Shanga House

Today we had a brunch celebration for Mommy's birthday. It was fun to see everyone and even though it was for Mommy's birthday, I had the most fun, I think! ;-) We rode around the grass in wagons and played!

Happy Birthday Mama

Today is my Mommy's birthday! She has had a rough few months and is just not in the mood to celebrate. We did have a nice day together and dinner out with the family. In any case, I'm sorry she's having a tough time, but I'm still awfully glad she's my Mommy.

I love to sing the happy birthday song. I sing it to everyone, but today it will be specially for Mommy:

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Mama,

Happy Birthday to you

WHOOOOO!!!! (that's my favorite part)

Breakfast on the veranda

Now that the weather is a getting a bit warmer, we are eating outside again. Very fun and Mommy is getting experimental with breakfast.

Today's breakfast was Rice cakes with sugar free and salt free peanut butter and banana smear.

Very messy and yummy....my favorite kind of food!

my Stats at 2 years old

FYI


I am 35 inches tall, and 30 pounds heavy (exactly). AND, I am a big whiner at my 2 year old mark. Mommy is quite happy with my height and weight, but sure wishes that the whinning would stop.

When you are 2, you MUST have cake!

Well, I know we celebrated my birthday with a party a few weeks ago so that my Grandad and Bada could be present. However, on my actual birthday, we still had a pretty fun time.

We had a great dinner out with the family to my favorite place, Impala Indian! And, my Uncle Gogo made me a great birthday cake....YUMMY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME....I'M 2!!!!!

Goodbye weekend!

Well, this is a bit sad. We had to leave for Nairobi for the weekend on another fun family treck. Only, this one ends with Bada and Grandad flying back home to CA while the rest of us have to go back to Arusha and wait out the rest of this process. Very sad indeed!

We did manage to have a bit of fun in Nairobi swimming in the Stanley swimming pool with Bada a few times and going to the elephant orphanage all together. It was fun, but all with bit of underlying sadness that Bada and Grandad have to leave us.

I can't wait for the next time I see you guys....hope its in California!!!

Safari in the Serengeti!

I love animals....I truly LOVE animals. Well, Grandad has arrived in East Africa to visit us for a few weeks. It's my first time to meet him in person, though I've seen lots of him on skype. We had to leave Shei Shei at home as she would not like to be in a car all day for 4 days just looking at animals. I LOVED it though.

The First day we drove from our house to Seronera in the Serengeti. This is the area of the Serengeti where there are many kopjis and lion prides that live in the area. We stayed in the Wildlife lodge there for 2 nights and spent out days driving the plains and finding animals. SO MANY ANIMALS - lions, cheetahs, elephants, leopards, hyena, giraffe, zebra, small medium and large deers.....just so many many animals. We also took an afternoon off to go swimming in the pool at the lodge and one day I thought I got to go in the pool, but they were cleaning it all day, so Mommy and Bada took me for a bathtub swim instead. That was sooo fun!

After a few day in the Serengeti, we drove to the Ngorongoro Crater and stayed there and took a tour of the crater floor. We had more fun there and I was sad to leave. Every morning on safari, I woke up and said, "animal, animal". I just wanted to go and see the animals all the time! So much fun, and a great way to meet my Grandad and fun memories for the family! I really do love my family and guess what....I think they love me too!

My Birthday Party

We decided to celebrate my birthday this year a little early since my Bada and Grandad were in town. We wanted to just have the people that we love the most for a celebration and to not have an overwhelming party this year. We are simply not in a party kind of mood these days, but Mommy still thought it important to mark such a special time in our lives....my first birthday as a Bowman!
So, the people that take care of me and spend their days and evenings with me came with their families to celebrate the day with us. Most of the staff around the house was there with their families, as well as Linda and Aiden, my brothers David and Arnold, and Mr. Siay, my adoption lawyer came too! A fun time was had by all.....

Sleeping with the Elephants

What a good nights sleep!

Big Boy Bed

I've graduated to a big boy bed! Mommy had a special bed made just for me out of beautiful minga wood with elephants carved into the head and base boards. I really love my big boy bed. I can't wait to sleep in it tonight!

Getting Out of Town

Well, I've finally returned to do some blogging.



A few days after Shyam's passing, the family decided to get out of Arusha to try to breath some fresh air and to not be inundated daily with people and questions etc.



So, we drove. First we drove to Dar es Salaam and then the following day we flew over to Zanzibar. It was my first time to go on a plane. I really liked it and now I'm obsessed with planes. As soon as I hear one flying in the sky, I have to find my Mommy and tell her, 'i plane, i plane'.



In zanzibar, we first stayed in Paje, a small village on the East coast. It was beautiful and my first chance to swim in the ocean. I also LOVED the ocean and didn't want to ever get out of that nice fun, warm water. We played and played in the ocean. Then, we went into Stone Town and spent a few days in there. We did some shopping (BORING) and also we went on a spice tour. We learned all about the different spices on the Island, and then a man climbed a coconut tree for us and I drank coconut milk straight from the nut. I LOVED it.



All in all, a Zanzibar vacation with my Mom, Uncle and Bada was just the most fun experience. I hope I get to go back someday....it was a really magical time.


Unfortunately the photos from this trip were lost in a computer backing up disaster! You'll have to take my word for it...I really did swim in the Indian ocean.

Until Further Notice....

....the blog is taking a break. We have had a very very sad event happen this week. While we want to record it in the blog because it is part of the life here and an important remembrance....talking much about it is too hard now.

My friend, Shyamlal passed away this week. He was such a nice man.....very good friend to Mommy and just the most fun to have over. He came over for dinner sometimes and he loved to play with me....he would teach me the most mischievous games, which just drove Mommy crazy. But, he only did it because at heart he was a little boy....just like me. And, he was kind and funny and fun....and Mommy and I are going to miss him so so much. So, for a bit....this space just might go quiet for a bit.

We miss you Shyam.

Aiden and Linda meet Bada

Two days in a row we went to Blue Heron for lunch. Today, Mommy, Bada, Shei Shei and I went to meet Linda and Aiden for lunch.

It was fun, but I was kinda in to doing my own thing today. I didn't really feel like playing with the other kids. Aiden and Shei Shei hung out without me for most of lunch. I was more into exploring on my own.

I heart Corn

23 months baby!

Can you believe what a big boy I am!? I turned 23 months old today. Of course, as always we went to celebrate at Blue Heron - lunch with the family and ice cream! Tonight, we weighed and measured me. I am 34 1/4 inches tall and 30 pounds. Seriously.....I'm a BIG BOY!

Even Shei Shei wanted to join in the celebration. She's still too little for ice cream though....just looking Shei Shei, no touching!

Busy Days

It's been such a busy week, I've barely had time to think much less post blogs. But....I thought I'd better take some time to tell you about it. All last week Bestamom (Bada) and I have been hanging out. While Mommy goes to work Bada stays home and plays all day with me. We swing and play with my sister and play with my toys. It's all so fun. I'm really glad Bada has come to stay with us....I hope she'll stay forever.

Showing Bada Around

This weekend we had a great time showing Bada around the area. On Saturday we went first to Tengeru and to the market there. Bada even bought a Kanga there. Then, we went to Cradle of Love so she could see where Clara Shei and I lived before we came home. We had a fun time seeing all the kids, though my friends were taking a nap. We'll have to go back. Then, we drove on to Moshi so Bada could see what Arusha used to be like.

On Sunday we went to Mt. Meru game lodge for brunch. We ran into Maureen. She was a volunteer at Cradle of Love last year....she knew me when I was a baby! Now she has come back to Arusha to volunteer with the big kids at a different orphanage. It was really fun to see her. And....it was fun to play with the big kids! After we ate, we all got in the car and went to Arusha National Park to do a game drive. We saw lots of cool animals - baboons and monkeys and raffes. I LOVE to look for the monkeys in the trees and I've become quite an animal spotter! AND, we saw Maureen and the kids AGAIN! What a fun day!!!