So Dana Is Using Two Word Sentences…

Dana has started using two word sentences occassionally.

Usually it’s just a stock phrase, like “get down” (please put me on the ground) or “all done” or “thank you” or “hold you” (I’d like a hug, please) or even “wuv you.”

Every once in a while, though, she’ll come up with an original sentence. Like “wipe fluffles” (my stuffed lamb has gone poop and needs a diaper change) or “goose honk.”

But a few days ago she came up with a zinger. I was being my usual goofy self and she looked me straight in the eye and said, “Daddy silly.”

Ouch. So young and yet so perceptive.

Too Cool

After losing his bid for a third term as president, Teddy Roosevelt led an expedition to explore and map the 1,000 mile long River of Doubt. Three men died on the journey–one from the river and two from the actions of others on the team–there’s a book about it. The preacher in me can’t help pointing out that when you journey down the river of doubt it’s not the doubt itself that is most likely to kill your spiritual health–it’s how you respond to it.

Our Dog Died

I’ve held off on posting this for a few days because I’ve been on the busy side. As my brother mentioned, our family dog died last week back in Louisiana. Her name was Missy, and she was one of the best dogs ever.

She was a pretty funny dog. For instance, she used to try to herd my parents as though they were sheep. Quite comical.

It sounds as though she died very peacefully, but I know it’s a hard blow to my parents. They both loved her very much. I did, too, but I’ve been living a few thousand miles away from her and so it lessened the blow.

My dad says he doesn’t want another dog, but he’s a big softie. Some pathetic looking animal will turn up on his doorstep sooner or later, and he’ll adopt it.

But it will never replace Missy. 

With Visions of Wild Geese Honking in Her Head

Dana is a source of unenending amazement to me. This morning when she woke up we had the following conversation:

Me: “Dana, did you have any dreams last night?”
Dana (in a little 19-month-old just-woke-up voice): “Dream?”
Me: “Dreams are the pictures you see when you’re sleeping and your eyes are closed.”
Dana: “Goose.”
Me: “You had a dream about a goose?”
Dana: “Ya.”
Me: “What did the goose do in your dream?”
Dana: “Honk honk.” 

I was melting. 

I had been trying to get her to understand the concept of dreams off and on for a few weeks now, and while she’s always seemed interested she’s never actually answered my question with anything other than “ya”.

In case you’re skeptical, I’m pretty sure she understood my question and did actually have a dream about a goose. She hasn’t seen a goose in weeks (not even in her picture books). If one was on her mind it arrived there somehow other than a recent real-world experience.

Besides which, she told mommy the same story, “Dream. Goose. Honk honk.” when we went to get mommy up a few minutes later.