Introducing Harper Mae

I don't know how many of you have ever been pregnant, but if you have, you probably understand why I didn't feel much like blogging recently, being every day more and more past my due date and also in the land of million degree weather here in Dar Es Salaam.  We came here ten days before my due date in order to see the doctor here, make sure everything was in line with the hospital, get somewhat settled into the house we've rented while we're here, and just to be around decent medical facilities in case the baby should come early ( Though I never for a second expected her to come early, as Baylor was two weeks late).  Our doctor here is Dutch and we like her a good deal.  Upon our ultrasound at 39 weeks, we were told that the amniotic fluid was low and there was a good chance we'd need to induce, but that we would at least wait a week and see if there was any change.  The next week (on my due date), we saw that Harper was still growing a little and seemed in no hurry to come out, despite the lack of liquid around her.  Because she was still growing some, we decided to let her bake in there a little longer and see if she came out on her own.  However, she did not, and by 41 weeks, she had stopped growing, so the doctor decided that an induction was indeed necessary.  Oh joy.

So, on Saturday, February 4th, Brett and I headed to the hospital to begin the fun that is birthing a child who doesn't seem to want to come out.  After five hours of labor on pitocin with no pain medication ( I can't say I recommend it), Harper Mae joined us in this world of ours weighing in at 6 lbs, 12 oz, at 20 1/2 inches long.  This whole labor and delivery experience was much better than it was with Baylor, for which we are quite thankful.

Harper and I are both still a little sleepy but are recovering just fine.  We are happy to have her join our family; even Baylor... I think.  Here are some pictures for you gaze at fondly.  

Two

About a month ago, Baylor turned two.  I completely sailed over this event in my blogging due to our busy-ness settling back into life and work here after furlough.  I promise we did celebrate though.  Our team came over for jello jigglers and Baylor got a new Elmo lunch box.  Fun times for all.  

Baylor has been such a blessing to our family.  She's smart, fun, and a little bit stubborn.  She loves to climb, swim, and twirl.  Her favorite color is yellow.  Her favorite foods are fruit.  She doesn't like to sleep or to be told what to do.  She likes pointing out every animal she sees as well as any mode of transportation, especially big trucks and tractors.  She's starting to be able to count and pick out letters and can speak using complete sentences more and more every day.  Her favorite word is "No." She is two, after all.  We love having her in our family and are excited to see her become a big sister, hopefully in just a few weeks.  

This is one of my favorite pictures of her, taken this past September in Duck, North Carolina, on vacation with my family.  My mom decided we needed Christmas early so she stuffed our stockings and Baylor got this great ladybug swimsuit, which you can see she is obviously very excited about.

Merry Christmas

Yesterday morning I was awakened at 6:30am by an ecstatic Baylor, who had run into our room yelling, "Mama! Mama!"  I opened my eyes to find her with two suckers in her hands and a kit kat in her mouth, squealing "Candy! Candy!"

Upon reaching the living room, I saw several presents unwrapped and Baylor's Uncle Brian's stocking completely ransacked.  I suppose that's what kids do.  So I took away her suckers (not without protest), rewrapped the presents, restuffed the stocking and Brett put everything out of reach.  A couple hours later we were joined by the rest of the household for breakfast and fun presents time.

I hope you had a holly jolly Christmas.  

We're Back

We've actually been back in Tanzania for a full month now, but I decided to continue blogging for a while about our furlough since I did such a bad job of updating while we were actually in the States.  The flights back to Geita weren't so bad. Baylor did well, though we were all exhausted by the time we got home.  And to be honest, we're still a little exhausted.  Baylor has had difficulty sleeping ever since we returned and only in the last few nights has she actually slept somewhat normally.  By normally, I mean she hasn't woken up screaming like she's being attacked by mutants multiple times a night often for hours.  She's not sleeping as late as she used to, but I think that might just be her getting older and not needing as much sleep.  I'm not a big fan of getting up before light.  Fortunately, Brett usually gets up in the early morning with her.

We've been super busy, trying to accomplish as much as we can in a short period of time, knowing we're leaving again in the middle of January for Dar to have Harper.  Our team currently has three apprentices working with us; a single guy and a married couple, all recently out of college, who are interested in learning about missions in Africa, helping our team, and perhaps moving somewhere on the continent to work in the future.  We've had the couple living with us and we've enjoyed them all immensely.  Four player games are so much more fun than two player games.

First Fall

When we first moved to Tanzania, we had originally planned on taking our first furlough after two years, which would have put us there last spring.  However, Brett and I both love the fall and it's something we miss while in Tanzania.  No leaves changing colors, no college football, no sitting in sweatshirts by a fire sipping cider (though as much as I love fall, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't trade my year-round 75-80 degree weather).  So we pushed our furlough back 5 or 6 months so that we could be home for all those things.  The leaves are my favorite thing.  We made Baylor play in the leaves for the first time.  I say made because she didn't seem too keen on the idea.  Once in, she had fun, but only for a few minutes.  I think the fact that it was 85 degrees that day in Alabama and she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt made it less fun and more itchy.  But we had a great time watching her (and throwing her in). 

The National Peanut Festival

Unless you know Brett or are from lower Alabama yourself, you are probably unaware that Dothan, Alabama is the "Peanut Capital of the World."  I myself question the veracity of this title, but I know there are a lot of peanuts around the area and that Dothanites are very proud of them.  In fact, every year they have a huge fair and parade to celebrate the beloved peanut.  

When we lived in the States we always made sure to make it to Dothan for the event.  It was always one of the highlights of Brett's year and I enjoyed it as well.  For the last few years in Tanzania, Brett has been saddened by his inability to attend, so we made sure that we were able on our furlough.  Baylor needed to experience the unceasing fun. So here is our family underneath a giant happy peanut. 

No fair would be complete without rides and Baylor had a blast.  Most of the time an adult was required to go with her but she got to drive these cars all by herself.  I know the picture's blurry, but she was so excited I wanted to put it in anyway.  

She was also able to ride the train, shouting "Choo! Choo!" the whole time.

Baylor loves animals and was able to feed and pet several goats, camels, sheep, and even a llama.  

After the petting zoo we braved the cold to watch the pig races.  Yes, they actually had pig races.  Sooey!  Fun times for all.

Baylor the Ladybug

I can't say Halloween has ever been my favorite holiday.  I never disliked it, but it just couldn't compare with Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My opinion might have been different as a candy-loving child.  But now that I have a child old enough to enjoy the holiday herself, I find that I like it more.  It's fun to get Baylor dressed up and get to see her so excited about going to all the houses.  

This first picture was in San Antonio at the Trunk or Treat at my aunt and uncle's church.  Baylor is with Batman, otherwise known as Gage, my cousin's son.  They had a lot of fun together.  

We were in Searcy, Arkansas for actual Halloween night and were able to trick or treat with my aunt and uncle there.  They have a great neighborhood for festivities and there were a ton of kids out.  Baylor would go up to the door, say "trick treat", "thank you", and then turn to me and say "more?"  She caught on quickly to the fact that she could only go to the houses with the front porch lights on and would immediately start running for the next one.

Notice the healthy crackers are off to the side by themselves.

I think another reason I liked Halloween so much this year was because it was a holiday I could actual celebrate the exact same way as when we lived in the States.  We try to replicate things as much as possible in Tanzania but somehow it's just not the same.  We enjoy them still, but not in the same way.  I'm glad we were able to be in America for at least one major holiday.