International Traveler

I went on my first trip out of Tanzania....to Nairobi!  I got stamps in my passport and everything.  Wow....I'm really growing up.  I loved the big city.  I'm a really good traveler so Mommy likes to take me along, I'm quite easy on the road and I don't fuss if meal times get slightly off.....I sleep easily on the go. 

We visited Karen Blixen's coffee plantation, the giraffe sanctuary and the shopping malls.  We ate good food and we swam in the nicest, most heated pool I've ever been in....it was almost exactly like swimming in bathwater (minus the dirty stuff).  I had fun doing all the things and laughed and smiled through most of the days.  What a fun time we had.  I like this international travel stuff, and Mommy says there will be more in my future, so its good to get used to it now. 

Bathing for Two

I took my first big girl bath today - not in the baby bath but in the big girl bathtub.  As a special bonus, Mommy let Aki and I have our baths together today.  Life is always a bit more fun with Aki around....he knows all the best tricks and mischevious ways, so he can really show me the way!  Otherwise, I might have just sat there and looked at my toys while Mommy soaped me up.  Gosh, how boring am I???  Aki showed me that its really fun to slip and slide, giving Mommy a consant pit in her stomach and then when she's caught off guard, he showed me the right moment to splash BIG in order to soak Mommy completely and totally. 

Thanks Akira....what would I do without a big brother like you???

My First Christmas

ok....I kinda had one last year, but Iwas only a month old, and I was REALLY sick and living in an orphanage....so I sorta don't think it counts.  I'm counting THIS as my first Christmas.  It was a good one.  I had so much fun!  I couldn't stop smiling and laughing all day long. 

But, let me tell you a secret.  While I enjoyed the gift opening and new toys and things to look at, the truth is that the reason I loved Christmas so much is because I got to be with my family all day long and everyone was happy and in a good mood.  I love being with everyone and I love getting attention from my family and I love when everyone is happy! 

But, as far as booty....I did pretty well.  Santa filled my stocking with fun foods and toys.  Then, Santa brought me a new pillow/hippo stuffed animal just for me.  And, Mommy bought me books and fingerpaints for Christmas.  I loved opening my gifts and watching everyone else open theirs too.  Mommy got me a few new books, but I like one in particular....called, "An African Princess".  It's about a girl who lives like an ordinary girl in the US but she is really a special girl with a whole big family from Africa....and even though her African family isn't powerful or rich.....she knows inside that she is an African Princess and she is so proud of who she is and where she comes from.  I love that story. 

We also went to church for Christmas morning....but I can't tell you much about it cause I took my nap during the service.  It was very relaxing with people singing Christmas songs....

All in all....not too shabby for my first Christmas.  I'm looking forward to the next one.  But, for now, we're getting excited for the New Year!!  Merry Christmas everyone.

Lunch on Christmas Eve

Our family tradition, started just this year, is that Mommy, Aki and I have a special lunch date each year on 24 Decembe, and no one else is invited.  At this lunch, Mommy will give Aki and I each one gift which will be our first Christmas gift of the year to open.  And, each year Mommy will write each of us a letter reflecting on the past year which later on will give us a collection of letters that will tell our story. 

Today we went to the Mt. Meru game lodge and saw some animals and had lunch.  I think the bigget animal there was my brother,who was generally difficult and knocked over the juice and nearly the entire table! I think I will need to teach him table manners! 

I got a nice memory book which Mommy will fill with the story of how I found my way to my forever family.  Thanks Mommy and Aki for a nice afternoon.  I am looking forward to tomorrow....everyone keeps talking about Christmas like its a really exciting thing.  I don't really get the concept but I am excited that everyone else is excited.  Let's hope the day lives up to its hype...

Another Month has passed already??

I'm already 13 months....where has the time flown???  Well, in any case, not only has a month passed, but I grew a LOT in that month.  I am now 9.45 kilos and am sitting squarely in the 40th percentile on the weight chart.  I did some really good growing in the past month and Mommy is so proud.  We went to lunch today at Blue Heron with the family to celebrate.  We usually get some ice cream, but they didn't have any today!  So sad....but I loved my cado (avocado made into guacamole).  It was yummy! 

Holiday Family Photo 2009

Licking the Spoon

Well, the family had a Christmasy weekend with lots of Christmas music and lights and baking.  I'm too little to help bak this year, but Mommy thought that I might get to have one tiny taste of spoon licking.  It is, she explained to me, the most important part of baking.....testing.  So, I got to be the tester!  I was REALLY good at it!

Road Trip

We took a trip last week to Dar.  In the back seat for 10 hours was myself, my brother Akira, and a baby from the orphanage who needed to get an HIV test done in the big city.  Mommy and Uncle Gogo agreed, I am by far the easiest road tripper of the three.  The baby, Rachel, cried a lot.  Akira was busy either poking poor Rachel in the eye to make her cry, and thereby making Mommy and Uncle Gogo yell at him, or asking to go potty.  Sometimes he had to go and sometimes he was just bored and wanted everyone to pull the car over so he could get out and play.  Me....I just sat there....I ate when food was offered, drank when liquid was offered and slept most of the rest of the time. 

Dar was very boring.  Not much for a 1 year old to do in 100 degree heat except sit in the hotel room and hope to go home soon.  We visited the embassy a few times, and went to eat and tried to play at a kid area at a mall....but it was really really hot.  All in all....it was a hard trip.  Mommy was frustrate most of the time because she was having problems getting the documents she needed for our immigration paperwork. 

One fun thing was meeting a woman named, Sissy.  She helps to take babies who need HIV tests in Dar.  So we met her for Rachel.  When we met her she was really surprised to see me.  She took care of me back in February when I was getting an HIV test in Dar myself.  She was happy to see that I have grown into such a big girl and was remembering me as a very small and sick little baby.  Mommy told her thank you again and again for taking care of me when I needed it.  We are so grateful for people like her and Davona who helped me until I could find my forever family. 

Another fun thing is that Mommy let me try my first bit of juice while we were in Dar.  I had passion juice.  Boy was it good!!! But, Mommy only let me have a little bit.  She tried to limit the juice intake and only have it for special occassions.  Aki and I mostly stick with milk and water. 

So that was about it for Dar.  I'm very happy to be home.  We will have to go back again in a month or two...I hope it's better then, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Fun With Aki

Changing Times

It seems like I'm growing so fast and making so many changes its hard to keep up with them all.  I'm more independent every day and asserting myself all the time. I've figured out about holding my bottle and while at first I was tentative about it, I now reach and grab it from Mommy's hands.  I'm learning to be gentle and instead of smacking people in the face, I am learning that it makes everyone happy when I touch gently....so I'm trying hard to do that (though sometimes I get too excited and forget). 

I love swimming and follow in my brothers footsteps there...no fear!!!  And, I want to be up on my feet as much as possible, whether just standing or walking with the help of Mommy, Uncle Gogo or Jane.  I like to practice walking up and down the hallway, which is convenient as Akira is going to the potty chair at the end of the hall about once an hour, and it takes me forever to walk the length of the hallway....when I finally get down it, it's time to turn around and go back (just kidding...sort of). 

In between all this swimming practice and walking practice and standing practice, I'm managing to have a lot of play time too.  Now that I'm getting bigger and more in control of my body, Akira and I are having more fun playing together.  He's such a good big brother he likes to include me in his games.  I'm so lucky to have a brother and a friend all in one. 

The only downside of all this growing up is I'm getting pretty demanding.  I have been having a fight of wills with Mommy.  I want her to pay attention to only me and to pick me up and play with me ALL THE TIME.  I'm fine when I'm eating dinner, but when it's Akira's turn to have dinner, I just sit and howl.....I want the attention all for myself.  Mommy is trying very hard to teach me to be an independent little girl who can entertain herself when necessary.  However, she doesn't know that her efforts are being thwarted by Jane and Jenny who spend all day giving me every bit of attention and thing that I want.  With them, all I have to do is make a little sound like I"m unhappy and they will rush to my rescue.  Mommy is telling them that they can't do that and must not teach me that when I whine and cry I can get whatever I want....but, in fact, with them, if I whine and cry, I can get WHATEVER I want!  Yay for me....

I'm Learning to Walk

LOOK AT ME!!!

Pulling up

Today I learned how to pull myself all the way up to standing all by myself.  I've been able to stand holding on to something for a while now, but someone has always needed to help me get there.  I've ony been able to get to a kneeling position.  And, it has sure been frustrating for me.  I've gotten awfully mad and frustrated at the world about this.  But, finally today, I figured out how to get all the way up, all by myself!  And, oh my goodness am I proud of myself. 

My First Thanksgiving

I was still in the hospital, only a week old last year, so this is my first Thanksgiving celebration.  I like family days.  Mommy, Aki, Uncle Gogo and I hung out today to decorate the house for the holidays and make preparations for our big Thanksgiving dinner.  Then, in the evening, some friends came over to celebrate.  I was up to start the evening, but when dinner time came, Uncle Gogo fed me a bit of the Thanksgiving feast and they swifly put me down to sleep.  I was ok with that, as the evening was late and I was tired.  But, oh, what a fun day it was.