Emma Update

Emma is babbling away in her own language all the time. The other day at two in the morning when she lay between my Mother and I while we hoped she would go back to sleep her words were: "Lordy, lordy, Lordy." In her carseat she cries repeatedly; "Ehhhhhhhhhh" and when she sees the cat she says perfectly; "Ittickya At" Which we translate for her into kitty cat. She will sit on your lap and have long conversations where only she understands the story and she loves to sing along with "how much is that doggy" and "jingle bells".

She also stands on her own a fair amount, and of course cruises around holding onto furniture. Walking is not far away and she gets quite a thrill from holding your fingers and walking, especially if you are chasing the ittickya at.

Ugh!

My Mom's cat was playing with this behind the curtains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolopendra_gigantea

I went into a Mothering frenzy and beat it to death with my flip flop, much to the cat's dismay. (It was a good toy) Then I looked it up online and it turns out that I could have preserved it and sold it on ebay for 18 pounds! Then I read further and it turns out that the thing hunts and eats birds! Now I stalk around with my flip flop close at hand all the time. *shudder* We didn't have bird eating centipedes in C'ville!

Home again, home again, jiggedy jig

Well my radio silence this time has not been due to Mpala's terrible internet, or Emma's neediness but rather a much happier event. My Mom and I have been plotting and pulled off, a surprise visit to Namibia. My sisters had no idea I was coming until I walked up and said hi.

It is so wonderful to be home, although the first thing that happened was that I was sick enough to be hospitalized. Thankfully only for an afternoon but it was trial by fire for one sis and my Mom as they had to take care of Emma who was most displeased with no Momom. I was just grateful that it happened here and not at Mpala where I would have been an hour from the nearest doctor, let alone nurse and IV drip!

I have been getting Emma (and myself) back into a routine and just relaxing with my family which has been a kind of heaven. Nothing beats your mother's cooking does it? Strawberry pudding, pineapple pie and veggie lasagne... mmm. I haven't even thought about Spiro in a whole week!

Oh the torture!

We were home at Mpala for just 3 nights and we were determined to see Ellies. Each whisper, crunch and harrumph outside had us scanning the trees with our torches but to no avail. Naturally, we were told on the morning we were leaving that they had come through late in the night. So do we stay up late in hope? Or just presume that as we are there for a year eventually we will see them so regularly that we will be bored, as promised before we moved here?

Touche, my Dear.

It's 5am and not yet light. Spiro positions himself on the tin roof above the bedroom and scratches the back of his ear with his foot. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. Emma stirs but goes back to sleep. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. I get up, fetch the hard juggle balls and throw them at the ceiling. Spiro goes silent and waits. I get back under the mozzie net and snuggle down. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap. Emma rolls over and says; "let's play!" Spiro 2 - 1 Tasha. Nuts!

a week in Nbo

In Nairobi one can do many things, one can risk one's life and limb daily on the insane roads, one can go to the movies, one can wheel and deal at the market or one can touch a giraffe's tongue.

We have done all of these this past week. The best strategy with being on the roads seems to be to grip some part of the car and shut your eyes tightly. This applies to the driver as well. Mutatus, people, bicycles, heavily laden and leaning to one side trucks all act as though they are the only vehicle on the road. The result is a calamitous mess. Bush gardens move aside... for bowel loosening, adrenal gland stimlating excitement, visit Nairobi.

Last week Keir bravely babysat and D and I went to the movies. So exciting for me! I got to sit in the front seat of the car! I haven't done that in months! Then the A-team was excellent! A fabulous shoot-em-up movie. When I got home Keir was at the door with Emma to greet me. She yelled in excitement and literally leapt out of his arms. Poor Daddy. Maybe I am a little more fun than I thought?

On Sunday we went to the market to buy a few gifts. The British side of me really struggled with the pulling, chatting, and pushiness that went into the sales. Each person on the market has the same goods to offer so it comes down to who can make you pay attention and stay at their stall. I am so used to quiet and impersonal shopping of the USA that it was too hard to make a decision and I ended up only buying one scarf, and that cos D was buying some!

Emma update

3 of the 6 teeth have broken through so we are halfway there! Her favourite toys are things that are not toys but are sharp and metal, like keys.

Emma's fun the past two weeks has been figuring out how to hold more than one thing in one hand. Once she got it right she was all about it and quickly worked on getting larger things in one hand.

She has also started saying Ugh! and sometimes throws her hands up over her head and says it. Maybe in imitation of our disgust over the stinkbug eating. She has also added other ggggh sounds to her vocubulary, so that she sounds permanently grossed out by something.

She has really got the hang of the high five and I am now teaching her to wave hello and goodbye. She had hello this morning but just can't figure out goodbye, she is usually too distraught that whoever is leaving.