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.