Birthday Weekend....

My Uncle Topher will be turning 18 on Monday. So, we decided to celebrate as a family this weekend by taking a road trip a few hours up the road to a town called Karatu on the edge of Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara in the Rift Valley as a lodge called Gibb's Farmhouse. We got going on Saturday morning, and drove a few hours to Gibbs....arriving around 3pm. It was a nice ride, but I didn't have a nap and didn't seem to want to fall asleep in the car and I got very cranky near the end of that ride. It is TOO long to expect me to just sit there silently, for heavens sake!

Once we got there though....we had a pretty good evening. We got checked into our room and I had a bit to eat on the veranda overlooking beautiful gardens. Then, we had some snacks and headed out for a hike. Mommy and Uncle Topher took turns carrying me and taking control of Twiga's leash. It looked a little exhausting to me....but, I was ok....I had a ride!

We were supposed to go on a safari as well this weekend, but due to some technical troubles we were not able to go. I heard Mommy and Uncle Topher talking about us going on safari next week to Tarangire National Park. Sounds fun.

Today we got up and had a really nice breakfast and watched so many beautiful birds eating the fruits that the farm had put out for them. I love to talk to the birds...."Caa....Caa", I call out to them, and sometimes they answer back!

Then, my Mommy actually thought she could put me back in the car and drive another few hours home today. I was having none of it. I decided to have a bit of fun with the family. I screamed my head off and the only way I would stop is if they sung Humpty Dumpty to me OVERANDOVER again. Seriously! They tried other songs. They did not work. I ONLY wanted to hear Humpty Dumpty. After over an hour Uncle Topher said he would rather hear me scream then to sing the song one more time.

We got home just in time to go to a going away party for Mommy's friend Mary. She is moving to South Africa with her boyfriend Bas, and her baby Morris. There was a birthday party for Morris yesterday but we had to skip it since we were away, so Mommy felt like we HAD to go to today's party, even though we were all tired. The party was at Inneke, Dirk's and Ella's though....and I love to go there, and I got to go in the pool with my friends, so its was pretty fun.

By the time we got home, I had dinner and a bath and read a book, we were all so tired, we could barely move. I am headed to bed and I bet my Mommy will follow VERY VERY soon.

Happy Birthday tomorrow to my Uncle Topher!!!

ROADTRIP

SNACKS WITH A VIEW

GOING ON A HIKE

DINNER ON THE VERANDA

RIFT VALLEY

ONLY LASTED 10 MINUTES

Just in case you thought it was fluke...

....I'm here to tell you, I'm a walker. I practice every chance I can get. And, after I've reached my goal, I ALWAYS stop to clap and cheer for myself and I insist that all others in the room do so as well. For heavens sake....it's a big milestone. I had better celebrate it. How often do these sort of big achievements come along? I mean maybe a few times in a life, this is like graduating from college or getting married or having a baby....its a moment. So, I say, let's celebrate it!

Today was tough to practice, because my Mommy had a really busy day and she decided to drag me along for most of it. There were errands (none of which panned out....typical Arusha, paintings weren't finished being framed at the framers, gas station was out of gas, furniture store was randomly closed at 3pm on a Friday afternoon....you know, the usual), and some wedding business. This wedding stuff kept my Mom pretty occupied. She kept saying how excited she was to blow dry her hair and put on a dress and some high heels. I don't know....she looked a bit wobbly to me. I think I might honestly be able to walk better than my Mom when she gets those high heels on. Geesh....I don't know if I even want to celebrate weddings.....they look strange. I think I'll stick to celebrating my walking achievements....a much better use of energy!

I'm practicing....

I'm going to be the best darn walker this world has ever seen. Just you wait. I'm pretty fabulous already, but by the time I get done practicing, I'm going to take this world by storm! I was trying to practice earlier but my silly pants kept getting in the way. I'm not quite big enough for most of my clothes....so it's hard to keep them all on. My Mommy has looked for a baby belt, or suspenders, but she can't find any in East Africa....so, my pants come off. I got frustrated by the pants. So, I walked right out of them!

Once I got rid of those burdensome pants, I was able to really practice the walking. Look at me go!!!!

Uncle Topher got very nervous when I fell. He didn't realize that I'm a brave boy. Sometimes I fall down, but I always get back up and keep going. Mommy taught me that....in life, you just have to get up and keep going!

Mommy was so so so proud of me! It makes me so happy when she is proud.

Scenes from the day II

Mommy just got home from a birthday party and she left me home with a sitter for the night. It is after midnight and we are all exhausted here....so here are just a few photos (mainly designed to keep my Bestamom off my Mommy's back). Have a nice sleep.....

Busy days....

Today was a day filled with many things to be done and not enough time to do them all. Mommy had to work and when she wasn't working we were running errands to try to get the house finished up. She had to buy hangers and shower curtain hangers and door mats, she had to go to the framers to get some paintings framed and to see if her Ethiopian painting which the movers put a hole through was salvageable, she had to go to the butcher to get chicken for Twiga and she had to try to put her curtains up in her room. So, while I was with her for much of the day and we were singing songs in the car and holding hands and walking every chance we got....there was not too much play time in our day. She assures me that this will soon change and the house will be done and then we will just play all day.

I may be cutting a tooth....I'm not sure but I certainly feel cranky and Mommy keeps attributing my crying and general whininess to a while spot she shes back in my mouth. If that is the problem, then I certainly hope it comes in quickly.....I really prefer to be a generally happy boy!

photos from my younger days...

Tonight I started looking around on the internet, and guess what?? I'm famous! Seriously!! There are photos of me on other people's blogs out there! They must have really liked me. I'm so glad that the volunteers who came to Cradle of Love to help us all out liked me. Anyway...here are some photos of me taken by the great volunteers of Cradle of Love.

Thanks so much to you all.....

Statistics

Just want it recorded that on my 16 month birthday I weighed in at approximately 21.5 pounds and am approximately 30 inches long. This puts me in the 4th percentile for weight and the 8th percentile for height. I'm getting there! Just give me a few more months and I'll catch up!



Mommy took a photo of my height in inches. However, in order to weigh me she had to stand on the scale and weigh herself and then pick me up and weigh us both and then subtract her weight. Thus, if she took a photo of the scale and then told I told you my weight it would become immediately apparent what her weight is. She is VERY sensitive about this issue....and refused to let me reveal how much she weighs. Are all women this silly....or is it just my Mommy?

ps - Mommy's computer is not letting me add photos tonight. Sorry....we'll have to have double photos tomorrow night when I can ask her what the problem is. Right now Mommy is too tired to help me out.

Tofu FACE!

Swimming pool fun

Today was Sunday and quite a busy day at the Bowman household. We woke up in a good mood. Everyone went to sleep quite early last night and we all got a much needed full nights sleep last night. We started working on our house right away. Mommy is DETERMINED to get our shipment all unpacked and the house put together.

We worked hard on the living room and the bedroom today. I helped SO much. I kept taking all the things that Mommy put in the wrong place and moving them to the places where I think that they look so much better. And, I helped her to reorganize her closet....she had it done in such a weird way....no variety at all. She had all sort of matching things together, like sweaters with sweaters and shoes with shoes. How boring! Don't worry....I set her straight!

I also wanted to show off and spice things up a bit while Mommy was stuck unpacking all day. So, I am practicing and practicing my walking. I can even pull myself up in the middle of the room with no help from anything, stand up and balance and walk all the way across the room by myself! I LOVE it. Mommy calls me Frankenstein, because when I walk I put my hands in front of me and make a funny noise. I can't believe she is making fun of me while I'm learning such an important skill. Don't worry....once I'm stable on my feet, I'm definitely going to get her back. Can you imagine the havoc I can create around the house.....that will teach her for making fun of my walk!

In the midst of the unpacking fun, we had a lunch date at the pool at the Ilboru lodge. My biological Mom is from the Ilboru area....so we drove right by my old house and Mommy showed Uncle Topher where I would have lived if my biological mom hadn't gotten sick from AIDS. He looked a little shaken....but really, it would have been ok. Lots of kids grow up there. However, I am happy to be at my house with Twiga and my Mommy....we have a lot of fun times there.

We met Mommy's friends Linda, Gerda, Mary and Kristin. And Linda's baby Aiden was there as well as Mary's baby Morris. We all went swimming in the pool before we had lunch. It was super fun and we used my super fun floating device. Mommy ordered it on line and had Uncle Topher bring it over when he came....thanks Uncle Topher. And, I borrowed Aiden's sunglasses today. He doesn't like them....but I love them! Mommy is thinking of trying to order the glasses and have someone bring those over as well. I don't know....I really did like them, but once again, Mommy was making fun of me, and in a rather un-PC way. She kept comparing me to Stevie Wonder. Just cause I'm wearing black glasses and tend to thrash around a lot....does not make me Stevie Wonder thank you very much. She sure does laugh at her jokes though!

16 months old and walking...

Today I turned 16 months old. We started the day when I woke up all ready for my bottle only to discover that my Uncle Topher had used the milk last night to make hot chocolate without any consideration that others in the house might need milk in the morning. I was really really upset by his lack of consideration. I let him know it too. And, by 8am my Mommy was standing outside of the grocery store waiting for it to open.

At lunch, Mommy took us to Blue Heron where I ate bread and played in the grass. We learned how to throw balls to each other and Mommy, Topher and played and played passing the ball from one person to the other. The end was a very exciting few bites of vanilla ice cream to celebrate my special day.

We went home and spent the rest of the night with Mommy unpacking and hanging things around her house (photos and paintings, not bodies).

The biggest news of the day though, is that I am a SERIOUS walker. I practice every chance I get and think it is the most fun game when Mommy walks ready to catch me while I walk all by myself, independently, down the hall!!

Sticking it to the world!

Today I was mighty cranky. This is what I have to say to the world!!!

A big day....maybe, sort of, kinda

Today a few interesting events happened. I seemed to move forward and revert back, all at the same time.

Mommy and Uncle Topher and I went to visit Cradle of Love today in the afternoon. Mommy gets Friday afternoons off work, and Uncle Topher had not seen where I was from, and I haven't been back to visit my friends there for weeks...so it was time. For some reason, as soon as I arrive, I cannot help but to behave badly there. I know it will irritate my Mommy...but I can't stop myself. I scream if anyone else tries to hold me, I refuse to show off any of my good walking progress, and I hit anything that moves. I don't know what comes over me....I just can't help myself. Mommy keeps asking me to stop this behavior and show them how good I am so they don't think they have sent me to a home where I am learning all the wrong things to do...and I know I should try to help her out and be good....but I just can't help myself. It's too fun to tease her by showing all the kids there all the ways to drive your Mommy crazy!

However, in some ways I'm moving forward! Mommy is not quite willing to say that today I am a walking boy...but I did SEEM to take my first steps today. The day before my 16th month birthday. It' a bit hard to tell...or so my Mommy thinks. Because I sort of take a few steps and then fall down. But....I keep trying to explain to her....I'm WALKING! It's a bit wobbly...and it will take a few days to get it down pat....but she's been asking me for a while now to walk and so I decided to indulge her and I'm walking. And she is hesitant to even acknowledge it???? What kind of silly Mommy is she?

Anyway....end news is.....I took my first solo steps today!

ps - the news at Cradle of Love is that they lost a 4th baby last night. It is very sad. Also, my friend Jackson had to be taken to hospital today....we dropped him off at the hospital on our way home from the orphanage today. I hope he is ok. As soon as there is news on how he is, I'll be sure to post it. Say some prayers...

Scenes from the day

I have elephants on my shoes!!















Twiga and Topher play football in the yard

















They have fun but they sure are wild!





















Me, I think football is a spectator sport....way too dangerous for my delicate self





















I'm contemplating a walk






















I am about to strut off on my walk...only a few seconds later, I'm on the ground again. Oh well, no one can say I'm not trying! And, try, try again....I will succeed!





















Boy, after all that football....we are sure tuckered out






















But, Mommy is always so proud of me....hip hip horay and a big cheer for Akira!






















Bath time.....I love it!

One handed walking maniac!

Well, I'm finally doing it. It's been a lot of work....Mommy's been trying to get me to walk holding on to just one hand for a while now. I've just been plopping down as soon as she loosens the grip of one of her hands. So....it's been a no-go.

The other morning, I heard Bestamom giving Mommy a hard time of the phone for not pushing me harder to walk holding just one hand. Well, I thought, "no one should be giving my Mommy a hard time!", and I decided to show my Bestamom a thing or two. So, today, I was out in the garden with Mommy and we were practicing our walking and I just decided to let go of one of her hands. And, that was it! I am now a one handed walker!

Mommy was pretty excited about it, I got lots of swings in the air, and cheers and lots of upside down kisses, which I LOVE! Yay for the one handed walker!!!!

My Mom has bested me...Darn it!

I do not want to eat the tofu, squash and pea disaster that my Mother cooked and believes to be passing as actual food. I feel I've made that quite clear. However, I VERY much want to eat the apple and raspberry sauce which she has also cooked for me and I LOVE. So, why in the world would she take a bite of the tofu squash disaster and mix it with a bit of the apple and raspberry heaven and then stick it in my mouth. She knows I can't pick out the squash and tofu and will be forced to swallow it all. Darn her.....for now she has won....but don't worry, I'll find a way around this newest twist! Stay tuned....

Cranky Day...

No....I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about my Mom. She would say she had good reason to be cranky. It's definitely not my fault. In fact, I think I may have been the bright spot in her day filled with Fundis (handy guys) who were not on time and when they arrived appeared to have left their brains at home, gardeners in need of money, guards who did not show up and a job which decided to become demanding. Even Uncle Topher was not helping the situation today...and it probably is not his fault, he is just not used to the rhythm of Arusha and the need for certainty and assertiveness. Poor Mom is still up at 11pm trying to put her kitchen back in order since the shipment has arrived and we have to be able to use the kitchen to cook in during the week. She looks tired and worn out.

Meanwhile, I have had a pretty good day. Uncle Topher knew a bit more what to look out for today and was able to ensure that I had plenty of fun activities for my day. Mommy is giving the girls who help during the day VERY specific directions for how to interact with me. So, my morning went pretty smoothly. Then, Mommy came home at lunch and we were on our way out to run more errands at lunch with Gaspar, our cook, when the fundi's came to install the screens in the windows in my room and the guest room. Apparently they were supposed to come early in the morning because Mommy looked not very happy at them and explained that we were on our way out and they would need to wait for us until 2:30. The problem with that is that my nap time is at 3pm....and they were in full install mode. Mommy tried to adapt and move me to a different room for my nap. What was she thinking???? I had NO intention of going to sleep with all the banging and racket in the house. Mommy really tried to get me to nap, but I refused and instead I screamed MY HEAD off for about 45 minutes. It really wasn't fun for anyone. Still....I certainly wasn't cranky today and as long as Mommy was around and playing with me, I was sweet as can be. I have to teach her after all....if she does everything exactly the way I want her to.....well, we'll get along just fine!

Sad news

I just wanted to send a thought out to my friends at Cradle of Love Baby Home where they took care of me until Mommy could find me. They have had some pretty tragic times there of late, loosing 2 very small babies and 1 of my toddler friends in the past week to Pnemonia and malaria (helped along by HIV). Joshua was my friend and he was a very sweet, fun, lovable little boy. He was sadly diagnosed with HIV last month and then was struck with malaria last week. He didn't make it and I was so sad to hear that news....he will be missed.

As well, a little girl named Molly passed away and a little boy named Quin. They were both very small babies....Quin was a quadruplet and I know his other brother and sisters will miss him very much. Molly was a beautiful baby who had been abandoned by her Mom and they had worked so hard at Cradle of Love to take good care of her and nurse her back to health.

It is very sad to loose so many wonderful babies, but I am happy to know that they had a loving home while they were here. I hope my friends at Cradle of Love are doing OK. They must be very sad. Mommy says that we'll go visit them this week to try to bring some good cheer!

Back to Work

Well, today Mommy had to go back to our regular schedule where she goes to work in the morning and afternoon. Luckily, I have a lot of people around the house to keep me company when she goes, AND, she comes home for a 2 hour lunch everyday. This morning, I got to start my day by hearing my Bestamom come out of the computer again. I've learned how to say bye bye to her and I wave. I'm not 100% sure if she can see my super duper wave, but I know how to do it!

My Uncle Topher was with me most of the day today which is good, because he reported back to my Mommy that Hope and Jenny are not spending much time with me during the day and they are not supervising me very well. I'm glad he is here looking out for me, and I was happy to see that my Mommy was NOT happy with the report today and will do something about this situation immediately.

But, on the fun and good side, the whole family went to lunch today at one of my favorite places, the Blue Heron. I ate a nice big lunch of chickpeas, squash, zuccinni, apples, raspberries and bread and then I played in the grass with my multi colored, recycled balls. My Mommy only lets me play with the balls when we are away from the house (otherwise Twiga gets them confused with her balls and gets a bit territorial) so it is always a fun treat to get to see all the colors.

After work Mommy and Uncle Topher and I went to run a few errands, pay some bills, pick up a few groceries and get some food for Uncle Topher (he eats a LOT....even more than me!). Then it was our usual night routine, dinner, bath, story and bed. When I said goodnight to everyone tonight I waved bye bye to Uncle Topher and then gave him a big kiss in the air. I wanted to be sure that he felt welcomed. And, I think it worked, Uncle Topher looked pretty pleased....I think I've won him over with my super personality! Now, if we can just settle the situation so that the girls pay more attention to me during the day.....slowly but surely I'm getting everything JUST the way I like it!

I'm back!

Well, at least my Mom's back. I've been here all the time with Twiga just waiting for her to get home. And, guess what?? She brought another family member for me to meet. My Uncle Topher is staying with us. I'm named after him (my middle name is Topher) and so far I think we're going to be great friends. He's cool. At the beginning he was a little tentative. He didn't want to feed me, and he definitely did not want to change my diapers. He still has yet to change a diaper (Mom's says that's going to happen tomorrow), but he does feed me now....and he plays with me and he even spent time with me on my favorite hammock today. I think he's pretty cool.

It is so great to have my family back. My Mom and I are right back to having all the fun we had before she left. She told my Bestamom that she was worried that I would have forgotten her while she was away....how ridiculous....she's my Mom. I didn't forget her and was very happy to see her when she got home. Though, I also must say that Hope did a great job taking care of me while Mommy was gone. And, Twiga was right here for me. In the end, I'm so glad that everyone is home and things will go back to normal. Plus, I have my Uncle Topher here....a great addition!

Stay tuned for my regular updates to return! And, Happy New Year to you all!!!