Aiden and Linda

Everyone needs friends, and luckily I have some of the greatest.  I got to play at Blue Heron all afternoon with Aiden while Mommy and Linda talked.  Of course we all ate, Aiden and I split a pizza and I also got to have a little 'cado' bread, or bread with avocado smeared on it.  It's my FAVORITE!  We were there nearly 3 hours today and neither Aiden nor I had one accident in our pants. 

Aiden and I have a great time playing together, and I have a secret crush on Linda and talk about her all the time around the house (Uncle Gogo told me that it was getting a bit old to just wander the house saying, 'Linda, Linda' all day long, but he doesn't know what he's talking about). 

Anyway, today I feel so lucky to have a friend like Aiden and I'm so excited because he's having a birthday party this weekend!  I can't wait to celebrate his birthday with him. 

Thanks for another fun afternoon Aiden....these fun, carefree days in Africa are some I won't ever forget (because they are being immortalized on this blog, so we'll always remember the fun we had).

My Little Sister

Oh, how I do love her!!

One Year!

One year ago today....I came to live with my forever Mommy and began the journey to my forever family.  We were all so happy today thinking back over the past year.  We made it a fun day.  A lunch playdate with Mommy and her friend Madeliene and Declan (who's birthday was today...he just turned 4).  After lunch the whole family went to the pool at Ilboru Lodge for a swimming afternoon. 

For dinner we went out to Impala Indian food.  It's my favorite restaurant...and I know the waitress, Vicky.  Mommy and I went to Impala on this very night one year ago to get takeout and bring it home, on the way home from the orphanage.  Vicky was working that night a year ago and it was the first time she met me.  So, it was fun to be back a year later.

Sadly today was rough for Jenny.....who came down with typhoid.  So...Mommy spent the day running back and forth between the clinic where Jenny was getting treated and tested and trying to make my day fun.  The clinic was backed up a lot today, so Mommy first took Jenny in there at 10 am, but Jenny wasn't seen by a doctor until about 3:30 and didn't get to leave the clinic until about 6.  LONG day.  But, Jenny has her medicine and having typhoid or malaria here is kinda like having a cold in America....so she'll be fine. 

Mostly I'm so glad to have a forever family that loves me so much! 

Breakin the Rules...

Every once in a while you have to break the rules.  Mommy has some pretty strict rules about healthy food and no TV.  Instead of TV she really wants Shei Shei and I to read a lot and we have lots of interactive and creative toys instead.  She keps the TV to a minimum....only on special occassions.

Tonight, there was no special occassion....but Mommy decided that sometimes we have to break the rules.  SO.....

she popped us popcorn on the stove in the old fashioned way that they did when she was a kid (you know, back when there were no automobiles and people went outside to the cows for their morning milk).  And, she let me stay up past my bedtime watching my very favorite show....Peter Pan.  Mommy let me watch Peter Pan a few months ago when I was sick one day, and now I'm obssessed.  Kids that fly like airplanes....seriously what could be better in the whole world than kids who fly in the sky like airplanes???

Thanks Mommy for a fun night and for breaking the rules with me.  Just to be sure we could do it again, I was the most extra sweet and cute kid ever, making the funniest comments and cuddling on the couch like a very good boy.  Hopefully, she'll let me do this again some day! 

At Aiden's for the Afternoon

Just a quiet Sunday afternoon.  Mommy and I went over to see Linda and Aiden for a bit in the afternoon.  Aiden and I played, while Mommy and Linda talked.  We all played ball together, and ate grapes.  A nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Thanks for hosting Aiden and Linda!

African Rains

For a while during the Tanzanian adoption process, it was hard to remember to appreciate our home.  Some of the worst parts of Africa were rearing their ugly heads and an appreciation for this beautiful country were in short supply. 

Even now, life is still not easy and Mommy is anxious for us to get to California as soon as possible.  However, there are moments when the beauty of my country comes to life in vivid color.  The afternoons of November and early December are some of those times.  The short rains come in these months, and they are a sight to behold.

I've also heard Mommy telling Bada about East Africa and how life is just....MORE.....here.  The highs are higher, the lows are lower, the sky is bluer, the grief is deeper.  Life is really being lived here, it is not muted by convenience, it is intense and very real.  The short rains are no different.  The storm clouds roll in and the thunder begins to roll in a very serious intense way.  And then the storm is upon us, everyone is running through the yard to get things in and out of the rain, and the rain comes alive as if it is a living being, talking to us and telling us.....the air clears and the smell of African rain is deeply breathed in.  In short, it is a beautiful experience. 

Today a rainbow appeared to set down right in our yard against our jacaranda tree, and we all stood on our veranda, Uncle Gogo, Shei Shei, Mommy, Jenny, David and I and stared mesmerized by our rainbow and our beautiful serious, scary, living storm.  I hope you all have the possibility to experience the african rains at some point in your lives....something not to be missed.

Thanksgiving

Last year I was still living at the orphanage, so this is my first Thanksgiving that I'm able to celebrate.  It is pretty fun, I gotta say.  We woke up in the moring and spent the day decorating the house for Christmas.  Mommy had a cup of her favorite tea, which she hoards as she only has a few cups left of, and we put on some Christmas music and we all decorated the tree.  Then, in the evening, our favorite friends came over for a Thanksgiving feast. 

Mommy made everyone go around the table and say what they are thankful for.  And, she said how thankful she was for me and Shei Shei.  I'm pretty thankful for my family too! 

I hope you all enjoyed your day and I hope you all have as much to be thankful for this year, as we do!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Playdates sans diapers

Well, for the past few weeks I've been going to my events minus diapers.  And, I've yet to have any accidents.  Today was no exception.  I was really good at telling Mommy when I have to go potty even when I'm right in the middle of playing with my friends or reading a magazine at the table.  Mommy is so proud of me and thinks that I am really becoming the biggest boy ever. 

Kobe

I sure do love Kobe!  He is getting better at being potty trained and so Mommy is letting him hang out with us in the living room a little more often.  Shei Shei and I had so much fun playing with Kobe this afternoon.  And, I was very careful to teach Shei Shei how important it is to be gentle with the puppy.  She gets so over excited when she sees Kobe coming that sometimes she can't help but to let out a very loud SHRIEK.  Sometimes that really scares Kobe, so I tried hard to show her how to be very quiet and gentle when she plays - think she's getting it. 

Shei Shei's Birthday

Wow....lots of birthdays lately.  Only, if you can imagine....none of them are mine!  Geeze....it's hard to make the world spin around your orbit when other people keep having birthdays. 

So, today was Shei Shei's birthday.  I tried a hard as I could to ensure that the day would still revolve around me.  I gave it my best effort, and despite winning a few battles, I lost the war.  The day, in fact, was about my sister.  She sure looked pretty today.  And, she also seemed very happy. And, that does make me happy.  Cause I might like it when the world revolves around me, but I so love Shei Shei that it makes me happy when she's happy.

So, we all went to Kigongoni Lodge today for a lunch a pool party.  Aiden and Ella were there.  And, Auntie Aleks who is always so fun.  Priya was there playing with me, and Aleks went swimming with me.  I got to eat cake and gave a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.  You can see me in the photo below, clapping and dancing to the happy birthday song....

Happy Bithday Shei Shei!!!