I know we just celebrated a major holiday, and there will be an update on life back in Carbondale, but first to finish another story or two from our trip from DC. In addition to seeing my sister and her family, and our friends Sally and Mike and Jonah (13 months going on 30... big kid, that Jonah), another highlight was having what I think was my first actual conversation with Calla. I could describe it, but for the dramatists among us, I'll let you act it out. Run and get a partner and call the friends and neighbors for a show.
To start, you need to know that Calla communicates with a mix of signs and words. None of her signs are without words, that is, she talks them out, but given she has basically three unique pronunciations, we often need signs to distinguish one word from another. The primary word in this little dialogue is "bird"... pronounced "brie" (like the cheese, or like a shortened form of "birdie") and is signed by Calla with her thumb and pointer finger coming together in a pinching motion. I taught her the sign with my pinching sign up by my nose, like a beak, like the book said, but Calla does it out in front of her, and moving, as if she's flying her fingers, you know, like a Brie.
Setting: The Gorman dining room, by the side windows. Calla in a high chair, facing the windows, Kathy facing Calla.
Calla: (Signs and says, pointing out the window) "Bird"
Kathy: "What, you see a bird? I don't see a bird. I think all the birds are gone. But we'll go outside later and see some birds."
Calla: (Satisfied with that answer, nods, but sees a problem). "Cold!" (Arms fold across chest)
Kathy: Right, it's cold outside. But we'll put on your coat and hat.
Calla: (Also satisfied with that plan) "Coat" (Pointing to the coat rack in the living room). Turns back to the window and signs wistfully (but does not say) "Bird"...
Kathy: I know, all the birds have gone away. Bye-bye birds.
Calla: (Signing, not saying, mournfully for all the birds in DC we will never know)... "Bye-bye birds"
And curtain.
That's it.... my first conversation with my daughter. Point-counterpoint. Full of dramatic tension. I know - it hardly seems like anything, but you'd be surprised how many times I have repeated this little dialogue to other people.
We had a wonderful time in DC, and managed the flight back to St. Louis with limited screaming on the plane. And when we arrived home, my folks were already there, having busted in a day earlier on their Mexican migration southward. In cleaning out the old home - now sold and gone - Mom discovered an old doll up in the "secret" room above the garage. I know it wasn't my doll, because my beloved SweetiePie met her unfortunate end at the neglectful hands of sister Carrie. This was sister Jessica's doll, who lovingly abandoned her in the garage attic for 20+ years. Sheesh. Here's hoping my sisters learn responsibility one of these days. Anyway, with this new Baby in Calla's nursery, she's really focused full-time on mothering. These Babies need to be rocked, need to be patted, need to be covered with blankets. She even shares her sippy cups with them, and shooshes us when we get too loud during Baby naptime. The only thing (beside Calla's own mealtime) that can cause Babies to be unceremoniously dropped on their heads is the sound of birds outside... then she runs to a window and asks to be lifted up so we can see the birds.
Don and Anna stayed for a few fun days, and then it was time to get ready for Thanksgiving. This post is long enough already, so we'll regale you with stories of thankfulness later. For now, know that we're thankful for all whom we call family and friends... and if you've made it to the end of this post, that very likely includes you.
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