Busy Weekend

We were busy this weekend. Very busy! Only, I have no idea doing what. There is no real excuse for not blogging....except that we were busy.....




HAVING FUN!!!

I love bread

yummmmyyyyyyy BREAD!!!!!

HAPPY

This is a new word that my friend, George, from Mommy's office taught me. I was in her office last weekend to help deliver some banana bread to our friends who were working some long hours in the office. George is a very fun and funny man and he is always laughing and happy. He told me that we could only be happy in his office and he taught me the word. I say it a lot now.
And, I am a very happy boy! Life is just a big picnic as far as I'm concerned and I love to laugh and giggle and smile ALL THE TIME! Here are some scenes from my happy day!

My Favorite Things to Say

I know a LOT of words now and copy almost everything that people say. I love to say "tank you" (thank you), and "Gunkey" (monkey), and "baboon", and "ipo" (hipo), and "pease" (please) and "more" and "done".

I still wave bye and say goodbye to everyone in a store or a restaurant as we walk through to leave. That really gets the crowds going.

And, I love to give hugs and kisses...about every 20 seconds I manage to either give a hug or a kiss to someone near me.

And, my Mommy's VERY favorite thing that I say is: "I wuv you" (I love you), which I say with great frequency and enthusiasm.

Happy Fathers Day!

I do not have an actual Father, per se....but I am one lucky little boy. I have two very wonderful men in my life who make up for the fact that I don't have a Dad.

My Grandad loves me so much and talks to me on the computer almost every single day! And, he is going to fly half way across the world in a while (which is not an easy thing for him to do and takes a lot of arranging from San Francisco, mind you) just because he wants to see me and Shei Shei. I can tell without every having actually seen him in person how much he loves me.

And, my Uncle Gogo. How in the world would I ever get by without an Uncle Gogo. I was even named after him. Uncle Gogo's name in Topher (Christopher, but most everyone calls him Topher). My middle name is Topher, in my uncles honor. It really is an honor to be named after him. He might drive my Mommy a little crazy sometimes and he might get in trouble for not getting his school work done, but let me tell you....he is one super cool Uncle! He plays with me every day, he takes care of me often....and he is the BEST teeth brusher in all the world. That is our special time together every night. Mommy leaves us alone to brush teeth together.


To the very special men in my life, I honor you today on Father's Day! Thanks for being there for me.....it makes me feel very special indeed.


oh, and in other news.....


Shei Shei's biological family came to see us today for a bit. They were fun and funny and I always love to ham it up in front of an audience.

Rockin the Blue Heron with Aiden

My partner in crime....my cohort.....my buddy.....my friend.

Aiden and I hung out today. It was pretty cool, except Linda and Mommy kept running around trying to spoil our fun. We tried to get out to the car park where there are sooo many fun cars to play with, and NO.....here they come running after us. We try to jump in the fountain to swim and play and OH NO.....here they come and grab us. We try to be friendly, introduce ourselves around to the other people at Blue Heron and OH GEEZE NO.....here they come to take us back to the table. No fun at all those grown ups.....I tell you.

Friday night date!

Tonight Mommy and I had a hot date. Of course, we had to take along Shei Shei and Uncle Gogo to chaperon. Still....it was our hot date.


We ate some very very spicy fish tikka Indian food. Mommy asked for mild...but it came spicy. Mommy now knows (if she didn't before) that I was destined to be part of the family. I LOVE spicy food. yummmmmmm.......................

Music in My Soul

I have music in my soul....from the tips of my toes to the hair on my head, I love music. If I hear a beat....from a LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG way off, I start to dance. Mommy can be carrying me down the street, and if I hear that beat going, I start moving. If there is no music, I make it. I make the most fabulous songs up and I dance to them.

In short, not only does music make me happy, I think it is a necessity for my little being to exist! I am thankful for all the music that is in our home, and for the bazillion more songs that I will get to listen to, sing to and make up over the coming years!

The Insanity of a Day at Home

Mommy decided that it had been a while since we just had a day at home to play. So, we made no plans for the day and instead we all hung out together....ALL of us.....IN the house...ALL day!

oh my....here are some highlights!

Today we went on an outing to Moshi so that Mommy could buy a car seat for Shei Shei. She was buying it from a couple who teach at the international school out there. It is pretty cool, it turns from car seat to airplane seat, to stroller all in the press of a button. I used it today at lunch (we had lunch in Moshi as well....I'm pretty sure it was to appease Uncle Gogo since he came with us).

On the way back, we looked a bit more at possible sights to buy some land. Mommy is really in love with the area of Sanya which is between Moshi and Arusha. We took pictures in the area....you can see Mt. Kili behind us.
All in all....pretty fun family day!

The Run Around

Today I didn't get to go to baby group. Mommy is trying to get all my paperwork in order. Before I can get on the insurance at her work, I need to have all my paperwork in order and sent to the UNNY office. However, I have to get that paperwork from Tanzanian government departments.

Mommy told Bestamom this morning that she was dreading the afternoon and trying to get my birth certificate. Bestamom asked why. Mommy explained that Tanzanian government offices are 100 times worse than a trip to the DMV.

Today was exactly that. Mommy and David drove around all afternoon from one agency to the next, one hospital to the next trying to find where I was born, a record of me, a letter stating that I was born etc. I just wish I could help her out...but I was too little then to remember much, plus they really need a piece of paper stating that I exist.

In the end, Mommy came home empty handed. She will have to try again on Monday and hope that she does not get fired. She has to get this all settled within a month, otherwise, the window for me to get onto her insurance closes and we have to wait a year to enroll me, and I don't think that there is any way on earth that Mommy is going to allow me to not get insured on time. I hope that she can at least relax this weekend and we can all play together a bit. I love to have special quiet time with the family.

I'm 21 months old!

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was only 20 months old! And, just a second ago I was 13 months old and still living at Cradle of Love orphanage.

Now, I'm a big boy with a family that comes to visit me in Tanzania! I'm working on getting my passport and everything.

Time does fly....

Today I am 33 1/4 tall and 28 pounds heavy! I grew an inch! I kept telling Mommy that all that food I was storing in my budda belly was for a good cause.

On Safari with my family (including cousin Sarah)

I am having a great time with my cousin visiting. We spent Saturday on safari seeing the animals at Arusha National Park. Then, Sunday we drove out to Karatu, a few hours away and stayed overnight in order to go to Lake Manyara game park and see the animals there. I love safari and am learning all the animals names. I can point out the giraffe to everyone, and I love to see the hipos and the baboon (I especially love to say hippo and baboon).
It's been a really fun time. Sadly Sarah will leave early Thursday morning! I hope I get to see her again soon!

Sarah

My cousin came to town to visit us for a week. She came in yesterday but I didn't get to see her until today because I was asleep when she came last night. We haven't met before, but I think she's just great. Her friend, Katy is with her. We have lots of fun stuff planned for the next week and a half. Today we did stuff around town, and they booked some stuff to do for the next week, like a medicinal tour of a masai boma in Monduli Juu about an hour away, and all the safari plans that we have. Tomorrow we are all planning to head to Tengeru to the market in the morning, then to a safari lodge brunch and then out to Arusha National Park to see the wildlife!

Karibu sana Sarah and Katy!!!!

Adoption Order

Here it is....
What we have all been waiting for!

The Potty Chair

I've been sitting on this chair for a week and a half now....

sitting.....

faithfully.....

waiting.....

AND, today it finally happened! I went potty in the potty chair! I was so proud of myself....the only person more proud of me than me was Mommy!

What a day! What a WEEK!

Akira Topher Bowman...OFFICIALLY

Today my name changed from Lawrence Sirikwa to Akira Topher Bowman. Most significantly, I became a Bowman...legally today. Mommy is legally my MOMMY!!! YAY!!!! Next is to get all the paperwork in order, get me on Mommy's UN insurance, get my passport so I can travel etc.

For today however, we are over the moon with happiness at our house and celebrating like you can't believe!

Yesterday was 6 months to the day since I came to live with Mommy, and even though all these months it has been my house, and my mommy and my dog and mylife....now its legal and no one can snatch it away from us and I get to be part of my family for certain forever!!!

The Night Before...

Tomorrow morning is our adoption hearing. Mommy is very nervous. It's been a rough 48 hours with corrupt officials hoping to cash in at the last minute.

Mommy is exhausted and nervous and so am I. We are heading to bed early as we have to be up by 5:30 to get ready for the event. Wish us luck.....