Errands

Today, Saturday....

we ran errands.

We had to pick up some photos that were at the framers. Mommy got the first photo of her and I matted and framed. And....she also got a lot of photos of just ME framed....Mommy is so proud of her photo project. Here it is. It goes on the wall on Monday!

Then, we had to go get a mattress made for my new crib. I LOVE my crib and my changing table because I love the carved elephants in the wood. Elephant is my new word of the day (oh, that and apple). The mattress was in my crib by 1pm and I am going to spend my first night in my new crib tonight. Cool huh?

Hand Carved Tembos....

Just for me, cause I'm SO special!

It's Friday

We were supposed to be going out of town this weekend, but we had to stick around because Mommy has some sort of meeting regarding adoption this weekend. I don't totally understand...all I know is, we are not going away this weekend. So, we had a regular friday, except Mommy had to work through the afternoon because Mr. Ban ki Moon was visiting. Whatever....I'm so much cooler than he is!

Mommy did take a break at lunch to eat with me an then to move my new furniture home. Check out me on my new changing table. You can't see, but there are elephants carved into the wood....its beautiful. My new crib matches....more photos to follow soon.

Mommy and Me time

It's been insane at our house the past few days, so I apologize for not posting (or having pictures posted, which I still do not have tonight). Mommy's friend, Tanja is visiting from Europe and it's been insane. Mommy's been trying to make sure she has a fun time and running her around to cultural experiences all the while still trying to work (and it's a busy week this week, as Ban Ki Moon is visiting us and Mommy has high level meetings that she has to prepare for and attend), and of course to ensure that my schedule is not too messed up.

Today, Uncle Topher and Tanja went on a full day cultural immersion experience that Mommy set up for them. That meant that the house was quiet. When Mommy came home today for lunch we had 2 hours of uninterupted time for just her and I to play. It was SOO fun. We used to spend all our time together like that. But, since Uncle Topher came to live here we spend a lot of time the three of us. Don't get me wrong...that time as a family is so so fun and I love it. BUT, I have to admit that just having some quality Mommy and Me time today was very very very nice. Mommy told me that she is going to talk to Uncle Topher and we will devise a plan to make sure that Mommy and I have special times together just US each week. YAY!

Exhausted

Today Mommy is really tired. I'm just fine, but she's tired. She didn't get any sleep last night and when her colleagues at work asked if her baby was keeping her up nights, she explained that I sleep for 12 hours every night like the angel that I am, but that Twiga keeps her up all night. We had a thunder storm that sat over our house and didnt move for about 5 hours last night....and Twiga was FREAKING out. Mommy got NO sleep whatsoever and she looks it today!

But, we love Twiga too....and we don't want anyone at our house to be scared of the thunder and lightening! Also, Mommy is trying to work, take care of me AND be a good hostess to her friend Tanya who is vsiting for 2 weeks, all on no sleep. Quite a tall order.

But, don't worry.....I love my Mommy so much and can tell she has a lot on her plate, so I'm being a very nice and well behaved little boy so I won't add to her woes. I'll take good care of my Mommy, and Twiga and Uncle Topher too....don't you worry!

super star

Today was SUCH a fun day. We woke up and had our regular routine. We talked to Bestamom and Grandad, I woke Uncle Topher up....we ate our breakfast....we all played and took walks in the garden and then I took my morning nap. After nap though....things got fun and different. Mommy's friend, Tanja arrived last night to visit us for two weeks. So, today we explored a bit outside Arusha. We went to Mt. Meru game lodge to have some lunch and see the animals. It is really nice there because you can sit practically next to the zebras and ostriches while you have lunch and there are monkeys climbing around in the trees above you...it's all very fun.

Then, after lunch we went to the Arusha National Park and drove around to see the animals and the landscape. We saw the strangle trees that Mommy thinks are cool....and we found colobus monkeys (rare) and baboons, and Buffalo and giraffes and deer. And, then when it was time to leave, and we were driving out the clouds lifted and on one side of us was Mt. Meru and on the other was Mt. Kili. They looked just beautiful and Tanja was duly impressed by the experience.

I had so much fun. I was in the car for hours today and I didn't make any sort of fuss (nor did I fall asleep). I just sat and played and talked to everyone the whole time. Tanja was....duly impressed by the experience.

The snows of Meru

While Kili is loosing its snow capped peaks, Meru rarely has any snow on it at all. It is the sister peak to Kili and we have the most perfect view from our garden. Mommy and I love to sit in our hammock and look at Mt. Meru. Today there was snow on the peaks....so we took photos. It's hard to see in the photos because the light is fading....but its there. I saw it!

Lunch parties

Today we were invited to a lunch party at our friend Beatrice's house. Mommy was a little worried because my favorite bad influence, Sham, was going to be there. I think he is about the most fun man in the world.....he gets me all wound up and thinks its fun to do things like play hitting games with me. Mommy says that after a few hours with Sham it takes her a few weeks to get me back to normal. I don't know about that.....but I do know that I sure had fun with him.

There was yummy food there. Pumpkin soup (which I also had for lunch before we went to Beatrices....so I had two different pumpkin soups today). And, I also got to have a few bites of pizza. I had never tried it before.....boy was it yummy.

Ella and I were the youngest members invited to the party. So, while the grown ups were boring and just sat and talked, Ella and I explored! We are WAY more cool than those silly, boring grown ups. I love to hang out with Ella and I keep trying to hug her. I'm not 100% sure how that goes, but I'm generally gentle with her and just want to be her friend. Oh, AND today was Ella's 13 month birthday. Happy Birthday to her!!

I'm a cure all....

....or so my Mommy says. She had a bit of a rough day today. I think she was really stressed out about a lot of things....and her mind was preoccupied. She had a bit of a meltdown this afternoon when she realized that she was so preoccupied that she hadn't gotten Uncle Topher to his tutoring session, she had forgotten about it. But, boy did she yell at him....she told him that remembering his stuff was his responsibility, not hers. I wonder if that kind of lecture from my Mommy is in my teenage future. (I sure hope not, and so does my Mommy).

However, at the end of this very stressful day, Mommy played with me. We ran around the living room and played peek-a-boo and hide and seek. She was sooo funny, I just laughed and laughed at her funny faces. And, after we played she said she felt so much better. I felt better too. I don't really like it when Mommy is sad....so when she plays with me and does puzzles and read stories and sing songs then I know that everything will be just fine.

In other news....Gaspar came to our house to cook tonight. He made some dishes for Mommy and Uncle Topher but Mommy asked him to make a pumpkin soup especially for me. BOY is it yummy! Gaspar should come every day!

Both my Moms for lunch

Today my birth Mom, Lillian came to visit for lunch. Mommy, Lillian, David, Uncle Topher and I all had lunch on the veranda today. It was pretty fun. I ate a LOT! I ate an entire huge plate of Dal and veggies and then still ate 2 1/2 apples, a pear and some raspberries for desert. Mommy says she hopes I'm going to have a growth spurt upwards soon, or my big belly might just pop. Hmmmm.....I think she's making fun of me. Sometimes she rubs my belly and asks it a question and calls it the Buddha belly (she compares it to the magic eight ball and says it must have magical powers). I do NOT think she is funny...but Uncle Topher does. I don't exactly understand the joke, but I think it may be at my expense. I'm glad Uncle Topher got to meet my birth Mom.....I think she's such a nice lady, even if Uncle Topher said he felt awkward about the whole thing. It is a bit awkward after all, to blend my bio family with my forever family.....but still, I'm so glad we are making the effort to do it. I love all my families and its nice to be loved by SO many people!

In fact, I also got lots of love from my Bestamom and Grandad all the way back in California today. This morning, I got to talk to them on the skype computer as usual, but we used the video and it was so fun to finally see the lady I've been talking to all this time. And, I got to see the doggies and my Grandad has a big white beard, like Santa Claus (what if my Grandad IS Santa Claus....one can only hope!). And, tonight Mommy brought home some Valentines cards from Bestamom and Grandad. I had a lot of fun opening it up!

It's raining, it's pouring...

....the old man is snoring. Or...maybe that's just Twiga.

We have had some rain the past few days, so we haven't been outside too much, it's yucky out there! Today at lunch we went to visit Cradle of Love. Mommy got photos with Devona and I (she is the Director of the orphanage) and with Bebe, a special worker at CoL that loves me (and I love her). It was really fun there. When I first started going back there after moving in with Mommy, I didn't behave very well and I cried and whined a lot and Mommy almost stopped taking me. She thought maybe it was too confusing and hard for me. I'm so glad she kept trying though....because now that I know she isn't going to leave me there and that she is really MY Mommy and I am going home again, I have so much fun visiting. It is really a fun place with kids and games and all such nice caregivers. I always have a fun time there now.

You can see in my photos that my face is a mess. I've bruised and banged and scratched it up everywhere (it got worse this afternoon AFTER these photos were taken when I banged my forehead and put a gigantic bump on it). Mommy is worried that people will think she is abusing me. Really I'm just having so much fun running around, but I've only just learned to walk, much less run...so I fall down....a lot! Don't worry, I always get back up and keep going....just sometimes I'm added something new to the landscape of my face. It's ok....it builds character (or something like that).

BIG HUGE SPECIAL DAY!

OK, first....I'm really sorry I haven't posted in a few days. It's all my Mommy's fault. Her computer adapter blew up and in this town....well, it takes some time and a whole lot of luck to get things fixed. SO, we were able to find a new adapter and she is up and running again, which means that I can post again.

So, I'll just do a short recap of the events of the last few days On Friday, our adoption lawyer, Brooke came into town from Dar es Salaam where she is located. She came to our house on friday night and we had dinner and I got to interact a bit with Brooke (I even let her pick me up....the first time I met Brooke when she was with Mommy before she even WAS my Mommy....well, I didn't let EITHER of them pick me up, but now I figure she's ok in my book). SO, after I went to sleep they did some really boring business like signing papers and going over information etc.

On, Saturday Mommy spent most of the day running around trying to fix her computer....to no avail. We did our weekly grocery shopping and we went to lunch at Via Via. And, we played around the house a lot. We played outside in the yard....it was really fun. I loved spending the time with just my family without a lot of running around. Instead, there was just fun and not much stress and I laughed and played and danced....it was GREAT!

On Sunday it was pretty similar to Saturday. Except that we did go to the pool at Ilboru for a few hours. We had some lunch and was swam and played. I flirted with all the girls that work there, and they all came out to see me and told my Mommy what a good boy I am. I'm learning early how to work a crowd. ;-)

But, today is the really really special day! Wanna know why its the BIG HUGE SPECIAL DAY?? The lawyer filed my paperwork in court, and I am officially on the books. My case file number is 002 09, the second adoption case to be filed in the Courts for 09. Very exciting! Now we can't wait to find out our court date. Stay tuned!!!

Oh, in other important events, I'm saying thank you, and I've developed a love of reading with my Mommy (and while she gets VERY tired of reading the same book with 5 pages of animal noises or counting to ten, she is also MORE than happy to read my books with me because she is sooo happy that I'm loving to read with her). I pick out the book and then climb up into Mommy's lap with my sippy cup and settle in for some fun.

Can't wait for what tomorrow will bring.

Just your average Thursday

Well, today I did go to the doctor again at lunch. Mommy brought a used diaper to the doctor and they were able to take some samples from that and they found 10 parasites in my poop! So, I've got some new medicine which doesn't make me feel very good but Mommy says that at the end of the day, I'll be feeling MUCH better. I sure hope so. It also doesn't really taste very good.

Afterwards, we went to a shop near the doctors office called This and That. And, Mommy bought me a fun new toy. A firetruck scooter. I think it's SOOO fun!

In the afternoon, Mommy left me home to nap while she and Uncle Topher drove out to Cradle of Love and visited Violet and dropped off some soy formula for a little baby who doesn't do well on the regular stuff. I don't know what is wrong with that baby. I sure loved the regular stuff. In fact, I tried to steal it from the other kids....but whatever!

So, once again....we are on the mend, we are visiting the orphanage and we are playing with toys....just the usual day at the Bowman household.

this and that

Today was a bit of this and a bit of that. Jenny is a bit under the weather and so Mommy went to work in the morning while Uncle Topher kept an eye on me. Then, in the afternoon, Mommy took much of it off and just went to check in at work when I took my nap and Uncle Topher was home in case I woke up. So, we visited Cradle of Love today. It was really fun to see my old friends, I really like going there. Unfortunately, I'm still not 100% and I had a bit of an accident in my pants on the way there. Mommy is getting worried, and has decided that no matter what, some doctor in this town is going to see me tomorrow and take some tests and give me some medicine. I have had the runs for nearly a week now and it is really making me uncomfortable. Mommy tried to get me in to see the Dr. this afternoon, but they said the next time they could see me is Friday. So, Mommy said that tomorrow we are going to the UN clinic where someone WILL see me.

While we were out at Cradle of Love, we spent some time with Violet....the little baby who has been sick. She has a cough, but is looking so much better. I practiced what Mommy taught me about being gentle and petted her head and her arm. She was sweet and nice, I liked her! I hope she keeps getting better. She is going to travel to Dar this weekend to get a test to check her HIV status this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for her. I heard Mommy talking with Devona about buying her soy formula in town, so I think Mommy is planning to go back to the orphanage tomorrow to deliver the formula for Violet. I sure hope it makes her feel a bit better.

After all that, Mommy made a great dinner of lentils, eggplant and squash tonight with raspberries and apples for desert. It was yummy....and then it was time for bed! Can't wait for what tomorrow will bring. Nighty night.

I'm 17 today

Well, 17 months old today. I can't believe how all grown up I am. Well, let's get the important stuff out of the way right up front. Mommy weighed and measured me. I am 25 pounds today and 32 1/2 inches long. That is up from 21.5 pounds a month ago....so 4.5 pounds gained in a month. And, I'm about an inch and a half taller than I was! Mommy could tell I was just sprouting up, but this is just spectacular!

I am babbling constantly and love to make up songs and dance to them. I wake up and immediately call out for Twiga. I can say Akira, Twiga, bye bye and mama. I tell everyone bye and wave. My walking and climbing is very extensive now and I am very independent. However, I still really like to cuddle with my Mommy and run over to her every few minutes to give her legs a big hug and then go back to whatever I am doing. I love to cheer for myself and I love it even more when others cheer with me. I know what gentle means and I love being gentle with people or animals....then I expect everyone to cheer for me! I smile and laugh constantly and I make my Mommy smile and laugh all the time. I'm happy....

We went to lunch today at Blue Heron to celebrate my day. We got ice cream at the end. I love celebrations.

Happy Birthday to me.....YAY!!!!! (clap, clap clap.....)

Pole Pole

This means, slowly slowly....things will be ok. I'm still not 100% but I am getting better. Mommy has high hopes that I'm going to be all better soon. I ate pretty well tonight so lets hope it all goes well overnight.

Even when I'm sick I still have lots of fun. Today at lunch, Mommy brought home a gift that Beatrice had brought for me all the way from Belgium. I had fun opening it up today. She got me a great puzzle...and I had almost as much fun opening it up as I will have playing with it.

Thanks for the puzzle Beatrice. It was so thoughtful!

Still sick

Well,

After going to the doctor on Friday I thought I would magically get better, but when I woke up Saturday I was really not feeling well. We were supposed to go camping with Gerda, Richard and some other friends this weekend, but Mommy had to tell them we couldn't go. My temperature had gotten quite high over night, a little over 102 and I felt just miserable. All I wanted to do all day was cry and hug my Mommy. Mommy was trying not to be too worried, but I could tell that she was pretty miserable as well. Nice to know that she really loves me!

By today my temperature was only a low grade fever. There is still a bit of a fever, and I still refuse to eat anything! Mommy is giving me lots of water...and I'm sure drinking it! I feel thirsty!! She managed to get just a bit of food in me....just some bits of bread soaked in a soup broth. Mommy is REALLY hoping that the diarea will leave soon and things will all go back to normal soon.

In the meantime, we were still able to have a bit of fun today while sticking close to home and getting lots of sleep. We walked and played in the garden a bit, but mostly just hung out together all weekend. I've been a little cranky, even today (though WAY better than yesterday). Sorry Mommy, Uncle Topher and Twiga. I'll be better soon.

Oh, and I'm learning words. This weekend I learned to say Twiga, and Akira! The most important words of all....

under the weather, but getting better

Today was tough. Mommy and I were both under the weather. We went first thing this morning to the doctor but were not able to get an appointment until later in the afternoon.

At lunch, we managed to have fun even though we weren't feeling our very best. Devona and Katie from the Cradle of Love came by for lunch today. It was fun to have them here and we had a nice lunch on the veranda and then I got to show them my room, and my house and the garden and the veggie patch and our animals. It was nice to see them out of the usual environment of Cradle of Love. I was a little cranky though...because I was not feeling all that well. Still, I did my best.

Mommy and Devona talked about the little girl Violet that has been in the hospital. She was taken back home while they were at our house, which was VERY good news indeed. She has thrush and is not 100% but is doing better. We'll be keeping a close ear on how she is doing over the next week or so. I really hope she pulls through and I really hope that somehow she is not diagnosed with HIV. Devona was talking about the fact that though the home has a nurse employed, she cannot administer meds because the home does not have the equipment. So, the babies have to go to the hospital where they are not always given the best of care. Violet had to wait many many hours before any medicine given to her....when she was there and so small and so sick. It would be much better for the kids if they had the equipment on hand so that taking the kids to the hospital was not necessary. Maybe there is a way to help CoL to fund raise in order to buy the medical equipment so that no other kids have to be sick and wait for care like poor Violet did. Any ideas???

And, speaking of medical care, Mommy took me to see the doctor this afternoon. I have a low grade infection....nothing too serious. Mommy has some medicine to give me and I should feel much better in a few days, but if I don't, we'll have to go back. Mommy's amoebas are strong little guys and don't want to leave her quite yet. So, the doctor gave her a strong type of medicine to help her body fight. Hopefully we will both be much better soon!

And, Uncle Topher was a trooper as usual. He played with me and carried me and was a very good uncle for the day and helped out Mommy who wasn't feeling very good. Thanks Uncle Topher!

Ethiopian food

Tonight Mommy came home and said that we all needed to get out of the house and we were going to dinner. Uncle Topher and Mommy decided to go to Ethiopian. Now, if they had consulted me I would have told them that with Mommy's week stomach that was NOT a good choice for dinner tonight. But, no one asked me.

It was Uncle Topher and my first time eating Ethiopian food. Mommy kept telling us that there would be bread, but it turned out to be one big sponge. Neither Uncle Topher nor I were amused! I ate the lentils though, and Uncle Topher is always happy when he has some meat. He is a meat eater but neither Mommy nor I want to eat poor animals. So, mommy had a potato dish and I had lentils.

When we got home it was discovered in my diapers that I am also having some stomach troubles. So, Mommy said that she thought tomorrow morning she would not be going to work and instead we would be going to the clinic. We'll have to see when tomorrow morning arrives.

Life is Good

Mommy seems to be a bit under the weather...again! Geeze....what is up with her stomach?

Even so, we still manage to have fun nearly every day. Today was no exception. I love to be silly and I make my Mommy and my Uncle Topher laugh all the time. I love to walk down the hall saying goodbye as if I'll never see any of them again....this makes my family laugh.

Twiga and I are becoming better friends all the time. I'm so glad. And, best of all...my Uncle Topher has warmed to me. I'd even go as far as to say that sometimes, he has fun playing with me. Not just playing with my toys, but playing with ME. The best is that, it has occurred to me that even when things are rough for my Mom and she is feeling low and sad and blue or sick...I still make my Mommy very happy. We have lots of cuddle time and I'm pretty sure we are both happier for having found our family!

Back in the swing of things

OK....my Mommy's got us back on track now. I don't mind the occasional visit and fun play time, but I do like to have a bit of stability. I was feeling much better today. At lunch Mommy came home and we went out to Cradle of Love, the orphanage that helped me out while I was waiting for Mommy. The care givers there are always really happy to see me. Today, I walked for them and they were so impressed. Mommy just takes it for granted now, but the caregivers hadn't seen my skills yet. And, I was gentle with the kids today....no more hitting. I had a really fun time exploring the whole house on foot and meeting all my old friends. We brought some laundry detergent for the orphanage and we wanted to talk to Devona, the Director about inviting my birth Mom over for lunch soon. It's been a while since we've heard from her, and we want to make sure she is doing ok.

Unfortunately Devona wasn't there...but Mommy says she and a volunteer, Katie, from the orphanage are coming to OUR house this week for lunch. How fun....I can show them where I live now! They also had to take another baby, Violet, to the hospital today. Mommy was pretty worried when she heard that...I think she has a bit of a soft spot in her heart for Violet, and she is only 2 months old....so it is very worrisome to have to be admitted to hospital. I hope we'll all say extra prayers for Violet and her speedy recovery, as well as for Cradle of Love and all the lovely people there working so hard to take care of us.

Tonight, I played outside a bit with Mommy, Uncle Topher and Osmond and John, the guards at our house. They are really nice men and they are always so nice to me and Twiga. Today, John let me wear his hat and blow on his whistle! How fun!!!

Thanks for a fun and very normal day Mommy.....let's have lots more of them.

quick note

Mommy realized that too much activity is TOO much activity. Both she and I were overwhelmed by all the events and stimulation of the past few days. So, for the next few days, we are re-establishing our routines as a family at home. Today was nice....I played around the house and Mommy and I played the alphabet game. We make up songs and sing...."ah ah ah ah", "bah, bah, bah, bah", "cah, cah, cah, cah" and so on. I'm learning to make all the different sounds so that talking will come easily for me when I'm ready. I'm not in any real rush just yet.

Tonight Mommy made me the best spinach dish ever. I loved it. It had spinach, yogurt, tomato, potato, garlic and some seasoning in it...and I thought it was so yummy. Poor Mommy just about gagged from the smell as she was feeding it to me, but I was in hog heaven! We sang Popeye the Sailor Man as I ate, and Uncle Topher wondered why Mommy wanted me to be a sailor when I grow up. Mommy explained to him that she wanted me to be anything I want to be when I grow up, as long as I am healthy, happy and strong and that spinach will help me achieve that as well as giving me much needed iron.

Then, a bit later in the evening Mommy got a bit sad. I don't' know why but her fun, singing mood melted away after she read her emails. I'm hoping she'll sleep it off and be back to being fun and happy in the morning. I'm sure she will....she always bounces back, even when she gets sad news. Feel better Mommy....we have lots of playing to do tomorrow.

Happy First Birthday to Ella!!

Today was a bit of a rough day. Mommy has a migraine and it really hurts her. She was trying to be quiet and stay in bed most of the day hoping to get rid of it. Still, she came and played with me some and we did all our usual things together (walks in the garden and meal times together etc)....just, a little quieter than usual.

This afternoon was Ella's first birthday party. Mommy was feeling pretty bad by the afternoon, but didn't want to miss Ella's important date. So, we all went to Ella's birthday party but just for a little while. It was fun. They had GREAT juices there...I couldn't get enough of Mommy's juice and drank her whole glass. And, I got to have TWO pancakes (Ella is Belgian and apparently they love their pancakes there).

I hope she had a really nice time at her party. We sure had fun and are so happy that we were invited to join. Thanks Ella for including us and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!