Just another day....no power, no hot water

It's Thursday....so I did normal Thursday things. I played outside in the garden (where I helped to do a little sweeping). I played some ball with Mommy while Uncle Gogo and Twiga played rough and tumble football outside. Basically I had fun.

Tonight was a bit more difficult. Poor Mommy, she is having a tough time. The water heater here flooded a week or so ago, and the landlord delivered a new one to be put in. Only it's about half the size and holds about half as much water as the old one. She can't get a warm shower anymore....it last for about 3 minutes and then turns cold. And, this is after heating the water for an hour and a half (here you have to get up before you want your shower in the morning to turn on the water heater....they do not self regulate). So, Mommy is now waking up VERY early to heat her luke warm water that lasts about 3 minutes....and each morning when she comes out of her shower the last few days she is kinda grumpy. Then, tonight the power went off just as we were about to get my bath ready. Now this is very common here in the evenings....the power goes off a few times a week....sometimes for an hour and sometimes for 12 hours, you just never know. I take a lot of bath by candlelight. I don't mind. But, Mommy and Uncle Gogo couldn't get the water to come out of the faucet. It seems that without the power to turn on the water pressure button, there is absolutely no way that the water heater has the gravity on its side to push that water out of the faucet. Tonight, therefore, Mommy and Uncle Gogo had to heat up pans of water and pour them into my bath. Mommy really wishes she had her old water heater back ;(

Just Like Uncle Gogo

ONLY CUTER!!!!

Court

Boy, did this day start early. Mommy got me up when it was still dark outside, for heavens sake. What was she thinking?? Well, we got up and going pretty fast today and got all dressed up in nice clothes and headed out to pick up my BirthMom, Lillian and head to the High Court for an adoption appearance today. It was very rainy today and we had to wait outside the courthouse for about an hour and a half until the Judge was ready to hear our case. Mommy didn't want to put me down for fear of me getting myself and my nice clothes all muddy in the rain, so she stood and held me while I squirmed for and hour and a half in the rain. Geeze, the woman has stamina.

Then, we went in to see the judge. The social worker was there and mostly this seemed to be about setting dates as to when Mr. Panga (the social worker)'s final report would be in and when we could set the final court date. There were lots of references to the rules of law though...and all the lawyers and judges had their rule books out and kept reading from them. I was busy reading from my book, "I love you because you're you". I think my book was better!

Anyway....the grown ups finally set the final court date for 2 June. Then, the Judge asked to talk to me. He asked the grown ups if I preferred the name Lawrence (my old name) or Akira (my new name). Why in the world was he asking them what I preferred??? Well, I thought I better set him straight, if he has a question about me, he should ask me! So, I looked at him straight in the face and said VERY loudly, "A-KIR-A". Well, that got his attention. He is a nice man though, with a big, jolly laugh. Then he asked me another question about how I was doing today (he kept calling me 'young man'). Well, I told him how I was. I looked at him, again, straight in the face, and I pointed and gestured to get my point across and then I said, very clearly, "gobbledy gook, funbana fuduko mabanga wanono!" I went on for about 30 seconds while all the adults stared at me dumbfounded. I ended with great emphasis and then waited for their reaction. Silence and then a crowd full of laughing lawyers. The Judge thought I was VERY funny (which, lets face it, I am). I had fun in there and look forward to seeing them all again in 5 weeks. At the end, the Judge said bye to me, and I said it back to him about 20 times (wanted to be sure he heard me) and then I blew him kisses as we left the room....he was laughing as we closed the door behind us.

Preparation

Today was a busy day. We went out for a drive today to Moshi, the neighboring town about an hour and half drive from Arusha. Neither Uncle Topher nor I had seen the town and Mommy really likes it there. So, she took us for lunch and to see the town. She is right....it's really nice. It's very green with jacaranda lined streets everywhere and its a quieter town with less tourists, less upscale obnoxious hotels with upscale obnoxious tourist, less street children attracted by the tourists trying to annoy you into buying the second hand map of Boise Illinois that they are selling, less fast driving insanely obnoxious safari vehicles....just LESS.

The actual reason we were on the drive though, is that Mommy is considering buying some land here in my name so that I will have something special of my homeland, even after I have to move away. We're not totally sure, and it can be tricky to buy land, but we are scouting out possible locations to make some inquiries into. We found a very nice little spot between Arusha and Moshi, which has two stunning views and located smack between Mt. Meru and Mt. Kili. It's called Sanya Juu (juu means small hill in Swahili). We'll have to go out again on some weekends and look more....it's just in the idea stage at this point.

Then, tonight we had dinner with Brooke Montgomery. She is our adoption lawyer, in town because we have a court hearing tomorrow morning. We all met tonight so that Mommy and Brooke could discuss what is going to happen tomorrow morning and what we should expect etc. It all sounds a bit complicated and maybe a little scary, but Mommy keeps giving me hugs and kisses, so I know that no matter what it's all going to be ok. I'll leave it to the grown ups to sort out all the legal mumbo jumbo....and for now, I'll just keep singing and dancing and playing!

Mischievous Monkey...

This is what my Mommy calls me....mischievous monkey. I beg to differ. I do not think I am mischievous, nor a monkey....can't she tell, I'm HUNGRY!!!

When I climb into my high chair, I am trying to explain that I'm a growing boy and I would like to eat now. Mommy keeps babbling on about how I can't climb up the furniture and I'm going to fall and hit my head and get a concussion or some such nonsense. I just wish she could understand that 1) I am an excellent climber; and 2) I'm HUNGRY!!

A day in the life of Saturdays

I love weekend days, and I can tell right away when it is one. First off....Mommy is just a few minutes slower in getting into my room to wake me up. Luckily, I'm not particularly impatient in the morning and am generally happy to sit in my crib and play with my dolly and Ella until she comes to get me. Then, the morning talk with Bestamom lasts a little longer and Mommy isn't always incessantly trying to figure out what time it is to stay on track. Then, we don't usually wake up Uncle Topher on a weekend day, but Mommy and I have play time for ourselves for an hour or so, before she goes out to the guest room outside to get him up and going. And, I usually don't get dressed in the morning, but I stay playing in my PJs until my morning nap is over.

Today was no different, that was the routine. Then, in the afternoon we went out for a bit of lunch and to buy some new African music that Mommy was certain I would love to dance to. She was not mistaken, I spent my afternoon dancing around the room with Mommy to the African beats. I am a GOOD dancer, if I do say so myself. Uncle Topher won't dance and only comes into the room to look at us in disdain everyonce in a while mumbling something about what a bizarre family he has before retreating to another room. How sad for him....Mommy and I have the best time dancing together. And, African music has some mad beats.

A small Baby Group at MY house

Today is Friday and we often have baby group in the afternoon, but it wasn't organized this week. So, we decided to have a small private baby group in the afternoon with myself, Ella and Aiden. Auntie Aleks came to visit and play with us as well. We ate some fruit and played with toys, danced to some fun music and even chased bubbles! Oh, the fun we had. I love to play with Ella and Aiden. They are my two favorite friends. We are all playing so nicely together now and I notice that when I do something sometimes one of my friends mimics what I am doing. And, when one of them does something, I want to do the same thing as well. We are all learning to be big sharers and to be gentle and play nicely together.

Thanks to all who came today!

A haircut, the second time around

I got my haircut for the second time today. I did NOT want to. I was NOT happy about it. I let EVERYONE know about it.

I'm pretty sure that they won't let us back in that barber shop again. It's my goal....get us kicked out of every barber shop in order to never have to get a haircut again...EVER.

The Wonders of a thermos

Mommy brought back some practical stuff from the States too. When she was there she wasn't sure about whether to buy a diaper bag or keep using the African basket that we have been using. She really loves the African basket, but its not as organized as one of those, consumer, commercial diaper bags you can get in the good ol' USA (I don't know this, having never been, but it's what Mommy reports to me). In any case, She decided to use the basket, but to get a few things to help keep it organized. So, she got a drink holder that clips onto the bag (along with a diaper organizer, food container and diaper changing pad....but this story is about the drink). She also got a cool thermos with a straw inside to go in the drink holder.

Tonight, we went out to dinner, and Mommy got out all her organizing stuff and came fully prepared and loaded with the diaper bag. And, most importantly she filled the thermos to the brim with my favorite broccoli soup. It worked SO well. I drank it right up out of that thermos at dinner, and left the grown ups to peaceful dinner. Everyone had a fabulous time! YAY for the sippy thermos!!!!

Blowing bubbles

Today at lunch, Mommy came home from work and said we should play. And, she meant it. We took out this cool new machine that Bestamom sent from California....and Mommy poured some liquid in it, and we started it up. Seriously....BUBBLES come out of it and float around in the air and you can catch them and they pop.....oh MY WHAT FUN!

Stats

We are a bit late on the statistics this month. However, at 19 months (plus a bit), I am weighing in at 27 pounds and my height is 33 inches tall. I'm growing and growing! Yay for me!!! I am now in the 58th percentile for weight and the 55th percentile for height. I knew I'd catch up....I just needed a little time!

My first Sentence

Today was the day I decided to bust out and shock Mommy. I knew I had it in me, but Mommy was pretty excited and impressed.

So, we went out to Cradle of Love orphanage today at lunch to visit the kids and play a bit. It's been a while since we've been there and the kids are changing all the time. Clinton, who was just a baby a few months ago is taking his first steps...and crawling all over the place. He is also attacking all the other kids there. Mommy was a bit afraid to leave as she wasn't sure she wanted Clinton attacking some of her favorite kids, like little Violet who is just a baby and can't defend themselves. Clinton is just going up to the babies and biting their faces....he drew blood today! Geeze!!! Anyway....this story is NOT about Clinton.

Well, while we were there, I was on my best big-boy behavior and helped Mommy out a lot. She was very proud of me and on the way home she was telling me how proud she was of me and how big I was, and then she said, "Akira, I love you". And, I just couldn't help myself....I had to make her even more proud, so I said, "I love you". Geeze, I think Mommy just about drove off the road she was so excited. So, I said it again! Man....it's easy to get her all riled up. I guess if I'm going to do things like that, I should not do them when she is operating a moving vehicle though.

So, it's been quite a fun day at our house today. There has been lots of cheering. Not only because I'm using more and more big boy words all the time, and not only because I said my first big sentence today....but also because I am chewing my food now.

Yes, that's right....I'm a lazy eater. I just hate to use my pearly whites unless I absolutely have to. I'd rather Mommy and Uncle Gogo put it in the blender so I don't have to chew. Well, Mommy is getting a bit worried about this approach and so, sadly, she has a new rule: No chewing....No eating. And, she is tough.....apples, nuts....all the tough stuff! But, I figured, if I want to keep up this big belly I've obtained, I better keep eating....so chewing it is! Mommy is proud of all my achievements, and what the heck, I sure love to make her happy.

Bristle Blocks...how cool are they?

Mommy brought a very cool new toy back from America...a starter kit of bristle blocks. These little puppies fit together like they are brush or comb prongs and they are in different sized blocks and different colors and you can make really fun things with them. I spent most of my day enjoying the bristle blocks and all the fun they had to offer. Uncle Topher was having fun with them too. In the beginning Uncle Topher was, as usual, taking over the toys. I was way more interested in the bag that it came in and we were parallel playing....he with the toys and me with the bag. Eventually, we came together and we even built a helicopter together.

I also had on some of my new clothes today. I love to wear hats, so was excited to wear my new doggie hat around the house today.

Mommy played with us, but stayed out of the picture taking range, since she has had a migraine for 4 days now. She didn't think she was in a very good picture taking situation. (I tend to agree).

I sure hope Mommy feels better tomorrow and can go back to being my fun Mommy who plays with me. Of course, she also has to go back to work tomorrow. Tonight, we read some new books that Mommy's friend Karen Ledterman gave her to bring back for me. I love to read the book I Love You Because You're You over and over again. And, at night we read a Goodnight book with all the animals going to sleep. Mommy sang a song with that book and it made me really happy. Thank you so very much Miss Ledterman for these great books! I'm going to enjoy them so much!!

With that I will wish you all a good night and a happy start to your week.

Peak-a-boo...

...I SEE YOU!!!

Uncle GoGo

Mommy has been down for the count with a migraine. This one is a real doozy and has her really wiped out. So, Uncle Topher has come to the rescue again and has been hanging out and playing with me. I finally found a name that I can call him. Uncle is too hard to say, and Topher is WAY to hard to say....but GoGo....it fits him perfectly. So, GoGo it is. He might act like it drives him crazy, but underneath it all....I know he loves it!

When it Rains it Pours

My Gosh....what a day. To be clear, I had a great day, but the rest of my family seems to have had a rough one. Mommy got a migraine last night and was up at 4am this morning because her head hurt so badly. I would guess the combination of jet lag and altitude change does it to her every time. In fact, she mentioned today that every time she flies into Arusha she gets a 3 day migraine.

Well, she went to work anyway, but her computer crashed completely and she thinks she has lost all of the work of the past 6 months. So, she decided to come home and by 10:30 she was home! I was so excited to see her, thinking that we would play all day, but instead she slept trying to get rid of her migraine. It didn't work!

She did try to play with me for a few hours today, but it mostly consisted of her lying on the couch while I climbed around on her. But we sang a few songs and I got a couple of good kicks to her head in (I'm sure that totally helped her migraine situation).

Then, after my bath and as we were getting me all lotioned up and into my pjs for story time and bed, Mommy and Uncle Topher noticed it. Water seeping out of the floor....leading to the water heater closet. You can imagine what we found when we opened it.....a LOT of water. So, Mommy and Uncle Topher got up as much water as possible and turned off the water. Uncle Topher found an important part floating around in the water, so it is not looking too good! I'll give you the update tomorrow.

For tonight, I'm headed to bed and so is the rest of the family...hopefully tomorrow will be better day!

Spring Brings Rebirth

Well, even though it is supposedly Autumn in East Africa, it feels more like spring has come. Mommy has FINALLY come home from her visit to California to see Grandad and Bestamoor, and the rains have finally come to Arusha. So, it seems a fitting time to restart my blogging (I had to stop for 3 weeks while Mommy was gone), and especially for my blog to get a new makeover! However, not only did Mommy give my blog a new makeover, she is giving me a new makeover as well! She brought suitcases, filled to the brim with 'stuff' for me. I have new books (and my first kids bible), I have new toys including such things as a bubble maker and a water worm, and I have new clothes. Oh my do I have new clothes! We tried on some stuff today, but I finally got really sick of the process and made Mommy stop, so we will try more on tomorrow. For now, here are a few glamour shots of the new ME! Welcome back to my blog and I sure hope you are all having the same kind of rebirth as we are over here in Arusha....it's SO fun!