Coming Home

Our internet is being unbearably slow tonight, so I'm just posting this as is without trying to do anything creative with the picture placement.  :o)

With much excitement, we left Maseru Sunday and treked up the mountains to our new home in Mokhotlong.  The journey from the city to here is getting shorter each time we make it as we learn the path well; but despite our cuts on stretching breaks and picnic lunches, it still takes a full six hours to get here.  

Leaving Maseru

Along the way, we were stopped occasionally by herds of cattle or sheep crossing the road in front of us.  Lining the roads are Basotho walking about the town and country.  Sometimes we see people out in the middle of no where and wonder where on earth they are headed.  It is typically between two larger towns but the distance is so great, neither of us can imagine walking that whole way.  Because we were traveling on a Sunday this time, we didn't see many cars or taxis, and after the last large town about three hours from here, we saw almost no vehicles until we arrived in Mokhotlong.  We do notice, however, how thin and fit the majority of the people appear here.  It makes sense, though, because they walk just about everywhere they need to go.

We stopped in Butha-buthe (pronounced Bootah - Bootay) for lunch.  It still surprises me to see a KFC sign in the middle of this country.  It is the only one between here and Maseru, though, and just about the only fast-food restaurant along the way.  Since sandwiches were on the menu for our arrival on Sunday evening, we decided against a standard road trip packed lunch.  We ate as we climbed the steep Moteng pass and stopped at the top to change two diapers.  There, we encountered a very friendly shepherd who wanted some cash.  We aren't in the business of handing out cash, but we did give him the rest of Kyle's chicken pops and fries from KFC, which he gladly accepted.  The guys chatted as I made Rocky a port-a-potty.  There are positively no rest areas or public bathrooms between Maseru and here.  Even the KFC is bathroom-free.  So, we carry a small child's potty in the car for those occasions.  I just can't bring myself to squat on the side of the road (no trees, remember?) like the other woman here and well, I can't do my business off the side of the mountain as we see occurring all to often with the men.  Rocky is great for a lot of things, including bathroom - or lack there of - breaks.

The views up here are unlike any other I've ever seen.  The mountains are all so beautiful, and I still find it interesting how few trees there are.  We are just coming out of winter, so there weren't many flowers blooming, but the mountain shadows are still enough to keep my attention.

We arrived in Mokhotlong in the late afternoon and were greeted by our neighbors, who are also the family we're renting from.  As we drove up to our new home, I could barely believe we were finally here, finally home.

Inside photos to follow.... 

~Abby

30 Months

This afternoon Kyle and I spent a couple hours playing outside together in the spring sunshine.  My very sweet and very active little guy usually takes an afternoon nap during those warm sunny hours but today we opted to skip it.  He has been on a too late schedule - too late waking up, too late napping, too late going to bed - so I decided we needed to forgo nap time today and make it an early bedtime.  My sweetie girl was fast asleep, however, and Jonathan needed to do some studying for his classes.  So, Kyle and I headed out doors to spend some time one on one.  

Watch out, Mom, here I come!

Our friends have a trampoline and he and I had a good ol' time playing on it.  He enjoys jumping and he also discovered that he could roll from the edge inwards towards where I was laying and knock right into me.  To a goofy two and a half year old, that is a very entertaining game.  

I tried to grab him to take a photo but he was determined to get away.....

So, I tackled him instead.

Then he agreed to calm down long enough to document our crazy hair!

Mine turned out a little crazier than his.

Pause jumping for a quick trip down the slide.

Ok, back to being goofy with Mom.

Yes, two and a half.  My big boy turned two and a half on my birthday, September 2nd.  I can hardly believe what a big boy he is.  He is no longer a baby, not a bit.  He still likes to snuggle, sometimes, and he isn't potty trained, but he's all boy....Big, strong, handsome boy.  The potty training thing is a real sore spot, since we haven't had the opportunity to even begin that sequence yet.  And the next couple of months aren't looking very good either with all the traveling we have to do, but I'm going to give it my best shot as soon as I have a good full week and a washing machine plugged in.  But I digress....

Kyle's vocabulary is really unbelievable and Jonathan and I are always asking each other, "did you teach him that?"  One of my favorite words he says is, "danerwous".  Knives, moving cars, razor blades, dogs eating their food, stove tops, curling irons, and gas heaters are all danerwous.  His pronunciation isn't probably the best but his ability to compile sentences and express concepts is great.  Currently he is in this phase of breaking up his sentences word by word.  It is exhausting to listen to at times and honestly, I'm ready for this phase to pass.  "Don't. Step. On. Ellee. Make. Her. Cry. Hurt. Her. So. Bad. Go. Around. Be. Good. Brother."  "My. Friends. Go. Bye. Bye. Come. Back. Soon. Move. To. New. House. Be. Lots. Fun. How 'bout that?"  And so his incessant chattering goes.  He loves to end sentences with "how bout that?"   I bet it's so that everything warrants a response.  Sneaky little booger.  He is also stuck on ending each sentence with a really loud and high pitched draw.... like, "Mommy, are you in therrreeeeeee?"  "Mommy, are you going potttyyyyyyy?" Yes, sweetie, announce it to the entire world why don't you?

He is so sweet with Ellee, although he tests his limits occasionally.  I think in his heart, he is truly tender towards her.  It's us he has an issue with sometimes and wants to see how we will react.  Earlier he asked me, "Mommy, we don't put Ellee in the traassshh?"  Um, no, we do not.  The poor girl has already been knocked a number of times, some on purpose and some by accident, but I guess she might as well get used to it now.  Of course, if we know Kyle purposely did anything to hurt her, he gets reprimanded.  However, he can just be very clutzy.  He does show a lot of love towards her.  Last night I had her sitting in her Bumbo seat looking out at the yard and I saw as he ran by her, he stopped to kiss her head before he continued running.  The other day I was inside but the window was open and I heard him saying to Ellee who was also sitting outside, "I wuv you so much, Ellee."  

Jonathan has been diligent in teaching Kyle a few Bible verses and I really feel like we've only scratched the surface of what his little brain can retain.  He knows Genesis 1:1, Matthew 7:12, Ephesians 6:1, Philippians 2:4, Proverbs 18:4 and a couple are slightly paraphrased because Jonathan has simplified them for him.  Kyle loves to read his Bible story at night and to pray about everything he can think of.  "Thank you my food, my family, my cars, my good day, my sister.  Thank you no crying, no screaming, happy heart.  Thank you my friends house let me play outside have lots fun."  It is precious to listen to his little heart and hear how he is processing this crazy life.

Don't get me wrong, we have our share of rough days together.  He is trying so hard to assert himself and find his boundaries and there are days where I'd like to give up on him completely and stick him somewhere he can't get out.  He is stubborn, so very stubborn just like his mother.

Sometimes it boggles my mind that we live on the opposite side of the world now.  Most of the time, I just go through the day and do the things I would do whether I'm here or there - dishes, diapers, dishes, diapers, cooking, diapers, cleaning, etc.  But sometimes I ponder how far away we are and why it is that we came.  And sometimes it feels very, very lonely.  Days like today, however, are such sweet treasures.  I am able to enjoy my big boy (and my baby girl), laugh, play and for a bit, quit worrying about all the other things going on in our life.  I am so very thankful for the two living, breathing, needy distractions I have which force me to think about someone besides myself.

Today I am thankful for my boy who has changed me and stretched me and challenged me so much in these two and a half years.  I love his smile and big blue eyes, his thick hair, and his dirty boy hands I try constantly to keep clean.  I love his sweet voice and his usually agreeable spirit.  I love being his mom.

~Abby

Familyfriends

Taken the weekend before we left America.  Hannah and I were both about 17 weeks pregnant.

My big brother, how I love and miss him!!

Familyfriends are people who are your family but who are also your friends.  It's been eight months since I last hugged these two.  It feels like forever.  I so miss the sweet friendship we shared for the years we were close by each other.  It started before we left for Mexico, the first time Brad brought Hannah out to lunch with our family after church one Sunday.  After that, the four of us clicked.  Sometimes I still look at photos of them and can't believe they are really married but I'm so glad they are.  Do you know what it is like to have familyfriends?

When we were kids, I remember my brother getting so excited about going to Six Flags as a family.  So much so, actually, that he'd make himself sick with excitement.  (He's not going to be happy about me announcing that to the world.)  That's just about how he was the day Hannah was flying into Mexico to join us for a month in May of 2010.  He was giddy!  And so was I because I knew a proposal was coming soon thereafter.

Us at our favorite place to eat in Cancun, California Pizza Kitchen.... How 'bout some caramel pecan cheesecake, Hannah??

....And the other side of the table.

We had her completely fooled and she was shocked when he popped the question.  A year later, they were married and the rest is history.  But for the sake of memories, I'm recounting history to illustrate how much I miss them.  After they married, they moved to Charleston which was a lovely weekend destination for us.  We'd pack up every couple of months and go hang out with them for the weekend in their cute little studio apartment.  Our lazy weekends consisted of fake poker, basketball, sweets, beach, food, sleep, sweets, shopping and did I mention food?  It was heaven.

At our favorite place to eat in Charleston, Kickin' Chicken, with our other brother, Eric. ;)

And cheesecake to go!

We like cheesecake.

Lazy weekend snuggles 

Kyle's first dip in the ocean

Then they moved to Columbia and were even closer.  We went up there even more regularly to hang out, especially when Jono needed to use the library at CIU for his seminary papers.  Often times my other brother, Ryan, would join us, also.  Hannah always greeted us with something wonderful for dinner.  Then we'd go to Nestle Tollhouse every time we were together to demolish giant cookies with loads of icing between them.  Makes me want some right now.  I'll have to make some... soon.  We always had a big breakfast on Saturday morning before hitting the pool or mall or just sitting around in the living room.

The last time we went to visit, I was still so sick with Ellee.  I called my brother and told him I hoped he'd clean the toilets and he said he already had just for me.  Jonathan had to spend a whole day at the library and we hung out at their apartment.  We did venture out for lunch at our favorite, Jimmy Johns, but I only made it through about a fourth of my sub. It was so very bittersweet knowing it would be ages before we'd be able to hang out like that again.  Hannah and I laid on the couch, both pregnant with itty bitty bellies, talking about babies and life.  

Kyle preferred ice cream to cookies but he just didn't know any better at the time.  We'll teach him.

Cookies and coffee

It's memories like the sweet ones I have of spending time with our familyfriends that make it easier to be so far away.  But what wouldn't I give to be with them this weekend, trying to beat the ever lucky Hannah in poker or devouring a giant Double Trouble cookie after a delightful supper?  Or sitting with my feet in my brother's lap as he rubbed them on and off as his focus alternated from rubbing to football back to rubbing?  It is so hard sometimes to be on the other side of the world.

Now we both have new babies and can't wait for them to meet!  Since we are planning to go back to the US for missions conferences next spring, we are looking forward to crashing their new town home with our now family of four for old times sake.  You can bet we'll eat cookies and try to steal each others poker chips and visit long into the night after the cousins have gone to bed.  

I love you both so much and can't wait to squeeze your necks again!

~Abby

Wishy Wishy Washer Woman

When Jonathan and I first were married and lived in Illinois for 6 months before moving to Mexico, I went to the laundry mat every Thursday to do our wash.  It cost about $10 maybe $12 a week to wash and dry our normal three loads.  We used our change tips from Cracker Barrel so it never really affected the budget as we never counted our change tips.  I didn't thoroughly enjoy hauling all our laundry from the apartment into our car, driving down a few streets, hauling it all into the building and sitting there awaiting the bell signal telling me I could go back home.  But with coffee brewed and a plethora of magazines, I made the best of it.... often chatting on the phone to my mom or best friend.  

Upon moving to Mexico, we were delightful to find that there was a washer and dryer on the same floor as the small apartment we were renting.  It meant braving the wind and sometimes rain to go change around our clothes, but it beat hauling to the laundry mat for sure.  I did laundry every Friday.

Then, when we moved to SC, a thoughtful friend offered us a washer and dryer for free about a month after we moved into our apartment.  I thought I was in heaven.  A real, working set of laundry appliances there in my own home.... I couldn't believe it.  And I appreciateded them because I had spent two years doing without.  I was sad to say goodbye, but thankful we could pass them along to my brother and SIL when we left.  

We got to Kenya in January and quickly learned that laundry at Africa Based Orientation was either done by my hands or someone else's.  After getting gyped by the laundry lady everyone else was using (I hate getting gyped),  we decided to do it on our own.  Having never washed more than a barely soiled shirt by hand before, I sat observing how the Kenyan students washed their laundry before we dug into our own filthy, dusty clothes.  It was then that I got my first hand-washing blisters.  We did hand wash through our home stay and in the village we stayed in for three weeks after that. 

Then we moved here where I've had a lady doing our laundry for the past few months.  However, knowing how much work it is, I deliberately tried to keep as much out of the weekly wash as I could.  I'd be willing to bet there are items of clothing I've been wearing since we got here which have yet to be washed.  If it didn't stink, have spaghetti sauce on it, or look like it'd been dragged through the sand box, it went back in the closet.  Well, our working relationship didn't go so well (for some reason unbeknownst to me) and the washing lady quit a couple weeks ago.  So, I was left to do it myself.  I am more convinced than ever that I don't know how the local people here do it.  A washing machine here in the capital is no unusual thing, but up in the mountains, and certainly in the villages, all the laundry is done by hand.  I can't fathom it, really.  My fingers and wrists hurt just doing the little bit I've been doing to keep up over these past few weeks.

I started using cloth diapers two months ago knowing I'd be left to wash them by hand.  I certainly wasn't going to add them to the laundry lady's load.  So, I (along with my mom and sis while they were here) have been washing, wringing, rinsing, wringing, wringing, wringing diapers for the past two months.  I knew going into it I'd be doing it and it wasn't so bad, really.  I had my normal routine every night.  Regardless, I was desperate for a washing machine.

When a local friend announced she was moving I asked her if she still had her washing machine for sale.  She did and I immediately told her I wanted it!  It has been sitting in our downstairs for a while now, because there wasn't any easy place to hook it up in the apartment we're living in currently.  But, after a little detective work, we found a reasonably simple solution.  A failed call to a plumber who tried to charge us out the nose set us back a week or so.  Eventually, however, we got in touch with another local missionary who knows all about plumbing.  He and Jonathan have spent the past few days working it out and buying the necessary hardware.  They installed most of it Sunday and Jonathan finished it up Monday after retrieving a couple more parts from the builder's store.  

I am thrilled.  I'm totally stoked!  I feel like no one loves their washing machine as much as I love mine.... although it's probably not true.  The fact that it takes up a large space in the kitchen doesn't bother me a bit.  I'm just entertained sitting there watching it swish and swirl my clothes to cleanliness!  I'm about to go put some extra pre-paid water on the meter and wash everything in the house!

This is the African me.  Can't believe I'm putting this photo into cyberspace.

Now I'm left to wash in the bathtub what the bathtub was purposed for in the first place.

~Abby

2 Months of Baby Love

Sugar lips

Two month birthday

Is that a wink?

Sweetie girl was two months old yesterday; where did time go?  She is just as squeaky and snuggly as she was the day she was born.  I am so utterly and completely in love.

First Sunday at Church... She slept the whole way through shhh don't tell.

She weighed 9 pounds a month ago. How's that for updated information? I haven't taken her to a Dr as of yet.  We only know she was 9 lbs because she graced the ER with her presence as soon as Lollee arrived in South Africa.  She had cried and screamed all day and we decided while around decent healthcare we ought to get her checked out.  Ever since her umbilical cord fell off when she was less than 2 days old, her belly button hadn't looked right.  The day she spent wailing we noticed it was looking even worse.  Infection is sort of a nightmare for a mom so we headed back up to the hospital where she was born.  Anyways, turns out she has an umbilical hernia and we hope it will resolve itself before she's three so she doesn't require surgery.  I don't know if it has anything to do with her cord coming off so early - doubt  it.  Either way, the Dr said it shouldn't be causing her any pain and it didn't really seem to be as she wasn't any worse off when we messed with it.  Apparently she just had a terrible belly ache.  But. at least we know and were able to see what she weighed. :)

Afternoon snuggles watch Green Gables with Lollee and Lacy

Her rolls seem to multiply daily and I love it.  Kyle wasn't this round at this age so I find myself just squeezing her thighs to smile at how squishy she is.  She has the softest head of hair and so far is hasn't come out.  Here's to hoping it won't.  It is getting thicker and I even managed to get a bonified bow in it.  I love dressing her up and wish I could find more bows out here but alas I'll have to keep looking.  I have put away almost all of her newborn clothes and we're moving into 0-3 months.  She's rocking cloth diapers which make her bum ginormous so the poofier the pants, the better.

Boots to match Mama

She still eats all the time but we're down to one feeding in the night.  Usually she wakes up at between 2-3 to eat and then sleeps again until 6 and again until 7 or 730.  It is nice to have the feeding equipment attached because it means I only have to brave the cold house for a bathroom run before returning to the still warm bed.  I'm downing a minimum of 1.5 liters of water a day and Ellee is not going hungry.  By the time the sun comes up she's really feisty and so ready to prop up and watch the world.  So, I set her head on my shoulder and sometimes keep dozing until Big Brother waltzes in the room.  She is still sleeping with me and I don't mind it too much.  My shoulders sort of ache from how I have to position myself but oh well.  I sleep well knowing she is warm.  She does grunt an awful lot but I think I've gotten so used to it I don't notice it anymore.  Plus by that time I'm so tired I could almost fall asleep standing up.

Saying bye to Lollee and Lacy at the airport

Smiles and coos are increasing more and more and we have a blast interacting with her.  I love hearing her little gurgly voice.  Jonathan and I have decided that if she ends up chattering as much as Big Brother does, neither he nor I will never get a word in again.  Kyle insists on holding her often and smothers her head with kisses.  She tolerates that for a bit before voicing her disapproval of her hair being smeared with sticky boy face.  Such a girl.

Morning cuddles with Big Brother

I cherish her like the treasure she is.  Happy two months my sweetie girl.  You are a delight!

~Abby