Library and restaurant

The other day Chely set up a library for us:

Of course we checked out books right away. There was even a section for grown-ups.

Meanwhile, Kayalá prepared a meal:

Here's an ice cream cone she made for me,

out of play bread, corn, and a pat of butter to hold it together:

 

Pleased at the feast she's made!

Diapers and logic

Kayalá is now out of daytime diapers - whoo hoo!  She enjoys running around naked so much that it was a fairly easy process for her to learn to use the toilet.  And of course she has an older sister to watch and imitate. 

Kayalá has been demonstrating other new skills, too.  For the last couple of months she's begun to translate from one language to another (when she feels like it, of course).  Last night, Edwin mentioned a series of body parts to her in K'iche' and she told him their equivalent in English.  ("B'oqo'ch." "Eye." "Xikin."  "Ear." "Muxu'x." "Belly button.")  Another time, we were out on our terrace when we heard a neighbor girl yell "¡Ya llegó Papá!"  Kayalá turned to me and explained, "She say, 'Daddy home!'"  OK, her grammar is not perfect, but, still, it's pretty cool that she can't even tie her shoes but she can maneuver three languages. 

By the way, Chely's first experience translating in a public setting happened about a year ago, when she was 4.  We were visiting my aunt Mary's second grade classroom, and the children were asking a series of questions about life in Guatemala.  When they directed their questions to Edwin, Chely translated his answers from K'iche' to English for the whole class!

Kayalá's other recent achievement is in the area of logic (and imagination, too, though that's been quite active for some time now!).  She's been using "if...then" constructions.  Yesterday she said, "If I am a bird, I should fly around the house."  Again, her verb tenses are off, but she's got the concept down.  Many of her "if" statements relate to her and Chely's relative ages and what each of them can and cannot do.  "If I am 5, I can do swimming class.  If Tete is 2, she no do swimming class."  (At the pool here, kids start swimming lessons at age 3.)

We humans acquire our skills in a fascinating way, with social and linguistic development often taking priority over motor abilities.

It never ceases to amaze me that we humans are so tiny when we learn to smile. We are such social creatures that we smile even before we can feed ourselves, use the bathroom, or walk - before we can sit up, even!

Kayalá cannot make herself a meal, cross the street by herself, or hop on one foot; but she can translate from K'iche' to English, she can pretend that she is a bird, and she can use conditional logic.  Pretty cool!

Favorites

KAYALÁ

Favorite color: orange
Favorite foods: chocolate, cheese, peaches, watermelon, banana, lychee, guayaba, beans, tortillas, pasta, fish, yogurt, granola, peanut butter, ice cream
Least favorite foods: unfortunately, most vegetables
Favorite ice cream flavors: chocolate, mango
Favorite choco-fruit flavor (frozen fruit covered with chocolate): choco-banano
Favorite fruit: plantain
Favorite vegetable: to be determined
Favorite letter: O
Favorite numbers: 2 and 11
Favorite books: Eric Carle books, Jigsaw Pets, Gossie series, There's a Monster at the End of This Book, books with flaps and things to touch and move
Favorite elements: water and fire
Favorite sport: Maya fire ball game
Favorite youtube video subject: trains
Favorite animals: little lamb, monkey, butterfly
Favorite yoga pose: downward dog
Favorite outfit: birthday suit (traje de Eva)
Favorite toys: stuffed animals, legos, balls, dolls, kitchen implements and food preparation materials
Favorite spider-related activity: finding spiderwebs
Favorite name: Kalila (this is the name she gives to almost all her stuffed animals and dolls)
Imaginary friends: Blue (who, we just learned recently, shares a birthday with Poppa), Orange, and Baby


CHELY
Favorite color: purple
Favorite foods: mushrooms (especially on pizza), beans, tortillas, rice (especially fried), pasta, broccoli in cheese sauce, zucchini pancakes, guayabas, peaches, shrimp ceviche, chicken, bagels, chips
Least favorite foods: peanut butter, mayonnaise
Favorite vegetable: avocado
Favorite fruits: banana, strawberry, and lychees
Favorite ice cream flavor: cookies and cream
Favorite choco-fruit: strawberry
Favorite letters: p and m ("p because it sounds funny to me, and m because when you like something you say 'mmm'")
Favorite numbers: 5 and googleplex
Favorite shape: triangle
Favorite books: in her words, "books that help you investigate," the Magic School Bus series, A Gift for Abuelita, Hooray a Piñata, Ubiquitous, lots of Scholastic books from Great Aunt Mary, many more...
Favorite comic book: Ixtz'unun (about a Maya girl growing up in 760 C.E.)
Favorite sport: basketball
Favorite activities at school: centers (work stations) and snacktime
Favorite animals: bird, dolphin, cat
Favorite make-believe games: trip, school, swimming class, flying class, amusement park, book fair, health clinic, picnic, quest
Favorite songs: This Land is Your Land; Michael, Row the Boat Ashore; Canta mi Gente
Favorite elements: earth and water
Favorite part of body: "my mouth because I use it to talk"
Favorite videos: Sesame Street, Winnie the Pooh, Curious George
Favorite spider-related activity: identifying which ones bite (not by touch!)
Imaginary friend: Pímbily (who shares a birthday with Aunt Claudia) and The Wolf

Remembering Gramma

My grandmother died a year ago today.

My aunt sings with Eventide, a group that brings music to people who are dying. This beautiful video about Eventide includes scenes from Gramma's last days of life. I can't watch it without crying.

My cousin Andrea and I made a photo-book of pictures and reflections about Gramma. You can see "Celebrating Lucille" here.

My grandmother was truly a bearer of the light.

Here are some reflections I wrote a few months after her death.


What happens when a bearer of the light dies?

The light in the world is lessened, yes. Now the mantle is on others, to take up the borne light.

Gramma, your light does yet shine. Something of you lives on in each of us.

Poppa carries on your gifts of love and acceptance; your celebration of the happy and the holy; and your appreciation of the earth, of art, of humanity.

Like you, Kirsten revels in beauty and honors the divine spark in everyone.

Mary resembles you in her abundant love and compassionate caretaking.

Eric has inherited your gift of music and your zeal in championing the common good.

Jerry carries on your humility and generosity;

Adrian, your political convictions and pleasure in meeting new people;

Claudia, your intelligence and thoughtfulness;

and Will, your love of the natural world and the essential goodness at the core of your being.

Dave shares your playful spirit and appreciation of the local;

Ben, your understanding attitude and ability to see loveliness in unexpected places;

and Kim, your kindness and artistic sensibility.

Andrea holds your empathetic heart and nurturing spirit;

and Monty, your musical talent and joy for everyday life.

Edwin bears your passion for justice and defense of human rights;

I, your thirst for reading and desire to live simply;

Chely Lucille, your sensitivity to others and sense of wonder;

and Kayalá, your open affection and absolute joy.


Thank you, Gramma, for teaching us wonder, joy, gratitude, humility, and love, especially love. Thank you for your radiance, for your pure, clear, shining heart.

Banana popsicles!