Advent!

Today is the first day of Advent and it is our first day to actively celebrate Christ's coming all month long, which will hopefully be the case.  I planned a reading, music/singing, and an activity for the next 28 days/4 weeks of Advent.  

Today's Advent happenings:

We read Genesis 3:1-15 about Adam and Eve's sin and our need for a Savior.  

Then we listened to Andrew Peterson's "Gather Round Ye Children Come" from his Behold the Lamb of God CD on YouTube, as well as a rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".  

I didn't plan any other activities since we are in the process of moving, so we will likely just listen to Josh Groban's Noel album while helping the movers and doing last minute packing.

Last day of waiting

Today was the last day until Daddy comes home, so we finished the pre-pack organizing, packed the first box, and played... a lot!

Arranging her own furniture

Jungling around...

Baby's first bubbles!

Making friends...

Flat worn out.

Homebodies

The past two days we were out a lot, and so today Emma and I stayed home, packed, organized, did language class, and played.  Here are some of our adventures:

A fully organized hall!

Fun times with toys!

A walk to the playground after language class with Mommy and Karen.

I think the swing reminded her of nap time! She got really drowsy. 

Today in photos n words

Emma slept 11 hours last night!!! Unbelievable!  After playing and having her ragi and bananas, she took a nearly four hour nap!  

During that time, I got to host a few gals for tea and conversation.

After that, our neighbors came to take us to the other side of town to visit a friend we have in common. We stayed probably longer than we should have, but it was a great time to lift up our sister.

Play day!

Today is the first of six days that Emma's daddy will be on business in Thailand.  We decided that called for creative play and a photo shoot since the first syllable from her lips this morning was Da... and that followed by a search of the premises. 

Daddy Skyped us just a few minutes ago, and we are both happy now, but we still miss him bunches!

Rise 'n' shine!

Baby-proofed water dispenser and storage closet with the luggage...

Fun antics...

After a long nap, we went to the playground and grassy spots... Note the signature blowing of fish-kisses!

Winter is here

You know you've lived close to the equator long enough when it gets to be 68F and you put socks on and a jacket, then put the baby to bed with a warm blanket over her to keep her warm in the morning chill... Yet we are still in summer clothes much of the rest of the time.

I thought people were crazy last year whenever they complained about the winter chill because it had finally gotten cool enough to accommodate my pregnant belly here. Now that we've been here a year and four months, the shift of temperatures really is noticeable. In May it was upwards of 120F and it has dropped nearly 60-degrees. 

It still feels nice to me, but I can see how it could be considered too cold by some who are more exposed to the elements here.

Fish kisses

Emma's nickname has been suckerfish for a long time, but only lately has she taken ownership of it. 

These are pix of Emma's new and improved way of blowing kisses... With the fish face!

 

Emma's favorite things (at 9 months old)

Media:

Baby Einstein Lullaby Video (we watch it on YouTube when tired at breakfast before morning nap)

The Praise Baby Collection "My Father's World" (an alternate breakfast pre-nap DVD)

Disney lullaby CD during bath time 

Random farm and jungle animal noises (from YouTube searches)

Books:

Dr. Seuss (Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, The Foot Book)

Guess How Much I Love You (but only if I help Emma to mimic the actions done by Little Nutbrown Hare)

Baby's First Book of 100 Words

All board books have been found to be equally tasty.

Food:

Oats

Naan morsels (flatbread finger food)

Brown rice with apricot purée

Oat, banana, and strawberry yoghurt purée 

Tea biscuit (teething biscuit)

Lentils purée 

Apple scraped from one half chunk all the way down to the peel

Peas purée 

Activities: 

Peek-a-boo (hide-n-peek style)

Hand-motion songs (If you're happy and you know it clap your hands; Aa chu-chu; Open and shut them; My God is so BIG)

Knock over the block stack

Going outside or on car rides (especially at night with city lights, cars, motorcycles to look at from the window)

Toys:

Pink snuggle bunny (to cuddle and gnaw its ear during naps)

Yellow flower teething rattle

Mommy's old baby rattle

...pretty much any kind of noisy rattle 

Clothes basket as a push toy... And its lid is also a favorite to pick up and try to carry while walking

Back to school...

I brought Emma to the university with me today. My buddies almost loved her to pieces! She freaked out when 13 girls were standing around us alternatively pinching her cheeks (some a little forcefully) and reaching to hold her. She stuck to Mommy like a little scab and wouldn't budge. The girls were quite happy to see her even though she was quite shy. The highlight of the evening was when one girl gave Emma a tea biscuit and she chomped happily on it. Emma in turn reached out and patted that girl's hand once. 

Favorite quote: (one student to another) "maybe it's because her parents are white that her skin is so white, do you think?"

Teefy grin

A few shots of the fabulous FIVE (teeth).

Moving: December 1st

We are very excited to have found the perfect home for us!  It is perfect for a few reasons:

1) Proximity.  It is in the heart of the city, but slightly off the thoroughfare.  The community majority is our target population.  Also, we have a very short distance to groceries, eateries, and other necessities.  

2) Access.  It is located on side road so it is quiet, but anyone we meet and invite over could easily find us.  We have a front room completely separate from the remainder of the house, so there is privacy while hospitality is happening.  I can step right outside, walk to the market and meet my community therein... No more stalking the one or two minority!

3) Creature comforts.  The building has only existed a matter of months, so everything is brand new.  The walls are all painted the color that I told Matt I would have painted walls if they needed painting.  We get to have a few things adapted to our taste (i.e., adding mosquito nets to a few more windows, etc).  The bathrooms already have western-style toilets.  There aren't balconies -- I don't like balconies because I don't feel they are safe for our jungle girl. 

We sent all our info in to the landlord, who incidentally got his masters degree at OU!  How crazy that he graduated from the same school as Matt's mom and sister!  

He certainly prepared the way ahead of us, yet again! :)

Training trainers

This evening I got to visit one of my husband's trainings during their final session. The group wanted to meet Emma and to have us stay for dinner after the training. 

"You wouldn't send a newborn baby home from the hospital alone would you? No! That would be crazy!"  This was a nice quote by one of our partners on the importance of not just abandoning those who make decisions to become followers.

These trainings are aimed at helping those who are already gathered in groups to grow by each one growing, sharing and gathering. 

Our aim is in 2 Tim. 2:2 "the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

These are four generations: 

1) ME

2) YOU

3) FAITHFUL MEN

4) OTHERS

In that verse, Paul is "me". He is passing what is in the Word to Timothy. He asks Timothy to then share what he has received with faithful men who Timothy knows will then be able to then share it with others. Taken into our context, that would mean the trainer passes it to one member who will share it with faithful people in their community that he or she knows will be able to pass it on to others. Thus, the trainees becomes trainers of trainees who will become trainers...etc. 

Another verse that shows this transmission is Matt. 28:18-20 "all authority has been given to Me in he@ven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disc!ples of all nations, b@ptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..." 

1) Je.sus

2) His disc!ples

3) the nations at that time

4) us

 

Or, making it more personal...

1) Je.sus has given us His blessing and all the authority that goes with this command to go what He is asking

2) I make and b@ptize another person and then teach her to obey everything I've been taught to obey in the Word including this command to pass it on 

3) she makes and b@ptizes another person... Teaching her to obey... Including this command

4) she (and we) continue to pass it on to others while encouraging each other in this work

In healthy groups every member is aiming for the health of that verse, edifying the body and personally growing. 

In that verse, we all should have 'sp!ritual children and grandchildren' we are encouraging and building up in love. Wouldn't that be awesome?! Is that what you see happening in your life? Do you see this happening in your community? 

Letting our hair down

I got to have an amazing time with a group of college students today!  They literally and figuratively let their hair down with me.  It was a great getting to know you time with a little sharing as well!  They asked me to sing to them some songs we sing on Sunday, "one in English and one in Hindi!"  I couldn't remember all the words of one in Hindi, but got through one chorus and then sang some of Amazing Grace to them.  They are so sweet and funny. It was a great time!  

Diwali: festival of [fire]crackers

Tonight, I'm told the crackers won't end until 2am or so because the neighbors are celebrating Diwali. 

The neighbor across the way has ornately decorated their doorway and left the door open welcoming the ones they worship into their home and hearts. It is really creepy in the hallway since we are on the 6th floor and the fireworks smoke is filling the corridor along with the smell of burning oil lamps and incense. This ambience adds to the horror of what is happening: dem0n worship (which is the veneration of idols). I got to see some of this going on in the flat across from us since their door was open. It looked like everyone was dressed in white and had their heads covered. They were lighting incense and chanting something. It was creepy and so Emma and I retreated to go back home.

Emma and I went to visit our neighbors, who all have their doors open, and gave them sweets. Emma really likes fireworks, so we went to the roof to see them better and sang How Great is Our God:

He wraps Himself in light

And darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice...

I am so thankful that we don't have anything to be afraid of in the darkness that surrounds us here, because He is Great and stronger than what our neighbors fear. May they one day recognize Him for who He is and may that be before the last day.

Happy 9 months!!!

Height: 30"

Weight: 20lbs 14oz

I can't believe our little girl is three quarters of a year old now! 

Recent achievements:

1) WALKING like a toddler... Her first two steps were at 8months and 6days, but she started independently free-standing and walking at 8.5 months. At times she prefers to push a half-filled laundry basket around the hall.

2) Using her FIVE TEETH and nimble fingers to feed herself morsels of banana, chappathis, or veggies.

3) Remembering HAND MOTIONS to songs and performing them to solicit us to sing them to her.

4) Truly BABBLING to herself and us. She has been much more of a cooing baby than a babbler up to now. 

5) Expert SPEED crawling around the house and expert speed cruising the furniture and walls.

6) POINTING at pictures in books, and taking more interest in books.

7) SNIFFING... Yea, she's a goofy girl! She may greet you with a scrunched up nose, gregarious double-sniff and then giggle at your quizzical response. It cracks us up all day!

8) Synchronized swimming... Well, not really... But she loves her bath and new mobility skills, and can be found trying to DANCE in the mini-bathtub, spin circles in it, or just splashing the water everywhere.

-----Her favorite dance move is the diaper shake... Bouncing her bum up and down in squats while moving her head in an American "yes" nod (as opposed to the sideways Indian "yes" nod).

9) PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION. She gives great hugs now and snuggles into your head/neck/shoulder with her face. Very sweet!

** More pictures coming in a separate blog, grandparents -don't worry! :) 

Costume party

 Emma's first costume party was a hit complete with yard games and fall-themed food and treats (and naturally, candy)!  She came dressed as a baby marathoner, in honor of being able to walk by 8 months and 6 days... as well as recently taking about 26.2 steps by herself without support.

Some of our friends here -- very awesome family of real-live superheroes.

 Daddy and his little athlete!

One of the yard games was a take-off of pie-in-the-face that was played with wet cotton balls.  I assisted Emma in the wind-up and release.  Emma was very disgusted at the wet cotton ball in her hand and quite reluctant to keep it in her hand.  She was horrified when it flew out and nearly hit Daddy in the face... mean ol' Mommy!

More pictures of our sweet girl...

Our neighbors, better known as Aunt Whitney and Uncle Tim...

One of the other honorary aunties, Denise, giving a treat bag to Emma...