LITTLE BREEZE

A few weeks ago, Randy and I decided we needed to make a visit to our dear Chinese friends Wind and Nicole as we had not yet seen the baby (whom we have dubbed “Little Breeze”). We’d done a little shopping and as Wind and Nicole have a pretty good command of the English language, we decided there’s no time like the present to start learning a second language. So we picked up several “I SPY” books at the international book store in the French Concession called Garden Books. We’d also picked up a cute blue teddy bear and a Fisher Price stacking toy as well.

So we made a date with Wind and Nicole for a Sunday morning and walked the two blocks to their apartment. It was a beautiful late summer day, still just a touch humid. Wind met us at the gate and led us to the apartment. Little Breeze was awake but in his crib, maybe just awakened from a mid-morning nap. He was a fine, strapping boy of 4 months with chubby cheeks, alert and curious. I’d worried all week that we’d scare the poor child due to us being (in all likelihood) the first Western folks he’d met. I leaned over the crib and tried out my best “koocheekoo” on Little Breeze. My fears were realized when Little Breeze’s bottom lip curled up and his eyes widened in fright. He looked like he’d just seen a couple of monsters!! Wind grabbed him quickly all the while exclaiming, “Oh my god, oh my god!!” We must have looked like aliens from another planet to the poor kid!!

We’d barely arrived when Wind’s father arrived and relieved Wind of his wiggling burden after shaking hands with us. Wind’s father knew no English and immediately set to cooing and coddling Little Breeze while Wind found photos and videos on their computer so that we could experience the entire labor, delivery, and every subsequent moment since then. I don’t think I exaggerate when I say there must have been 1200 photographs. They are obviously enjoying parenthood and Little Breeze will surely NOT be a neglected child.

One of the things we found rather fascinating though was photos and video clips of Little Breeze floating in a barrel shaped tub of water at the hospital within hours of his birth. They place an inflatable ring around the child’s neck and float the child in warm water as long as they will tolerate it. Little Breeze seemed happy as a clam, floating effortlessly, alert and calm. We’d never seen anything like that. Wind explained that all children are born knowing how to swim and that this floating activity helps them retain that skill as well as makes them feel calm and more like they are in the environment they have just vacated. Being as we are currently awaiting the birth of our fourth grandchild in the spring, I couldn’t wait to tell my son and daughter-in-law about this activity. Wind and Nicole even have an inflatable version of this barrel tub that they float Little Breeze in every day. Little Breeze seemed to enjoy this so much, I wanted to try it. Well, that’s a good idea for a baby gift for the new grandbaby.