While I was gone

Mom took some pictures while I was gone. Ben has really taken an interest in cooking. Not quite sure what recipe he found in the footbook but I am sure it is yummy! I missed my guys and my mom while I was in Kenya. Mom left last night so I am on my own at home now. Allen has made it very clear that he is only a phone call away if we need him. So far so good...

Trip to Kenya

I left wednesday morning and flew to Kenya for my friend Joanne's wedding. Joanne, Tyler and I graduated from high school together in 1998 from Rosslyn in Kenya. 11 years later Joanne and Tyler were both working in Kenya and the rest is history! I am so excited for both of them and it is so neat to see the Fathers hand in their lives! Mom and Allen took care of Ben and Nate while I was gone. They did great and it was fun to have a little time away but I was really ready to get home to my little guys!

Allen dropped me off at the airport

The bride and groom! Tyler and Joanne

The Bridesmaids

Enjoying a fanta and samosa! Yummy food from my childhood.

Bridal shower

Our classmate, Sarah K.

Getting pampered!

What bride doesn't need a Tiara?!

Pushing Present

I am getting the best pushing present EVER!! Can you get a pushing present if you never pushed? What do you call it when you have a c-section? Anyways, tomorrow I leave for four days to go to Kenya for Joanne and Tyler's wedding! I really can't believe that I am going. The freezer is full of milk for Nate. He has been getting a bottle everyday to prepare him for this. He has done great with a bottle and I am praying that he continues to do great this week and weekend! I haven't been to Kenya in 6 years and can't wait to be back there for a couple of days. I know it is going to be a whirlwind but I feel so priveleged to get to be at the wedding and celebrate with my sweet friend!! I will take lots of pics and post as soon as I can. I am sure that mom and Allen will have stories to tell once I get back.

Out for a walk

 

 

 

Some days you just have to get out of the house with a toddler. So, yesterday we went for a walk. Ben loves going for walks and Nate pretty much sleeps through it.

Escaping to the AC

 

 

 

 

The last couple of days it has gotten hot here. You would think living in a desert it would be hot all the time but it really is nice most of the time. However, the last couple of days our house has stayed in the 80s throughout the day and night! Right now it is 86 degrees outside and inside and I am typing this at 9:30 at night. So today we decided to go to the mall to let Ben play at a little toddler play area and enjoy the AC for awhile. Ben had a great time and especially loved the cars.

Friday Lunch

 

 

 

 

We had a great Friday today, which is like Sunday. Mom watched the boys and Allen and I went to our house fellowship. Then we came home and all went out to lunch at one of our favorite restuarants here. They serve yummy breakfast food all day long including pork products! Then we came home and the boys and I took a nap. My kind of Friday!

2 Weeks Old!

 

 

 

 

Nate is two weeks old this week! I can't believe it. The time is flying and we are having a great time as a family. Here are some random pictures from the last two weeks. Nate is doing great. We had his two week check up and he has regained and surpassed his birth weight. He now weighs 4.1 kgs (a little over 9 lbs) and is 21 inches long. Nate is a super easy mellow baby. Part of me thinks every night when I go to bed that I might wake up with a different child! He eats and goes right back to sleep at night. Such a blessing!

Ben is loving on Nate which is good most of the time. However, he definitely has no concept of personal space and can really get in Nate's face! He is calling Nate "Baba" and loves to go see him in his crib. Or when Nate cries he will go look for "baba" to see what the problem is.

Nate had his first bottle yesterday. I am going to Kenya in two weeks for my best friends wedding. So, I have been pumping like a mad woman to leave enough milk for Nate. My mom and Allen are great! They are going to stay here with two little ones and let me go by myself to the wedding!! He did great with the bottle yesterday. YEAH! We also went to the embassy yesterday so he will have a passport in two weeks!!

Last night Allen and I went out on a date and saw Robin Hood. My mom is such a brave woman keeping a newborn and a 15 month old! The movie was really fun however all of our movies here are edited to a PG rating. I am sure being back in the states and seeing unedited movies will be different!

Fourth of July

 

 

We had a great Fourth of July! We went over to some friends home and grilled out. I forgot to take pictures. Here are pictures of ShoSho and Ben making star cookies for us to take to the party! He is having so much fun with his ShoSho.

Thanks Kings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angela, John and James left a month or so ago and left us with this great baby pool. This past friday, the Akins joined us and we let the boys play in the pool. Some other friends were in town and so they joined us as well. So, all together 5 little ones got to enjoy the pool. Plus, we adults got to enjoy sitting around in the sun talking and hearing our little ones laugh and play. Ben just sits there most of the time watching the older kids.

Nate's first trip to the park

 

 

 

 

We went to the park this past week. Ben loves to play at the park and Nate needed a little sun.