18 July 2016

Iddy, yesterday you gave Andrew your Spiderman lego set. Today you gave Fauky some of you favorite DVDs (Thor, Spiderman, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America). You are so generous and thoughtful, kind and giving. At church you were asked to share a verse and you stood  up and spoke confidently. I was so proud. You were on the spot and you did well!

3 August

You are 14 today. Cody and Olivia were with us. We had French toast in the morning, then we went to the beach and walked out to the coral reef and saw lots of cool animals. We had pizza at Osteria for lunch, then you played some more at the beach and we came home and had burgers and Mac-and-cheese. Your dessert choice was blond brownies and vanilla ice-cream. This year you just wanted money so that's what you got. We all watched Jurassic Park together. You also got a yo-yo.

Here are some things you have told us about your life before you came to us:
-You used to scrape off the new layers from a termite mound and use it as modeling clay.
-Emily used to take you to a healer when you had measles and he would blow marijuana smoke in your face.
-You used to play bowling with old batteries and a rock.

We got you a yo-yo and later you said you are never too old for toys:). You also said if we had asked you what you wanted for your birthday 5 years ago your answer would have been very different.

5 September

You told us you used to watch Jean Claude van Dam when you were little. I got pulled over last week because our insurance sticker was expired. You really wanted to make sure I was okay before taking a tuk-tuk to school, and you gave me all your snack money.

13 November

You have been doing so well in school. Your teachers always talk about what a good boy you are. Your class likes to pick on your art teacher. One day, when they were being mean to her, you went and found her later and told her you were sorry they did those things to her. Another day you were throwing some of your food away after lunch and the cook got on to you for being wasteful because some people in this country are starving. Later you found him and apologized. You don't like it if I say anything negative about Kenya, and you don't like others to say bad things about America which happens a lot right now after Trump was elected. On November 21 you asked if you and I could spend some time together this week. Nothing could make me happier!

29 November

You told us you used to call drum sets a "band." You learned some hand/string tricks from mimimo like the hand trap, cup and saucer, crow's feet, and Jacob's ladder.

22 December

You told us that when you were little, you were walking barefoot, and you stepped on a cactus. You had to pull all the needles out yourself. You said it was very painful. Once you tried to cut a mango with your left hand, and the knife slipped and you cut your right hand. You just wanted to see if you could do it with your left. Once you got into a fight with a girl and she bit your top lip.

18 July 2016

Abby Jones, you try to sit in tiny little doll chairs or put on tiny doll shoes. You love to read books, especially, Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon. There is a book called Spot's Toys that you love. When you see a picture with a swing in it you try to grab the swing off the page and you say, "ah whing." There is another book you love with pictures of children on some of the pages. When we get to one of those pages you always say, "ceeuute!"

5 September

"Ah plane... a ride dose... ah pun!" (I want to ride in the airplane, it's fun.)
"Cayee me!" (carry me)
"ah b.o." (I want video)
"ah ba-pai" (I want I-pad)
"bye bye... ah waita" (bye-bye. See you later.)

30 September

"kwi-kum" (clean up)
"chwain paipa" (change diaper)
"kinky paipa" (stinky diaper)
"ka me!" (look at me)
"teeka" (stick)

19 September

You can say your own name now. You have gone pee-pee in the potty twice. You say, "cause, I big!"

9 November

You call RM "Kikal." You can jump with both feet in the air. You ask "why?" all the time. I think you asked "why" for the first time at 18 months or so.

21 November

"oba daiya" (over there)
"dwedwoom" (bedroom)
"wubba band" (eraser or rubber band or bandaid)
"nuda one" (another one)

6 December

You have been a DREAM to potty train. Mimimo was here for Thanksgiving and she said, "you have to put her in panties- she is ready!" You so were! You pee and poop in the potty like it's nothing! No incentives or bribing or coaxing, you just do it. I'm so proud of you. And you've been able to climb out of the bed by yourself for a while now. You and RM will play together in the morning before waking up me and Papa.

19 December

You are 2!!! You are sweet, spunky, friendly, cute, lovable, and very good with words. You love your big sister and big brother. You are doing a GREAT job using the potty. When I ask if you are done you say, "not yet!" You are obsessed with strawberry gum ("ba-berry"). You still love milk. You say, "Mom, come pway wegos wit me!" (come play legos with me). You love mama. You always step on my shoes when I am trying to put them on. You still take good naps and you sleep good at night. I love everything about you, especially your contagious laugh.

18 July 2016

Ruth Michael, you talk about putting "vehicles" (chemicals) in the pool. If you have diarrhea you call it "surgery."

23 August 2016- You turned 4. Donuts for breakfast at People's. We bought you a new dress which you picked out. Lunch at Driftwood. While you slept I made cake and icing. Papa made you noodles (what you asked for) and he made chicken alfredo sauce for the rest of us. Bob, Karin, Jako, and Maureece were here and you invited Philip, Mercy, and Sammy to share in the cake, which you helped decorate. They made the outside dining room beautiful with flowers and lanterns. Mercy put flowers in the shape of a heart on your bed. Mr. Gazi brought you a cake and a present. I explained to you how you needed to be sweet and thankful for everything and you tried so hard! You told me thank you for the beautiful cake and the special day. You ate too much sugar (coke and candy) and threw up in bed! The next day you had a cold... a little too much birthday, but it sure was fun!

5 September 2016- You love being 4. You pick out your own clothes and get yourself dressed. You help do the dishes after supper if Papa plays you your favorite song (now it is "Cheap Thrills." You want to watch AJ take a bath and then you take a shower because you are big. You are very good at the "memory" game.

24 February 2016

Iddy, you are a champ. Me and Papa have been doing missionary training and you have been hanging out with Mimi and Pop-pop and helping with the girls. And you have such a great attitude about it. I'm so proud of you!

2 June 2016- No one can say enough how sweet you are, least of all, me and Papa. You hug me and kiss me, you ask if you can help, you love on your sisters, and you are very sensitive to the feelings of those around you. You are also growing into a man, confident and independent. You speak up for yourself, you speak up in class. You're very good at fixing things and figuring things out. You want to be a good boy. I'm so proud of you and I love you more and more each day.

24 February 2016

AJ, when it's cold outside I say "brr" and you say "ba." I say "let's go" and you say "ke-ko." You love to do a head stand and look at me upside down through your legs.

8 March 2016- Everyone says you are so sweet. You love people. They say you are such a friendly baby. You still love to hold my finger and we walk together. You rub your ears when you are tired. You are very good at waving "bye-bye."

"did it go?" (Where did it go?)
"di-di" (Iddy)
"ta-tu" (thank you- Iddy taught you this one)

You put your finger to your mouth and say "sssssss" when I say "sh."

15 March 2016
"no" and you point to your nose
"da-du" (thank you)
"Papa"
"eee" (ear)
"ka" (car)
"ba" (ball)

You rub your ears when you are tired and you also put your hands together when you are tired.

4 April 2016- You love to eat off of everyone else's plate. You have to have something for each hand. When I sing "Roll the Gospel Chariot" you do your arms with me. You say "ah co" if you are cold and you cross your arms. Iddy says "hi" and you say "hi" and he says "how are you?" and you say "gah!"

2 June 2016- You are so fiery and feisty! I love you so. Even when I am mad at you you can always make me laugh with your cute face and wide range of expressions. Some of my favorite things you say:

"upth-th-th" (oops)
"chuma"
"mok(gutteral throat sound)" (milk)
"kukas" (Lucas)
"timmy" (Sammy)

24 February 2016

RM

"Knock, knock, knock
Who is it?
Grandmother pussy cat
What do you want?
A packet of milk
Where is the money
In my pocket
Can I have it?
Oh! I lost it!
You silly pussy cat, go away!
Meow"

"Johnny, Johnny
Yes, Papa?
Eating sugar?
No, Papa
Are you lying?
No, Papa
Open wide
Ha ha ha!"

8 March 2016- We told you you could have a "kiddy" cup of ice-cream at Chick-fil-a. You asked if it would have kitties on it.

2 June 2016- My sweet, sweet baby. You are growing up and learning to be a good big sister. You love your family and you love Iddy's friend, Mohamed. You love to ride your scooter and swim. You also love school. You are mostly obedient and sweet. You don't really like playing by yourself. You aren't super friendly to strangers. You love your toys, your clothes, and your family. You don't seem to want "more, more, more."

13 January 2016

Iddy, homeschooling- yikes!!! We are trying. You are such a good, sweet boy. Very good with your sisters. They ADORE you. You and I share a dislike of socializing with large groups of people. You are an AMAZING dancer and you love music like Papa. You are so sweet and kind to Mimimo and Bepops. You are so conscious of your sisters' well-being. After AJ was sick you advised me to buy new pacis, and you were concerned about the adult/child ratio at the childcare at Lifetime Fitness.

11 February- We are doing homeschool together and it is HARD, but there are some highlights. You did a Zumba class with me for P.E. and I loved having you with me. We share a love for dancing. You also love science. We made a balloon-propelled rocket car together. You did so well with that and you loved learning the physics behind it.