the greatest gift

Friday, the 9th, was my birthday.  Another year older! Groan.

I didn't have time to focus on the fact that I was another year closer to 40 though, because I woke up to the news that Evelyn, in Kijabe, had her baby!  Allow me to introduce you:

Lisa Wairimu Mbugua

born: November 9, 2012, 12:20 PM

2.7 kgs/5.9 lbs

the new happy family!

Evelyn did amazing - she went into the hospital at 6:30 am on Friday morning, and shortly after noon, the baby was born! She is basically a superstar because really, who does that?

I think that, since she was born on my birthday, she should be named after me.  And "Lisa" comes from Elizabeth.  So I am trying to convince them to cancel Lisa and switch it to "Beth" which is my middle name.   It seems only fair.

Who's with me?

There are not enough words to express my elation for them, but also the sense of sadness I felt (feel) because I wasn't there.  They were so essential to my {never ending} labor day, and I am sorry we couldn't return the favor.  But mostly, I'm just sad to not be there in Kijabe celebrating with them, helping them settle in, and running up and down stairs for Evelyn.  It is hard to be on the other side of the world.  I shed a few tears because the reality has finally settled on me that we're in the US, and we don't know when we'll next be in Kenya or see these friends who are so dear to us.  Tonight, for kicks, I looked into flights for December, when Dexter's on break: $11,000!!!  So, that's out.  And I feel the separation just a little deeper...

Oh and did I mention that she will be Kyalo's wife?  They've settled on a "reasonable" bride price of 1 million US Dollars.  Good thing we have 20 years to fund raise and negotiate that waaay down.  Feel free to contact me if you'd like to make a contribution to that noble cause. . .

 so much hair!

We love you, Lisa, and look forward to meeting you and to many happy memories together in the future.

Well done, Francis & Evelyn!  We love you, too.

{But, if she is sleeping through the night before Kyalo is, I may need to reevaluate our relationship.}