We're Baaaccckk!

After a year of silence and neglect, it's time to resume the blogging business. Grandparents want to see their grandchildren!(Pictures coming in next entry. I promise.)

All is well in Malawi. After seven tough months of transition to life here, we are finally feeling as though we have two feet on the ground. Our new home has been a haven for us. It is a two story town house in Lilongwe with steady electricity and water. (The power only went out twice very briefly today!)

Matthew enjoyed his first day of preschool. When I dropped him off, he proudly carried his backpack, sat down at the art table and started pasting. He never said good-bye despite my kisses and farewell waves. He was so engrossed in activity. They have pet donkeys, guinea fowl, rabbits, chickens, etc., which the kids feed daily. This is a highlight for him, not to mention the scooters he rides around on.

Aaron survived without his pal, Matthew, for the morning. He made bagels with mommy and Veria, our worker. He's talking more and more. The best way to describe him is fearless and innovative.

Both boys are so different. It's a joy to watch them grow. I'll try to share more frequently now that we're settled.

love,
Amanda

May Pictures

Keeping the mess contained!

This is my unhappy look.

I'm ready for school!

"Feed me . . "

The boys

Aaron waking Matthew

Watching the fountain at the mall

Blue tongue

Matthew waking Aaron

Thanks Grandma and Big Mommy for all our toys!

"How do I look?"

I'll Fix It!

Imagination is an incredible thing! I don't know of any other part of creation that has the amazing capacity to pretend. Matthew can go from being an airplane soaring through the sky one minute, and then a doctor applying band-aids the next. Tonight, Matthew's papa had a tummy-ache--so Matthew shouted "I'll fix it!" and ran to his side with his new tool kit. After pretending to drill his stomach, he covered him with his blankies and left him with this prognosis: "It'll feel better soon, Papa."

Matthew had his last day of Mother's day out (MDO) in May. When I told him that it was over for the year, he matter-of-factly shared that he wanted to go back to "school." I told him that I would be his teacher until he turned 4. The look on his face was priceless--it was a mixture of confusion and disappointment. "No. I like this school." Needless to say, Jon and I were thrilled that he had such a positive experience. His next school adventure will be in Malawi!

Aaron is cruising, crawling, making messes, eating cheerios, splashing water in the toilet bowl (which is not only hazardous, but gross), and imitating Matthew. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was a toddler! As we were reading nighttime stories the other day, I looked over to find Aaron flying a miniature plane above his head and making engine noises. Aaron had a ninth month appointment last week; he weighs 21 lbs and is over 28 inches.

We are grateful for healthy, lively children!

Pictures from April

Mommy and Aaron

Aaron loves Avocado. Still no teeth.

Do you think we need more "blankies?"

"Peek-a-boo!"

Matthew playing in a friend's bouncing house. What fun!

Matthew is imitating Aaron's newfound ability--crawling.

Our nickname for Aaron: "Blue-eyes."

Make Chocolate Cake . . .

Matthew is in the pre-reading stage: this is the period where a child pretends to read his or her favorite book, but cannot identify the words. Recently, Matthew has become fond of picking up papers or books and telling us what it says. Running his finger across the page he recites the contents, or at least what he thinks it should be. On one notable occasion he took a list from my hand and read: "Make chocolate cake. Then, go and eat it." Of course, we subsequently made chocolate zucchini cake for the family and ate it!

Now that Aaron has mastered crawling, he has taken on other challenging skills such as language acquisition. Why is it that my children's first intelligible sounds are "dada?" After all, I'm the one who is getting up throughout the night, changing diapers, and cleaning up after them. Despite this, "bah-bah-bah-dada" is music to our ears!