my camera.

Unceasing Amazement

2009-01-31T20:23:00.003Z

Ellie decided to do some Lego work today. But since she's new at it, her attempts to build a house were frustrating. "Ohhhhh. I just don't know how to build a house out of these Legos [she actually calls them dominoes]. Oh I know! I'll draw a picture of what a house looks like and then I can look at my picture and know how to build a house!" "What an excellent idea," respond her parents.

After building the bottom bits, she was studying her drawing and said, "But I just don't know how to build a roof...." However, undeterred she kept at it and out popped this bit of construction work, as per the architectural drawings. Complete with the chimney at a bit of an angle. (Ok, well the builders did improvise a bit and add a second chimney).

Meanwhile, Isla is crawling up a storm. One knee, one elbow, a scooting technique, and off she goes. The main draw for Ellie to crawl was to knock over towers of blocks. While Isla enjoys that sport, her main draw is anything with wires or buttons. Here's the stretch for Crystal's computer power cord.

Then there are the awkward falls flat onto your head that make you look back at Daddy with his camera and say, "Put that thing away!"

Sometimes sitting up and kicking back are safer and more relaxing.

Body by Milk

2008-10-12T19:03:00.004+01:00

Tomorrow is Isla's 6-month birthday—where does the time go? So it's time for a half-birthday party complete with a half-birthday cake.

Her present was a lovely lovey. Ok, so I had no idea what a lovey was when Crystal said Isla needed one, but I'll assume I'm the only ignorant one and won't insult you by explaining. This one is a bunny-like thing and she's peacefully sleeping with it right at this very moment.

Six months also means it's time to start branching out from the monochromatic cuisine of mummy's milk. First up: banana! Fun to squish. Fun to lick. Fun to smear in your sister's hair. Just all around fun. I'm a big fan of bananas, too, so we thought it might run in the family. She went at it with gusto—much to our surprise.

She started with the ice cream cone approach and since that seemed to be going well, decided to try her gums out with a little gnawing action. From that, it progressed to licking her tray where the banana had been sliding around. Ellie, of course, loved every second of this, so ran around cackling and pointing. Isla checked in every one in awhile to make sure she had Ellie's approval and to get some coaching points on her solid food technique. Of course, the downside of all of this is that the delightful days of non-stinky poo are over!

It is truly remarkable that Isla's entire (and quite sizable, especially by Ellie standards) body is completely made from Crystal-made sustenance. Well, ok, I contributed a few chromosomes to the process, but let's not get picky. Each and every one of those rolls of squishy, chunky, delightful babyness were built out of milk. It's a bit hard to swallow.

Sitting Around

2008-10-06T17:14:00.005+01:00

Most people think Ellie looks like Crystal, but she thinks she looks like me and Isla looks like her mummy. Regardless, I think she's perfected my "writer's block" look.

Meanwhile, Isla is pretty proud of her new ability to sit up on her own. She's decided to just skip the rolling over thing (although there are rumors she can do it, she seems to prefer shouting until one of us rolls her over!). By the way, don't try this pose at home—she's a trained professional. I'd hate to see you in traction.

Finally, in the beautiful-shots-from-the-garden department, Crystal told me to bring my camera with me one morning as I came down for breakfast. The back garden was filled with pearly-dewed spiderwebs! It was amazing.

It Was Bound to Happen

2008-08-27T07:25:00.002+01:00

A conversation.

Ellie: Mommy, why don't we have a T.V.?

Me: Well, we really don't want one.

Ellie: Well, I want one.

Higher Math

2008-08-19T13:10:00.003+01:00

Ellie always enjoys company. As she reflected on our friend Amber's departure tomorrow, she began musing about our next arrivals. "When Kristian, Susanne, and baby Jonah come, there will be seven people in our house," she announced.

"Really?" I asked, "Who are all seven?"

"Two mummies, two daddies, two babies, and one little girl. That makes seven!"

How does she do that?

Bonus points for whoever can identify the equation above — double for a proof that the equation is correct!

Two Sisters

2008-08-07T22:14:00.004+01:00

It's really fun to have two little girls who enjoy each other so much.

Kissable Cheeks

2008-07-25T13:16:00.004+01:00

Some cheeks constantly challenge one's ability to resist kissing them. We're not very good at resisting.

And who knew that Ellie had been carefully observing me in the night? She often comments in the morning that my snoring woke her up and she looked in the bed to make sure it was me. (I'm hoping this is more of a ritual-story-pattern than a nightly reality!). In any case, she presented me with this drawing today. Fortunately, she's always happy to give an interpretation.

That's me, lying in my bed, on my pillow, eyes closed, mouth frowning, with my arms out but the rest of me covered with a blanket. And there's my nightstand over to the side. When Crystal asked about why I had a frowny face, Ellie was all ready with an answer, "That's because he didn't get enough sleep." Bing-o, Ellie! :-)

She Looked Straight At Me and I Looked Straight Back

2008-07-11T19:32:00.002+01:00

Isla's pretty excited to catch her parents' eyes these days, and once she does, it's hard to look away again!

Non-English Tea

2008-07-08T22:09:00.005+01:00

Ever since Nana's visit, sun tea has been a regular around here. Now you might wonder how one makes sun tea when it's cloudy and rainy in England, but that didn't deter Nana and it doesn't slow Crystal down much either. So out the jar goes in all sorts of weather. It might have even have been hailed on yesterday! Today was an alternative downpour of warm sunshine and cloudy downpours, but it somehow managed to become tea nonetheless.

Of course, the English take their tea hot, with milk. Iced tea is an oddly American (and Southern American at that) delicacy and people around here are happy to leave it all for us.

Ellie seems to have gained a bit of English taste. She took a look at the jar and declared, "I don't like sun tea." Crystal decided to probe. "Why not, Ellie?" Always ready with an explanation, Ellie replied, "Well, I'm not from Texas am I?" Oh my, Ellie — don't tell Papa!

Ellie made us a bit nervous by complaining about her knee hurting for a couple of days and then starting to limp around at playgroup today. Crystal rang the doctor at 10:40am and was given an appointment for 11:45am (socialized medicine is terrible for its long waiting lists, isn't it?). The doctor poked and prodded a little bit, took her temperature, and declared her fine. Ellie, always susceptible to the placebo effect, thinks this doctor is a miracle worker!

When everyone got home safely, I was talking to her about her medical adventure. I pointed out that Mummy is a doctor, too. Observing that Mummmy's poking and prodding didn't have the desired effect, Ellie pointed out, "Yeah...but she's not a very good one". Oh my.

Isla, ever full of smiles, has now discovered the joy of playing with Mummy's and Daddy's hands, not to mention the joy of sucking her thumb!

Crocodiles

2008-07-03T22:28:00.002+01:00

I suppose different strategies are used by parents for different kids. Some probably “win” by means of physical force—you know, picking the child up and taking them out of trouble—. Sometimes I suppose distractions or bribes are the answer. But with Ellie, it usually comes down to a battle of wits. And she can be quite a formidable challenge with her creative argumentation.

Apparently this morning, Crystal caught her putting her feet on the dining room table while sitting in her high-chair (a definite no-no).

“Ellie, please take your feet off the table.”

“Ohhhh....awwight....[thoughtful pause—looks down]....but there are crocodiles down there!”

“Oh really?”

Looks again..... “Yes...blue ones!”

Well, uhhhh, given the alternatives, I guess it’s ok to leave your feet on the table then.

Tummy Time

2008-06-24T13:03:00.001+01:00

Isla doing her "tummy time."

Bath Time

2008-06-06T20:04:00.003+01:00

When Ellie was born, Crystal had a deep-down longing that Ellie would enjoy baths, because Crystal was really looking forward to bathing her. That dream was answered and Ellie from her first try at it has always loved baths.

Isla, on the other hand, isn’t so sure about this bath thing.

From the sounds pouring out of the bathroom, I would have guessed that Crystal had accidentally dropped her in the lobster pot the first time she gave Isla a bath. She’s since grown much more understanding, but you can see here at 6 weeks that she’s still a little apprehensive about the whole thing.

So when my lovely wife, who is not one to chase after the latest gottahavit gadget, told me that she thought a bucket would be the solution, who was I to argue? Of course, not any ol’ bucket, but a special baby bathing bucket.

She does certainly enjoy bath time now, though perhaps still with a little apprehension because she’s learned it is possible to slip down in the bucket and get a mouthful!

Not to be outdone, Ellie decided she needed to bathe in a bucket, too. But, as big sister things go, she gets a standard-issue bucket instead of a super-special baby-bathing bucket. It seems to do the trick...at least until you run out of room for all of your toys!

Of course, sometimes you have to ditch the bucket and return to freestyle-mode for bath time. You’ll thank me someday, Ellie, for modestly cropping this one!

Smiles

2008-06-06T18:39:00.001+01:00

Isla has been flashing gorgeous smiles at us for weeks now. Here's a sample.

She Can Dream

2008-05-21T20:22:00.003+01:00

Ellie adores her daddy and wants to be like him in almost every way. I was recently reminded of just how much as she inspected her petite little feet and legs and said longingly, "One day I will have big feet and loooong hairy legs just like Daddy's." Dream on, El, dream on.

Eating and Sleeping

2008-04-22T14:03:00.003+01:00

We had to say sad goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa this morning — may they have a safe and uneventful journey back to Raleigh! As Ellie put it, "Grandma and Grandpa are leaving. That makes me really, really sad. But when Nana comes, I'll be happy again!" So come quickly, Nana! We look forward to seeing her tomorrow and hope we can survive on our own for one whole day.

Isla's theory on life seems to be that eating and sleeping are the primary activities one needs to be concerned with. Mostly sleeping. Oh yeah, and eating. And then sleeping. Plus a little pooing, of course. So while one expects a newborn to lose a bit of weight at first and then gain it back by about day 10-14, Isla seems to have managed to gain 13 ounces in the first 7 days. Conserve energy...wake only enough to eat...then go back to sleep. Rules for living.

Of course, if you want to sleep and pretend to eat simultaneously, the thumb comes in very handy.

But here's proof that there are eyes behind those lids. And what a cutie she is.

Introducing Isla Frances Barrett

2008-04-15T20:33:00.003+01:00

It was an amazing experience to bring our younger daughter home to meet Ellie. I think this picture gives you a slight taste of Ellie's excitement as Crystal extracts her from the car seat.

But I suppose I should digress for a moment to give you her name! “Isla Frances Barrett”. Crystal had fallen for the name Isla some months ago and, knowing her husband, thought it wise to introduce me to it well ahead of the decision time. She knows it takes me awhile to adjust to new and different things. It's a Scottish name, derived from the "Isle of Islay", known as "the queen of the Hebrides" — a series of islands off the west coast of Scotland. (You can read about the island on Wikipedia or see a picture there.) You pronounce her name "eye-luh", or just imagine singing the last line of the Gilligan's Island theme song with a but of an "uh" at the end. Don't worry — you'll get the hang of it. We think it's a beautiful name and that it goes well with "Ellie".

Anyway — on with the pictures! Here are a couple of Ellie's first time holding Isla.

Then it was Grandma and Grandpa's turn, though Ellie couldn't be kept away!

And of course, one of the whole (newly enlarged) happy family. (Maybe it's time to replace the picture on the home page of our website, which was taken during our engagement!)

There were a few landmark events on this Isla's second day: first night at home, first overflowingly poopy nappy, first midwife's visit, first non-family visitor, and first time in the bouncy seat (she much prefers human contact).

I thought I'd add this one last shot my dad took on our pre-Isla trip to the London Aquarium of the city skyline across the Thames.