Baby is 1 - Part I

On Sunday lil' E turned one year old.  It was a good day, but I felt pretty emotional.  With Carl being gone, I felt like the days events rested solely on me.  And not like she'd care either way, but there were 3 very excited siblings that wanted to celebrate in style.

Well, as it turned out we had a lovely Sunday in church and Asha told EVERYBODY that her baby sister was one year old.  So people came by to wish her a Happy Birthday, and that just warmed my heart.  For lunch, my parents brought over A&W (because of course, that's what Elena would have chosen for her birthday meal!), which I was very appreciative of.  I wasn't the only one making the day a little more special.

After a much needed nap, my family came back to our place and we had cake and presents for Elena.  While we sang Happy Birthday, my mom held the webcam while we skyped with Carl so he could see and hear it all.  My parents got her some outfits and a laughing doll that gets Elena chuckling like crazy.  Joel and Asha got her a swing (they wanted a blow up pool, but where do you find those in Canada in January?) and Kezia got her a bathing suit.  It's like she should have been celebrating her first birthday in the heat of summer or something.....

Elena loved the angel food cake I made her and smeared it all over.  I got some great pictures, but I'll save that for another post (hence the Part I as the title).  I'm feeling like a cold is overtaking me, but I wanted to reflect on her birthday day.

I took her to the doctor today and she's just shy of 20 lb (9kg).  We subtracted a few ounces from the official weight on account of the clothes and is 29.5 inches (75 cm) tall.  Her official mode of transportation is now walking, but she swaggers along and when she senses she isn't getting anywhere flops down on all fours and crawls like crazy.  Six teeth in the mouth make quite the pretty smile and she loves to give cheezy grins now.  Just last week she experimented what would happen if you stick your finger in your mouth and bite down.  Boy! she cried.

But you know what makes her smile?  Looking in the mirror at the baby and saying, "Hi" to the baby.  And I would say that her other word that she says is Happy.  But with both words, she doesn't say the H so it sounds like Hay in Spanish (which would be brilliant seeing as it would mean she is interpreting there is another baby there) and Api (which is the purple corn drink we always drank in the winter).  Oh, mi cambita!

Well, the official day has passed, but she still has some celebrating to do.  There will be a birthday party this weekend for her with friends and family.  I took her for an AWESOME photoshoot today with a friend from bible study and can't wait to see the pictures.  Messy cake, sparkly shoes, dresses and beads.....I bet you can't wait either.....

Pretties

Fabulous Fun Day

Oh what fun it is to go to a children's museum where you're not sure who's having more fun, us or the kids.  We had a marvellous time with Derek and Laura and the boys.  We decided that leaving time would be when one or more of the kids had a melt down.  If I recall, it was the parents who were famished which ended the afternoon because the kids couldn't have gone all day.....

And then to top it off, we went across the way to the terminal for supper.  The choices! the taste! the price!  But after having Roti, Skinner's Hotdogs, Chinese, and those mini donuts, it was enough to send us onto cloud 9.

That's My Kid

I've noticed over the last couple of months that Joel is quite the interesting kid.  He does quirky things that put a smile to my face and warms my heart.   A couple of stories.....

So two weeks ago when we announced supper would be served in 10 minutes, Joel quickly ran to his room and told us that we shouldn't come in, he was preparing a surprise.  Kezia was beckoned a few minutes later to help with what, we had no clue.  Supper was put on the table, we all sat down and then out marched Joel with a crown and a robe on.  He plunked himself down, we all prayed and then Carl and I waited for the explanation because the get-up was pretty hilarious.

Joel told us that in school they had talked about being a kid of a King (they were learning about Solomon as an earthly king, but then moved the discussion to our heavenly King).  His teacher had told them they should wear the crown to the table that said Kid of a King to teach their family about what they had been learning.  Well, he was going to one better; he wore the robe and gave us an in depth lecture on Solomon and who we are as children of God.  *Smile*

Then the next week, I came home from work only to find Joel dressed up as a bear.  He had made the whole costume himself, with a little help with the taped on socks by Kezia.  I asked him where he got such an idea and he said that as he was drawing a mask he thought it would be such a shame not to have the whole costume.

And then just this previous week he was telling me about how a kid in his class hardly ever has enough at lunch. Joel said often he gives this little boy some of his fruit or cookies or something.  Joel went on to say that he thinks the family is a bit poor because, "I'm sure they want to send more for lunch with their son but they just couldn't afford it". Without me even suggesting it, he told me the next time that boy needed something for lunch he'd give him at least part of his sandwich because that's the most important part.

This kid shows me something in his every day living.  Go big or don't do it at all.  Go with all your heart.  Be sold out to what you are passionate about.

Thank you Joel for that reminder.

My Job

I like to say that I have a full time job at home and then I get to have a part time job outside of the home.  And the best part?  I love them both!

I admit, it's a bit of a juggle.  I'm always having to be efficient, hence the lack of blogging lately.  I have lunches to prepare, then supper to put in the crockpot, games of Sequence to play with a lil' 4 year old, diapers to change, a diaper bag to pack, marking to do, planning to do, emails to respond to.  Lots to do, but it's worth it.

I almost forgot how much I love teaching.  I love the challenge and this year is no exception.  I'm teaching two subjects that aren't my major or even my minor.  I've taught Math for my entire teaching career, but Social Studies is a new one. What I've heard from students and teachers alike is the 8th grade Social Studies is the most fun.  And I think everyone is right.  How can you go wrong with China?  And then Rome and Greece, Ghana and then Mayan Civilizations?  I can't even tell you how excited I am about doing Percentage in Math and those Linear Equations are coming up.  The icing on the cake would be Polynomials, oh how I love those!

The little girls are loving (and sleeping!) at the babysitters in the afternoons.  Joel and Kezia are a huge help around the home after school.  I think our family is getting into good rhythm, a normalcy instead of floating and wondering about what the next week will hold.

It's just such a blessing to be able to have this.  Working in a position that is fulfilling, having a wonderful role in the home that is life giving, people to take care of your children....Who would have thought 6 months ago that we'd be here right now?  God is a creatively great one, isn't He?

A Visitor

We had a lovely friend from Bolivia come and visit before Christmas.  Rosmery is here doing presentations for the daycare where she works and serves.  It was so good to see her.  I almost wanted to jump into her suitcase so I could travel back with her.  But how silly, because she'd have to have room for all 6 of us!

We went out with her and Elma, another former MCC worker in Bolivia for Dim Sum.  I tell you, it was pretty cool introducing this amazing food to 2 good friends.  I love how the course of our lives takes us to places where we get to grow friendships with some of the neatest people.  Thank you God.

Christmas Thoughts

This year was the first Christmas that we've spent with family in 5 years.  Joel is the only one of the kids who remembers having this kind of holiday with the cousins or the grandmas and grandpas.

And it was Elena's first Christmas ever.  Pretty special.

I admit, it was daunting thinking of all the hustle and bustle of the North American run-away-consumerism holiday.  Having Christmas in the cold and dark instead of the humid and the heat, or at least the fog was something to get used to too.

But it was a good Christmas.  We spent a lot of time with our family and a few things that the kids said were, "Wow!  I didn't know that our family was so much fun" and "This is just lovely, oh so lovely" and "Grandma is probably the best cook in the entire universe".  It warmed my heart to see our kids participating in family traditions and truly understanding the meaning of Christmas.

A few times however, my heart ached a bit, remembering last Christmas and where we were at.  I remember so clearly that I was feeling huge and hot and sweaty and tired.  I remember being excited about the prospect of having a real Bolivian Christmas dinner with our friends and being utterly moved by the emotion of welcoming Jesus' birth by tears and hugs and kisses and of course metric tonnes of fire crackers at the stroke of midnight.

Our Christmas here was with family, last year it was with dear friends
This year we ate turkey, last year we ate pork and chicken and beef
This year at the stroke of midnight all was quiet....
This year we bundled up, all 6 of us, last year we sweated, just the 5 of us

Both holidays have significant meaning for us.  Even though they have been so different, we count ourselves rich to be able to have those experiences.  And more than the presents (which by the way were appreciated!) we had another opportunity to make memories.