I've recently set up a new weblog to diarise the progress of our granddaughter. You might be interested... ... amelia'sgranddad

About Me Name:Rowland Croucher Husband, father, grandfather, son (but both parents in heaven - that's my view anyway!), pastor, teacher, writer, used-to-be-academic, wood-chopper, walker in shopping malls with my granddaughter, a little addicted to MsPacman...

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a.. I'M BACK, TO A WONDERFUL WELCOME! b.. SHE IS SO CLEVER! c.. AMELIA IN THE BATH d.. AMELIA'S SICK TODAY e.. AMELIA'S ASLEEP f.. AMELIA'S PROGRESS g.. AMELIA LOVES BOOKS h.. AMELIA ON WEDNESDAY i.. ameliasgranddad

a.. June 2004 b.. July 2004

Sunday, July 25, 2004 I'M BACK, TO A WONDERFUL WELCOME!

Been away in Newcastle, NSW this past weekend, and this morning 'Millie Moo' (our affectionate name for Amelia) greeted me warmly.

I chatted to her for about 15-20 minutes - particularly about the butcher-bird which was singing outside our place - then it was play-time with her wicker-backet full of safe toys. It's important for her at these times, before she has her morning sleep, to spend some time on her own, without anyone talking to her...

Her four new upper teeth are beautiful and even...

It's a busy day today: Amelia's mum's (Amanda's) birthday party here tonight. Amelia will join us in four family birthday do's in the next couple of weeks: so singing 'Happy Birthday' and blowing out candles, and having family-fun, will become special for her.

God bless!

Rowland.

posted by Rowland Croucher | 4:45 PM | 0 comments

Thursday, July 22, 2004 SHE IS SO CLEVER!

(But doesn't every doting parent/grandparent say that?)

Well... let me tell ya.

There's a little poem she likes:

Teddy bear, teddy bear go upstairs Teddy bear, teddy bear say your prayers Teddy bear, teddy bear turn out the light Teddy bear, teddy bear say goodnight!

And our Milly points to the light before she hears that line!

It's late morning, and I've picked her up from her sleep (and to show her off to our visiting Wesleyan Methodist pastor!). She's at her best after her morning sleep. Drank all her orange juice: good girl!

She's now 'cruising' (I understand that's the correct word, though I've heard that term in other unsavoury contexts in my counselling). Milly walks around things like chairs, holding herself up.

Her four top teeth are forming beautifully too.

I'm now going away for a weekend to speak at an interestate conference and will miss her!

Rowland.

posted by Rowland Croucher | 5:57 PM | 0 comments

AMELIA IN THE BATH

Amelia loves her bath, and that's her dad's delightful job each night. Even if she's tired, she loves playing games with her bath-toys.

But there comes a time in every baby's life when - you guessed it -she was playing in the water and tumbled under.

She got a very big fright, and took some pacifying.

But soon she was back in the bath and playing again... wiser.

She's better now. Today I sat with her on our back verandah listening to the wonderful music of the grey butcherbirds, and the raucous cries of the gang gang cockatoos.

I'm off to Newcastle NSW tomorrow for a combined church's seminar. Back Sunday night.

Rowland.

posted by Rowland Croucher | 2:54 AM | 0 comments

Monday, July 19, 2004 AMELIA'S SICK TODAY She's brave, doesn't complain too much, but isn't smiling much.

She's off her food, and sleeps poorly. Amanda had to bring her to Jan at 3 am this morning, and today we three have spent most time with her just holding her.

I might have mentioned 'Pinky' her pink (!) bear. She loves that bear. When her mother brought her up to us after dinner to say goodnight, she cutely went for her 'Pinky' rather than come to one of us.

We've been on holidays to Lord Howe Island, and I have some notes from that trip which I might write up tomorrow if I get a chance.

Please pray that our little one will be well soon.

~~~

Here's her first book - and one of her favourites (given to her by her aunty Lindy):

MILLIE THE MONKEY

Millie the monkey liked to joke, and play tricks on the jungle folk.

As soon as Millie ate her meal She threw away the banana peel!

Down it went into the traffic... And Millie laughed at all the havoc!

(The book has a fluffy tail poking out of it which Amelia uses to tickle her face.

(We like to call her 'Millie' - or 'Millie Moo')

posted by Rowland Croucher | 4:44 AM | 0 comments

Sunday, June 27, 2004 AMELIA'S ASLEEP It's Monday morning, and when she wakes I'll be taking her shopping. It's one of the most wonderful adventures she and I share together.

Have you noticed that mothers (mostly mothers) talk to their babies and children in public places and don't mind who hears? I used to think that was a funny (as in peculiar) thing to do. But as we go up and down the aisles of the supermarket, I hear myself talking to Amelia - sometimes in 'baby talk' - and don't mind who listens!

I tell her she's beautiful, rehearse what I have to buy, and give her safe things to hold - and which she can safely bite on with her two lower front teeth.

I'm away for a while, so will be in touch when I return in a couple of weeks. Feel free to leave a comment or greeting!

Rowland Croucher.

posted by Rowland Croucher | 5:56 PM | 0 comments

Thursday, June 24, 2004 AMELIA'S PROGRESS

Every day our little one does something new. Today, she graduated from crawling to sitting (not just kneeling!

She's now asleep, all is quiet, but I must go to speak at a conference on mentoring (and will be interested to hear Tony Campolo again tomorrow at the same conference)

posted by Rowland Croucher | 4:48 PM | 0 comments

AMELIA LOVES BOOKS We're a bookish family, I have a library of several thousand books (which I'm gradually paring down and giving away - except for the theological books which Lindy has laid claim to). All our four children have post-graduate degrees and qualifications, and our two oldest grandchildren are currently in university. I've had about a dozen books published, and our eldest son Paul has also written a book - on the history of Buddhism in Australia.

Amelia, our fifth granddaughter, rarely gets cranky except when she's uncomfortable in terms of nappy (diaper) needing to be changed, hungry, thirsty or sleepy. The only time apart from all this is when we read a favorite story only once: she wants it again.

She loves stories (remember she's only 10 1/2 months). And essentially her stories are about the only important things in life - God, family, animals, birds, trees, flowers etc.

One of her favorites:

On the ground, in the air - I find blessings everywhere!

Fireflies, ladybirds,

Best-est friends in three-way hugs,

Caterpillars, butterflies - blessings everywhere!

Silly shadows, tickling breeze,

Forests filled with Christmas trees!

Silent sunsets, quiet, please - blessings everywhere!

Camping out, camping in - Sometimes loving discipline.

Knowing God forgives my sin - blessings everywhere!

Skipping on a winding path, Bubbles in my bubble bath!

Muddy puddles, muddy me! Blessings everywhere!

In the sky, on the ground, Little blessings can be found.

Thank You, God, for giving me blessings everywhere!

posted by Rowland Croucher | 9:49 AM | 0 comments

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 AMELIA ON WEDNESDAY Every day our little one makes an advance of some sort. Today she smiled (again) at a stranger who visited us. And she hands us things when we say 'Ta' (though she's loathe to release her precious 'Pinky' - a read fluffy bear!).

Today a couple of counselling sessions, a bit of reading, and writing (see below)*, a nice lunch with Jan, scored 245,000 MsPacman during a break, and told the two Usenet newsgroups I won't be around for a while.

* I've created a new blog for articles and reviews - http://articlesandreviews.blogspot.com/

Have a good day!

Shalom!

Rowland

posted by Rowland Croucher | 3:15 AM | 0 comments

Monday, June 21, 2004 ameliasgranddad Hi there!

Welcome to page one of what might become an interesting blog.

Amelia's asleep, and it's a quiet afternoon in the leafy suburb of Melbourne where we live.

She's ten and a half months old, and the light of my life.

Mind you, I love all five of our grandchildren, and all four children, but being 'notionally retired' I've had more time to bond with this little one than with any of the others. Which is a joy and a pity respectively. I've written on that subject in my book The Family (HarperCollins).

So who's Amelia's granddad apart from Amelia? Husband of Jan (very happily married for 44 (how do I make a half? - alt-plus-171 won't work!) years, father of Paul (poet and philosopher, husband of Kiong, father of Jay and Will), Karen (medical editor / marketer, wife of Ross, mother of Abbie and Coralie), Amanda (Amelia's mum, counsellor, ESL teacher, piano teacher; husband John is Amelia's dad) and Lindy (urban missionary)...

Now let's see what happens when I publish this (but first ctrl A C and V!)

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher

posted by Rowland Croucher | 11:26 PM | 1 comments