A Very Merry International Christmas

First there was the white elephant gift exchange, a first for many, on Christmas Eve. Another holiday with Nisha and husband Manas, Sumeet, Rudy, and Maggie. We can't believe Shane slept through all the laughter.Then there was Christmas Day luncheon with Maggie as head chef. Good eats from a girl who graduated from Ben's alma mater, George Fox.
It's been said that Shane's extra-special uncles Rudy (pictured) and Sumeet are toughies on the outside but softies on the inside. A new friend.

Merry Christmas

Celebrating Christmas in India means a normal day to the every-day people we daily encounter. But for those of us either from the West or with a faith that teaches the birth of a Majestic Savior through the humble smallness of a child, the 25th is That special day.

And so for us the Spotts, we find ways to celebrate outside our home country, but very much inside a country dear to us. Although time with Shane's grandparents, uncles and aunts will always be missed, Ben and I will include their lives to our children through story telling and memories. We will also teach our family, including ourselves, the beauty of doing life with others who really aren't that different from us after all.

Missing yes but feeling blessed beyond measure to spend another Christmas in India.

A few pictures of the majestic 5-feet-tall plastic Christmas tree.

His crawling days

This is a short video of Shane crawling. Four days after returning to India from a two month visit in the USA, he decided it was time to crawl. Shane loves to play "catch me." This is a glimpse into the day of the life at the Spotts household... with mommy in tow.

More memories from good ol' USA

The annual gathering of the 11-numbered gang from college. With so many pictures yet to share, I'll choose a few and at random, share in time. Here are several more special memories.

Taking a break being a baby. Sometimes.

I'm sharing with you a clip of Shane at 8 months, ready but not yet able to crawl. He's taking a break being a baby. He is quiet yet attentive. Today at his 9 month milestone, he's ready and able to crawl. Take me with you little boy.
Ready or ready, here you come!

Back in India

Yes, we're back in India after 2 wonderful months in the USA. As Libby wrote on her blog, the trip was relatively smooth and now we're recovering from jet lag. Some people have asked how we're readjusting to India. On the positive side, we're thrilled to be back with friends and colleauges, happy to taste familiar foods again, eager to jump back into our work here, loving the cool (80s) sunny weather, and enjoying the hustle and bustle of our city. On the downside, our ankles have been gnawed by mosquitoes, we've begun the losing battle against ants invading our food, and must limit our flushing of the toilet due to limited water.

But before we jump into life here in India, I want to reflect, pause to cement many great memories of our time in the USA into our memory, and be thankful.

There were little things: hot showers, maple bars, Fall leaves turning color, shopping at REI, and more.

Also, we were thrilled to talk to a couple of thousand (literally) people about our work and life in India. These meetings ranged from dinner with families to talks to about 250 people at a time.

Amidst about 100 meetings over the two months, we did find a little time to play. One of the things that "fills us up" is time outdoors in the middle of Creation. Particular highlights for me (in no particular order): sailing on the Columbia River with friends, two days of fishing with my dad and a friend, and flying kites for 4 solid hours at the Oregon coast. There were many lovely steaks, salads, and burgers that also made me happy. And time with family.

Lastly, Shane had many firsts that were a blast to watch. Petting a cat, touching grass, seeing leaves blowing across the ground, sitting up on his own, watching American football on TV, learning to do the "army crawl", and more.

May we never dance too fast through life to miss -- or forget -- beautiful moments when our mind and spirits say, "Yes! This is how is was meant to be!"

East to West coasts

We just returned from a great trip to Atlanta. We visited Libby's brother and family as well as a partner organization's headquarters. (Um, yes this is Ben writing; I stole the password from Libby.)

We've also enjoyed a few beautiful, sunny days at the Oregon Coast and now are here in Portland for 2.5 weeks that will be full of meetings with friends.

Shane continues to be a trooper and has done well on all plane flights, has great sleep patterns, and is healthy and growing. His fifth tooth is arriving as you read this!

More later...

Off to the beach

Soon I will be posting pictures from the last two weeks, two weeks where doing exactly that was almost impossible. I know, I know being in the USA, the land of plenty ought to make all things possible. But it isn't so, especially in our constant travels and staying in homes and places where getting on the computer or downloading pictures isn't always possible. Thank you for baring with me.

I was in Texas with "my girls" for one week, and before that in New Mexico sharing life with Ben's relatives. It's been a good time. We're half-way through our time in the USA. One more month to go.. we head back to India on Halloween Day. Today in a matter of hours, we head to the coast with Ben's folks for some get-away time. Mostly so the grandparents can have total 100% time with Shaners.. who continues to sleep like a bear in hibernation, eat like a starving child, and smile like the whole world is his and he knows it. And it is.

Pictures to come soon that involve a certain brilliant baby boy.

Firsts for Shane (and Us)

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.

More pictures. And then some more...

Hiking in Southern Oregon. We LOVE Oregon!

Some family time away

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 :)

Back from Colorado

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.

A real quick 48 hours

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!

Fun on the run

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.

Play Time

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.

Watch out! He's pretty cute (if not messy)

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.

Top "prego" and baby books

Like many people, Libby and I suffer from information overload and have little time to read. During the months of pregnancy and while pondering the first year with our baby, I began to look for the best of the best books on these topics. Not easy!

We ended up choosing books only if: a) 3-4 people had recommended the same book, b) those 3-4 people didn't know each other, and c) with a special favoritism to those who have actually implemented the book's principles with their kids and found it worked!

So, with no further ado, here are 6 great books we have found. Another way to think about it: If I was marooned on a desert island and could only bring a few books...

TOP PREGNANCY BOOKS
What to Expect When You're Expecting, by Murkoff, Eisenberg & Hathaway, 2002.
Not a perfect book, but contains the basic "what if" and "what happens when" answers.

Great with Child: Reflections on faith, fullness, and becoming a mother, by Debra Rienstra, 2002.
Obviously, this is more for the mother to read...and it is the opposite of the book above. It is the raw, authentic ponderings of a pregnant women that is comforting and enlightening to read.

TOP BOOKS TO HAVE FOR THE FIRST YEAR
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth, 2005.
Based on sleep studies of children, this book is invaluable. It gives balanced advice and a range of solutions (acknowledging strategies ranging from BabyWise to attachment parenting). Actually has chapters for babies up to teenagers.

Complete Book of Baby & Child Care, by Reisser (Editor), 1997.
Not everyone agrees with Focus on the Family, but this book contains helpful info on all the basics from birth up to age 11.

What to Expect: The First Year, by Murkoff, Eisenberg & Hathaway, 2003.
Another logistics and details book, but helpful to balance out the opinions of the book above and vice versa!

Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities to Maximize Your Baby's Potential, by Masi and Leiderman (Gen. Eds), 2001.
A lifesaver especially for a first-time daddy who is wondering what activities will be fun and educational for the little one. Great pictures and very little text! Can't wait to buy "Toddler Play" by the same people.

Speaking of which, I'm sure we'll have a list of "top books on toddlers" before we know it! As the time flies, I'm conscious that I need to spend more time with our precious boy than just reading about how to spend time with our precious boy.

Anyway, we'd love to hear your opinions or suggestions on any great books we've missed for the "prego" and "baby" stages. If you were stranded on a desert island... Obviously all this is extremely subjective, but what do you think?

I'm alive, I'm alive!

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.

Ever since Shane hit four months I've grown more and more aware of his little body, his heart, his mind, and his soul "growing up." I know, I know he's only 6 months, you say, but inside me in a place I cannot identify I miss his "newborn-ness." Not always, just sometimes. But some-times is still more than no-times.

Some of this longing has to do with the fact that the more he becomes aware of his surroundings, the more "alive" he becomes thus the more "human-like" I guess you could say, he responds. As a newborn he simply laid on his back, slept A LOT, and ate like an animal. He still sleeps A LOT and he still eats like an animal. But he's adding onto these skills and it shows me, his world, "Hey mommy, I'm growing up."

"I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive." That's the chant I hear from my baby boy. He's so alive! He reaches out to touch, taste and feel the door nob, the wall hanging, the keys, the door frame, the keyboard. He not only wants to play, he must play! His taste buds salivate to explore, his fingertips tingle to touch and feel new textures, textures he's never in his entire life felt and tasted before. I can't remember the last time I touched, tasted, felt and experienced something for the first time. How exciting to be a baby!

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive mommy. Take me with you baby boy, and I'll do my best to encourage this aliveness and excitement for life as long as you're mine.

Not-so-solid solids.

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!

Tim Tam Slam

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!