The Montifiore Manse

Girls Love to Cook & Eat

Julia is a confirmed girl. She likes almost everything Mommy and Daddy eat, except spicy things and carrots (oddly enough). Note the double protection.

She is learning to use a spoon and fork herself. Sometimes, though, it's still much more convenient to spoon feed her ourselves.

Yogurt is great to mix with various things, like this winning combo: yogurt and tuna. Another new favorite today was yogurt and sweet potato. She's been a little less enthusiastic lately about the old sweet potato standby, but with yogurt it just tastes so sweet and creamy. As you can see, the spoon isn't the only utensil she used; her hand was more versatile for finger painting the table, styling her hair, and generally "mucking around" as the Aussies say.

Apples steamed just to the point of tenderness are nice, since they hold their shape but are still more chewable.

Rowena, Ruth and I enjoyed another baking session on Saturday. This time, we made angel food cake, a delicacy unheard of in this part of the world. We also made a wonderful blueberry sauce to go with it. I found the recipe for it on my second cousin Rebecca's blog. Her blog was also the source for the recipe we used to make pizza from scratch! (Click for the base, sauce, and method.) It was a really fun afternoon.

Pizza sauce simmering

Meanwhile, Julia delves into the toy basket. She really gets around these days, as you'll see later on.

This picture was taken today. What a smile, eh?

Now for the videos: once more, my sincere apologies for taking them sideways again! In this first one, Julia sorts the bookshelf. She starts with an almost methodical perusal of her selections, but then abandons form for the fun of pulling them down.

Next, Julia checks out the more curious dimensions of toy box trivia, ending with a tussle with a playful Tassie devil.

Finally, the video you've been waiting for: a demonstration that Julia truly does walk! It really clicked for her this weekend. When she wanted to hang out in the kitchen baking with us girls, or make a beeline for the rail where all the kids hang out at church, walking was the preferred mode of transport. Beautiful, isn't it?

Sometimes I wish I walked with such a single purpose. Always toward the thing God puts in front of me... always to Him.

Since Julia has become a bit more cuddly and sometimes clingy, it has convicted me of the fact that the simple love of a child can be stronger than that of a wandering, absorbed, self-reliant adult. It is an example to me. Truly, in fellowship with Him is our joy. And I pray I'll encourage Julia to enjoy confiding in me too, by not putting her off simply for convenience when caught up in a book or some such enjoyance. There are so many things I can include her in, whether praying, enjoying music, or sharing small aspects of housework.

Isn't that what God has us do in His kingdom? When we are saved from the dominion of sin and Satan, we stumble around wanting to help. But in ourselves we are powerless to be efficient servants; our attempts are often laughable. Yet God is patient with us, blesses our efforts, and teaches us with His Word and Spirit. We are so much less important than we'd often think, like that toddler smearing crumbs around with a dish cloth, but God does desire His children to grow and commands us to contribute to His kingdom's work in our small ways.

Reflecting even briefly on this strikes home the truth: God cares amazingly much for His children and is so powerful and gracious to work through us! In light of His tender love, let us prayerfully renew our devotion to desiring His presence and serving Him in our childlike manner.