Scene: My husband and I are out with another couple. We are talking about our children (what else do parents do when they get together!)
Me: "Both my children have always been pretty calm."
Hubby: "Mine too! What a coincidence!"
We are all back in Dalian loving being at home.
As I type this, Dinbit is asleep at my feet.
Buchela is slumbering, leaning his head on my chest.
And I am listening to one of my all time favorite African songs with my husband.
The song takes us to different places.
Him to Tanzania and me to Ethiopia.
I present to you the stunning Brenda Fassie.
I especially love the part when she tries to get Mandela to dance with her.
I love her energy.
Once again, I feel the love from Addis Ababa.
My Mahiber friends envelope me in a circle of friendship that extends all the way to China.
At the dinner table:
Buchela: "Mama! Mama! Look, a tree!" he yells in his most excited, I just found out something new voice.
He is holding up a piece of broccoli.
Me: "Oh Buchi, that is bro..."
My voice trails off.
I study his face.
I change my mind about what to say.
As my pregnancy progressed, I decided I'd implement a don't offer, don't refuse breastfeeding policy at my house.
I wanted Buchela to take his time and wean himself when he was ready.
I crossed my fingers it would happen before our new little one arrived but I knew there were no guarantees.
Continue Reading "Transitions: Breastfeeding - Ending an Era"
The Buchela and I talk.
A lot.
Over his stuffed animals.
Imagine being invited to come and have coffee on a Saturday morning with a couple of friends.
Imagine you accept gleefully because, not only do you like the people who invited you, but you have also been cooped up in the house all week as a result of being hugely pregnant and on "light bed rest".
On Saturday morning you wake up in a crappy mood. You hadn't slept well and your back is hurting.
You think about canceling and staying at home for the morning. You had plans to go shopping in the afternoon and a birthday party in the evening. You think it is probably wise to pace your self.
Then you talk yourself into going because you know getting out will cheer you up.
Your husband offers to walk you over.
That was me Saturday.
My last pregnancy was straight forward, problem free, and by the book. Sure, I had normal aches and pains but I was able to work full time all the way to the end.
I was also living in Ethiopia where pregnant women are treated in a special way.
As I sit here typing, I am flooded with memories of kindness from colleagues, friends, family, and complete strangers.
When he is not with this play group, he is usually with the group below.
Some of his babies are not under this particular blanket when I took this picture but rest assured, all ten/eleven of them (I have lost track) are well taken care of at various point of the day by him.
Continue Reading "My Parenting Reflected at Buchela's Second Play Group"
Buchela had this tentative, "I just discovered something look" as he approached me.
I braced myself to find out what new toddler, undoubtedly naughty, trick he might have thought up.
SCENE: At 6:30 a.m. hubby is on the phone talking to his mom. Buchela and I are watching the BBC. All of a sudden I hear hubby exclaim to his mother in surprise "Really? Today is our anniversary?!"
Then he turns to me, smiles, and says "Happy anniversary Yemi."
I laugh.
Happy New Year everyone!
With the time switch and all, we completely forgot about the year change.
I didn't even notice until now that it is already January 1st here in China (if you are in the US you are 13-15 hours behind us and Ethiopia is 5 hours behind).
I moused over the time and date icon on my computer and got the surprise.
Last year we missed it too but in a different way.
It just didn't happen for us.
Our plane crossed the international date line before 12 o'clock on one side and were right into New Years day on the other.
No counting down or anything.
I guess welcoming the new year just doesn't apply to us anymore!
Ha.
Cheers to ALL of you out there.
Me: "Isn't he cute? I have never met a child like him. I think he is very smart. I think he is pretty special... I mean it."
Hubby: Yeah. He is very very special. But you know, every parent thinks their child is special. So, you know, we are no different.
Me: Yeah, but Buchela IS really special. I mean, for real! He is pretty amazing... objectively speaking.
