Below are a few pics of some "firsts" for our family. We spent a wonderful few days with relatives in New Mexico. Now Ben is back in Portland and Libby is enjoying a reunion in Texas (along with Shane)! So far, so good in our travels. We're grateful.
First time with beautiful, New Mexico flowers.
First time with Aunt Linda!
First graham cracker!
First band-aid (mommy was cutting his nails when the "boo-boo" happened).
Shane's first experience with two good friends -- Justine and Suzi.
We went away with Libby's side, the Crawfords, for some family time. Let the pictures do the talking. These are the adoring Grandparent. Obviously :)
We just returned from Colorado where we met and counseled with our sending organization/employer, then headed over to Fort Collins where Shane's Uncle Nate and Aunt Kevin met him for the first time. We ate incredible food from the Kitchen of Nate---the Jamie Oliver of Colorado. We dined on most excellent cuisine from Nate.
Uncle Nate and Shane really hit it off, as you can see, and Aunt Kevin couldn't get enough kisses outta the little guy. We did a very "Fort Collins thing" by biking and I rode a Cruiser, the new "in" of bikes, so I'm told. No, I didn't ride with Shane in his sling. This was just for the picture.
Within our first 48 hours there wasn't much to do but get over jet lag and lay low. We did have some fun nonetheless...
Ben and Shane in my folks front yard the very day we arrived. Look at the soft green grass baby!
Shane meets friend Noelle for the first time... the kiddos are only a few weeks apart. What cuties!
The Lattins and the Spotts with their growing families.
Rachel helped me shop for jeans, and delivered a healthy baby girl no more than 24 hours ago--no meds... go Rach!
Within 48 hours of landing in Portland, we headed to central Oregon for a reunion with some of Ben's childhood friends. Despite jet lagging a little, the Labor Day weekend event was fun and even relaxing. Shane was warm in his fleece outfit from grandma Kim and then relaxed on a blanket. I caught up with good friends.
Shane and I were playing on the floor when our househelper began making faces at him. This was his response. Enjoy...then leave a comment on how brilliant and cute he is. Gush gush. This clip is about a minute.
Shane LOVES to eat. Lately I've been giving him rice cereal with mashed banana's. Today he wanted the camera too.
Images of Shane as a teenager run through my mind and all I can see is me in the kitchen preparing food. Forever.
This clip is just over a minute.
Today is the second day of August. Where does time go, will somebody please tell me? And when we figure out where it goes, let's figure out how to slow it down.
Shane is eating!....not-so-solid solids. This inaugural moment happened around 8:00 a.m. over the weekend. I'd been looking for "the signs" that he was ready for solids. Saturday morning I brought the spoon to his mouth, and with both hands Shane shoved the spoon in. I think he was ready. Soon we'll try mashed bananas, then pears, then peaches, then veggies and more. Oh the glorious world of food we're about to discover. Ready or not, here we come!
Libby and I learned about a glorious and tasty tradition. It has (apparently) been around in many cultures and countries for years and years. And, even a few Americans (mostly college students, I think?) know about it. But we were in the dark.
Now we are enlightened and happier because of it.
First, Tim Tams are a tasty, chocolate covered cookie made in Australia -- although the ones we buy in India are made in Indonesia. I prefer the ones with a mint filling which, when refrigerated, remind me of Girl Scout "Thin Mint" cookies. But the Tim Tam Slam is best when using the standard, chocolate-filled cookie.
So what is the "slam"? The procedure involves "biting off opposing corners of the Tim Tam and then using it as a 'straw' to suck up a hot beverage and then, just before the biscuit falls apart, it is placed in the mouth." Yes, there is a lot of info on the internet about this ceremonious delight including a Wikipedia entry.
Today, I tried it using hot chocolate. Libby tried it using coffee. We also followed these "rules" which a visiting Biola grad told us about.
1. You must never "slam" alone. It is a community experience.
2. After you "slam", you should tell at least 5 people about this life changing experience.
3. When you put the cookie in your mouth, you are not allowed to chew. Just let the cookie melt away into blissful, delicious mush...and then swallow.
If you want to try this amazing experience which will change your life (okay, probably not), find out more about where to buy Tim Tams in your country by reading this Wikipedia entry. Here's to a new generation of Tim Tam Slammers!
Amy came with her parents, John and Sarah Sparks for a visit. It was her first time meeting Shane and I think they really hit it off! Either Amy made a joke or these two are sharing an inside joke they won't share with the rest of us. John and Sarah live wayyyyy up north so we rarely get to see them, so it was a real treat.
Our camera is on the funk, meaning it's acting weird. We'll be taking it to Dr. Camera soon. Pictures and video's will sadly have to be on pause until then. Nevertheless I will continue to post and use my words to create those visual images.
By the way, Shane has upgraded to a new, sturdier mosquito net! It's not quite as grab-able as the first, and is a snugger fit around the crib. Tonight is the first night using it, so we'll see by his face and arms if it's a success or not (bites or no bites).
More to come on WHY we had to get another net.
Shane is growing in leaps and bounds! Just yesterday I found him in his now-usual position, on his tummy, after waking up from a nap. Only this time, he wasn't so offended. Over the last several weeks Shane has been rolly-polly from back to tummy, and finding himself face down he really doesn't like it. It's offensive, or at least that what he seems to be saying with a cry of disgust. But yesterday he surrendered to the ever growing changes making him into a little boy. Just about completing his fifth month, Shane is now about 15 lbs. And just to show off, he's decided to pop out a tooth. That explains the waterfall of drool, the fierce gumming on mom's chin, dad's thumb and the board books, and his moment's of unexplained agitation. His 6:30 bedtime gives Ben and I the evenings together, and we even took one night out on the town (with babysitters at home of course). I wonder what month 6 will bring!?As an addendum to our Care Package Wish List for those friends/family who want to send care packages or buy gifts, here are some DVDs we'd love to own. Very few, if any of these, are available in India. And, yes, this is an ecclectic variety -- drama, adventure, kids movies, one black & white, some our neighbors would love (and learn about the USA), and much more.
And, of course, we'd love to hear about any great movies that you've seen in the last two years!
Babe
Batman Begins
Beauty and the Beast
Chariots of Fire
Contact
Finding Neverland
Gattaca
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Quiz Show
Rudy
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Sense and Sensibility ('95)
Shall we dance
Sound of Music
The Fugitive
The Hunt for Red October
The Jungle Book ('94)
The Power of One
Toy Story 2
U-571
Wallice & Gromit
White Christmas
* Updated on Aug. 9, 07 and deleted Apollo 13, Man from Snowy River, The Princess Bride, The Music Man, and While you were sleeping. Thx Des and fam'!
* Updated on Oct 14, 07 and deleted: Hoosiers, Return to Me, The Count of Monte Cristo ('02). Thx Cara!
* Updated on Jan. 21, 08 and deleted: Hotel Rwanda, The Truman Show, Toy Story 1, and West Side Story. Thanks to those who gifted these!
* Updated on July 1, 08 and deleted: Bourne Ultimatum, Borne Identity, and Life is Beautiful. We splurged and got ourselves some fun stuff! And Dec. 2008 Amistad and Secondhand Lions.
Up until his four month landmark, our precious Shane has pretty much been "asleep." Sure, he was laughing a little, cooing some, and definitely expressing himself during nap times. But overall, he didn't have much to say. Even when he came out the womb, he kinda coughed and sputtered, then nestled into me and gave a little grunt. For the last four months, I could sit with him for hours, reading a book as his little brain soaked in the pictures and mommy's voice. Or we'd play with his toys, him batting wildly and missing wildly, me coxing him on. This could go on all day.
But now, oh no! Now the boy has something to say. Wearing his "big boy pants" Shane has an opinion on many things. While he does remains one chill kiddo, you might say he has finally
"woken up." Put me down, no pick me up. I want THAT toy, no THAT toy. New position please, walk around now, carry me, play, talk, read to me. The wild batting continues but is getting more centered on his target. The cooing continues but with added syllables. Raising his head, still a little wobbly but stronger every day, and finding him on his tummy after nap time with a bellowed cry that says "What the..!"
It's the miracle of a small person developing into a his own person. And we get to see this miracle unfold every single day.
My cup runneth over.
Shane is practicing his soccer skills. Using his legs to do a half volley or perhaps it was a scissor kick. We're not sure. In either case, we're confidant he's on his way to being a direct kick specialist like David Beckham. His daddy was a sweeper, especially good at headers. I'm encouraging Shane to do the running thing. We'll see...
I graduated from Sunset High School in 1994 and headed to Serukam. No, that’s not the name of a small university out east. It’s where I grew up. I took one year off before starting college (at Taylor Unv.) and revisited the medical compound where I spent ten years of childhood. I did everything from babysitting a pet monkey, to organizing medical supplies, to traveling with a team of nurses to give free medical exams in remote villages to women and babies.
One baby came home with me. He was four-month old Kris. His mother died of TB and pneumonia, leaving him with a case of illnesses all his own. Kris’s father, living in the middle of a rice paddy in a thatched bamboo box was desperate for food. He sold the baby to a stranger for a stack of crackers. The hospital staff found out, sought-down the baby and stranger, bought back the infant (not in crackers), and he was placed in my lap.
Kristandi is what I named him. The search began for a family to take Kris home. While we waited he needed extra care and attention, and I was the chosen one.
Petrified Anxious Nervous 18-Year Old Me.
Abandoned Nameless Ill 4-Month Old Kristandi.
Kris stayed with me for one week and four days. I was haggard and tired by day two of sleepless nights as he wailed in his sick little body. I carried him in a sling throughout the day, his little body clinging to mine. He was nicknamed “Si manis” or Sweet Baby. His right eyebrow arched when he was serious or happy. He laughed with his mouth wide open. He had a button nose. His fingers were soft and they wrapped themselves around mine at night during a bottle feed or a cry. Then there was that one night, The Night, I realized Kris knew me as his caregiver. At that moment I gave him my heart. I didn’t even try to withhold it.
A couple unable to bare children for 18 years found their way to Kris. The process was simple and quick. No papers, no signatures, just a gentleman’s handshake. He was there and then he was gone. I left for college and heard news about Kris for about two years thereafter. Then all went silent. Tribal warfare broke out and I believe the family had to flee their village. Kris is about 13 years old now.
Four-month babies will always hold a special place in heart. Today my babe is four-months old.
Still Petrified Anxious Nervous 31-year Old Me.
Always Mine Cherished Healthy 4-month old Shane.
Shane has been with us for four months (plus nine). I have been haggard and tired by sleepless nights and wailing. I carry him in my arms throughout the day, his arms wrapped around my arms. He’s nicknamed “Muffin” and “Buddy”. He half-smiles when he’s happy or sad. He laughs with his mouth wide, wide open. He has my button nose. His fingers wrap around mine. And there are those moments, those priceless moments when he shows me he knows he’s mine. And at those moments, I give him my heart. And I don’t even try to withhold it.
Kris taught me that the giving of myself, even for one week and five days, even if he would disappear into the jungles of Borneo, was the greatest gift I could ever give to a child. I dreamed for 13 years the day I would hold my own four-month old son. Today my baby is my dream come true.
Thank you Kris for sharing with me, Petrified Anxious Nervous 18-Year Old Me, a slice of your life. Thank you Shane, Always Mine Cherished Healthy 4-month old Shane, for you are my dream come true, 13 years in the waiting.
Waiting is hard. But you’re worth it. Boy, are you worth it!
