Chicken Pox and Ancient Rocks

Since our last post, Nadia has had the chicken pox. It was the mildest case i've ever seen, and for that we're so thankful. This past week she watched her first full length movies and generally spent a great deal of time just sitting, sucking her thumb, and staring off into space... which is very obviously not normal for her.

Completely zoned out with a fever.

Nadia "brushing" my hair while I color in her coloring book.

In completely unrelated news, here is some interesting cultural stuff about the town we live in.

The other day my tutor and I drove a little ways out of town and spent some time looking at these rocks (named, Prasasti Plumpungan, for those of you who are curious). They are special to the residents here because they serve as a reminder.

In the middle of the day on Friday, the 24th of June, in the year 750, the reigning king of Java passed through this city (at the time it was just a mid-sized hamlet in the middle of an expansive jungle) and declared that the residents of this area would live tax-free.

He set up a massive stone and had it inscribed with that declaration. Since that day, these stones have been guarded and protected as precious. Today, our town is actually taxed just like every other area, but the residents are very proud of the fact that at one time, their ancestors lived free. It is unclear why the king made this exception for them, but they are proud of it regardless. I think it's noteworthy that the people here have managed to protect these rocks (which used to be only one giant stone) for the past millennium and a half.

The Sanskrit inscription is nearly still visible.

Here, my tutor reads the sign which contains the inscription's rough translation from Sanskrit to Indonesian.

very funny

While getting her diaper changed the other day, she did this with her fingers and shouted, "Peeeeeeee-YEEW! Steentee!" Yes, yes it was.

a few more from the beach

Here are a few more fun photos of Nadia from our time at the beach a couple of weeks ago. It's hard to believe how much she's grown.

Just today, Phil and I were looking at her, and talking WITH her - and we both feel like she's turned a major corner from babyhood to toddlerhood just within the past few weeks. She repeats EVERYTHING (in two languages), she laughs at eerily appropriate moments, she runs and plays with suddenly acquired coordination, and even acts like she's telling jokes (who's kid is this?).

Our baby has moved on. We are now beginning a whole new stage of fun with her as she's becoming more and more responsive and interactive. Our big-little girl... since when did we become parents? Suddenly, with a toddler, things don't feel nearly as scary as they did in infancy (shudder)- but strangely now more parent-ish. I find myself slicing apples and rolling playdough. Phil tosses a soccer ball over and over, trying to teach her to catch, kick and throw (good luck, pal - you can ask my dad how that one went over with me...). We aren't running around like idiots with bottles and diapers quite so much now. We're explaining things and helping and actually playing.

This is much more fun.

Right before the waves would come and wash around her she'd say, "Wait for it... wait for it..."

I wish you could hear her saying, "Ocean? Ocean? Ocean? Ocean? Ocean?..."

we're not the only ones...

...who enjoyed our vacation fun. This is one thing i'm sort of sick of, frankly. These girls are "discreetly" taking our photo as we're playing together as a family. They made a big show of "playing" in the surf, as they worked their way closer and closer to us. It's one thing to FEEL like you're being watched constantly, it's another thing entirely to know it.

South Java Sea

We returned this evening from a few days on the shore of the South Java Sea. It was a trek to get there (Nadia experienced her first... and second bouts of car-sickness - all over mommy), but after 5 hours in a car shared with some dear friends, we arrived at our cozy little bungalows on the beach.

We spent our time there bumming around on the beach, playing in the sand and in the surf, reading books and magazines, eating junk food, and generally just completely enjoying ourselves and each other. For those of you who know me well, you will be shocked to learn that i ACTUALLY ENJOYED some time playing the waves (you should be gasping and shaking your head in disbelief).