more exploring

After a successful day picnicking and visiting with friends, we were up for more adventures the next day.  We started at Pineland Farms, a 500+ acre working farm that also has trails (never done those!) and businesses - even a YMCA - on it.  I'd been there a few times, and always love going.  Since Dexter's parents are farmers, I thought they might enjoy it, too.

I am happy to report that I was right!  Dexter's dad says he learned a new way to keep chickens after visiting the chicken coop in the barnyard, so I call that a successful visit.

 serene

Kyalo loves feeding the cows!

there's the chicken coop!  Lots of learning in progress.

After grabbing lunch in the market there we headed off to Wolfe's Neck State Park which is just outside of Freeport (of LL Bean fame).  It was so different and so beautiful. I was sorry we didn't have more time to explore the area.  This is a state park right on the coast (and right next to another working farm) but it doesn't really have beaches, just a rocky shore.  But that didn't deter us!

my favorite pic from the day!

Kyalo loved it and was totally in his element.  Now, we keep a walking stick in the car for him in case an adventure should arise!

It was a beautiful day seeing a new part of the state.  Dexter's mom kept being surprised that we would drive an hour or more and still be in the same state.  I tried explaining that Maine is very, very large, and we had only shown them a teeny tiny part of it.  They'll just have to come back to see other parts of this great, vast state!

Also, Maine has like 1 million state parks (give or take) and my hope is that we'll get to as many of them as possible in the duration of our life here.  Seems like the best way to spend our time - out exploring the world around us.  

out exploring

So, back in June, we had to entertain Dexter's parents for two weeks.  The first couple of days did not cooperate, but thankfully we had some good weather for most of the remaining visit.  We tried to cram a lot of exploring into a short period of time.  That meant squeezing multiple things in each day when possible.

Maine is a big, beautiful state, and never more beautiful than in the summer.  (We're all in a state of denial that we're quickly approaching winter, mkay?) One of the places I'd heard about is Camden Hills State Park on the coast.  So we packed up our gear and a picnic lunch and headed that way.  Since it is very near to our friends Judy & Neil, we met up with them for ice cream in Rockland (a city I'd like to explore more. Come visit so that happens!) later in the day.

Camden Hills did not disappoint.

I'm hoping to get back in the fall when the leaves are all changed.  I'm sure it will be stunning!  

peek-a-boo

 there are worse picnic spots 

The others, who are brave, climbed the stone tower to get even better views.  I stayed safely down on terra firma.  While there we were serenaded with the National Anthem on trumpet.  Pretty nice addition to a perfect day!

After some exploring and picnicking we headed down to Rockland to see friends and get ice cream.

There was a chalkboard at the ice cream place.  Kyalo had an interesting way of writing his name.  I'm sure backwards means he's brilliant.

After ice cream we wandered around for a bit, and ended up on the water again.  Wishing we lived closer to the water (this is about 2+ hours away).

Beautiful views, ice cream, connecting with friends and family.  I'd say it doesn't get much better than that!

eleven months

Summer is zipping right by us (too, too fast!) and baby girl's days of being a baby are numbered.  A whole year next month, and I can hardly believe it.  (I know, cliche. Can't be helped).

I really love these baby days...the noticeable milestones, the sweetness of the days, her utter dependence on me.  They're not for everyone, I know, but they're so fleeting and special to me, and I'm already lamenting about how much they're gone!

Some things of note (not necessarily related to the pictures :) )

 two new teeth are popping through the top - she's way ahead of where Kyalo was (toothless) at 11 months!

 started cruising around holding on to things.  She's got a big brother to keep up with, and I wonder how much longer it will be till she's walking (I'm in no hurry for that, truth be told)

 Continues to LOVE food.  There has not been much she's turned away.  She always eats dinner with us, but I need to figure out better things throughout the day -- a girl can only handle so much banana and bread, right?  Anyone have ideas?

She is happy, easy-going and a joy.  You still have to work for a smile, but when she does it is the best thing ever.

opening cabinet doors and pulling things out is a new thrill to each day

Kyalo's school closed in June and I bought these child-sized chairs from them.  I had visions of sweet pictures of her in them.  Too bad she never sits still.  Maybe in a few months I won't worry about her toppling out of it.

and since she never sits still most of my pictures these days are big blurry messes!

cute, blurry messes

spaghetti 

post bath cuteness and reading 

trying to stay cool on a hot summer day (we've had so few! got to enjoy them!)

I want to remember these pudgy little legs always

(she might not, though)

playing with MagnaTiles with Kyalo (lasted 2 minutes) was a sweet moment I was happy to catch.

Also - she's wearing his old overalls which is so special to me. 

He continues to delight her in all manner of ways.  Here's a video of her laughing hysterically.  He's dropping a marker from his mouth (off camera) and she thinks it is the best ever.

I love the baby belly laugh!

I hope that he always makes her laugh, and I hope that they become friends in the future.

She loves playing peek-a-boo.  Drop a blanket over her and she pulls it off with a grin and a giggle.

Loves to read.  I often find her in her crib after nap looking at books.  

She has started waking up once or twice in the night (boo) which is a change from sleeping a solid 10-12 hours.  I would ignore her till she fell back to sleep but since she stands in her crib and rattles the bed it is a bit harder to do that.

It will be so interesting to see what her personality is like when she's older and can talk.  Right now, if she's on the floor crying, and I can't get to her right away, she'll come over and head butt me til I pick her up or feed her something.  I already get the sense that she, like Kyalo, is a strong-willed child.  Lord, help me!  

Parenthood is such an adventure!  The days can be tough, but so, so worth it.

A visit from Kenya, the first days

We hadn't even said goodbye to the cousins when we welcomed Dexter's parents from Kenya.  Since this was their first trip on a plane and out of Kenya, we were all a bit anxious that all would go smoothly -- the layover in Amsterdam, customs in the US, and luggage arriving with them, etc.  Never did we think the pick up would be the challenge.  Thankfully, all the harrowing pieces did go smoothly, but Dexter ran around the airport a bit trying to find them - starting in the wrong terminal, parking what felt like miles away from the right one, and then not being able to find them! I even called the airline just to make sure they actually got on the plane in Amsterdam.  After a few more laps, Dexter finally found them.  Phew.

They started out their visit by meeting my brother's six kids and having a quick reconnect with my parents.  After an impromptu dinner we were on our way, since Dexter had to work the next day.

The last time we had seen Dexter's parents was right before we left Kenya in 2012.  Kyalo was 11 months:

To say we were over due for a visit is an understatement.  To have them in our house in Maine was so special, and truly, a gift.

I don't think we were back in our house five minutes before Kyalo was playing (forcing?) baseball with his grandparents.

He will love them forever just for that!

The first days of their visit were pretty low-key because of Dexter working, and them recovering from jet lag.  We spent a lot of time in the backyard, relaxing, playing baseball, and hanging out.

Kyalo had 6 weeks of T-Ball, so we got to take Buda & Shosho to a couple games.  He was, of course, ecstatic to have them there.  And I managed to capture this sweet, impromptu moment when we left:

This is one of my favorite moments from the whole trip.

Meanwhile, Dr Kim had long been on a hunt for a goat for us, and found it just in time for us to have a bit of a goat roast, Kenyan style, while Dexter's parents were here.  So Dexter and his parents dashed off to Portland to pick up the goat.

twinsies!

It was a tad more goat than we were prepared for -- and there's still quite a bit in our freezer, so come on over if you have a hankering for some goat :) -- and Dexter was feeling a bit stressed about cooking it in a way that would be enjoyable for everyone.  He found an interesting marinade for it which he opted to do in the oven, and was going to grill some ribs.  10 minutes before everyone was set to arrive, Dexter ran in in a panic: we were out of gas!  Off he dashed to get more, and made it back just in time. Crisis averted!

Kyalo enjoyed helping his Shosho cut the sukuma wiki (kale or collard greens) for the party:

He does love to be a helper!

There was plenty of food, Dr Kim and his family and Aaron and Gayle and their kids, and Matthew and Angie all came.  This was a nice, low-key way  for everyone to meet the parents, without the pressure or stress of a restaurant.  Plus, Kyalo & Lucas played baseball most of the night with Mac Kim who is 17.  I say he's hired!

As usual, I didn't get too many pictures of the actual gathering. I should have tried for a group shot!  

Buda, looking like royalty

It was an intense game, even if Kyalo was Shoeless Joe!

All in all, it was a wonderful evening, with good food, friends and conversation!  

On that Sunday is when we had Malaikah dedicated and had lunch with my parents.  Already, that seems ages ago! It was so special to me that all the grandparents could be a part of such a sweet time in Malaikah's life.

Monday the weather was lousy, and Kyalo was going to his school for the last day, so we dashed off to Target to do some shopping!  Since we live an hour or so from the nearest Target it was just as much a treat for me as it was for Dexter's parents.  It is probably a good thing we don't live to close.

The weather on Tuesday was also not that great, and I was afraid that plans would again be foiled.  Instead, we decided to brave the darkening clouds and just hope they were more bark than bite.  We headed to Portland to go to the Narrow Gauge Museum, which is a small (very small!) museum marking the history of the narrow gauge trains in Maine.  Dexter's dad worked for Kenya Railways, so we thought he would enjoy it.  And we knew Kyalo would like the short train ride, too.  The cloudy weather meant we didn't have a great view of the ocean, but otherwise, it was a fun day!

 Kyalo got to ring the bell!

 love

I think she liked it.

After the museum we walked around for a bit and then got lunch.  The rain didn't slow us down, and we got to show off a bit more of the state of Maine.

If someone can help me understand what's going on with Kyalo in these pictures, I'd be grateful.

All in all, the first few days were off to a great start!