random shots

 A random assortment of photos from the last couple of weeks.

 

Chilling on Sunday morning

 He's working on becoming a thumb sucker just like his mama! Makes me so proud :)

 Francis and Evelyn. . . . I'd say they're naturals!

 small smiles for the camera

small tear to break mama's heart

seven weeks

Our little guy turned seven weeks on Sunday, and Dexter thought it was high time to get a picture of the two of them together.

my guys

I've really got to get better with the camera!  

While we were taking a few shots of the boy, we noticed this outside the nursery room window:

Yes, that's our Long Island corn being sampled by a monkey. I don't remember inviting him!  Unfortunately, I wasn't too sure how this corn was going to turn out, anyway.  The stalks seem a little thin and stunted. My mom thinks it is because they don't get enough sun. Probably. And not enough water?  I don't know the first thing about gardening, really, so I was just sort of hoping it would all work out.

I had great visions of planting (or having our gardener plant, anyway) a lot of vegetables here.  Now I'm not so sure. I guess we'll have to do something to keep the monkeys and birds and other creatures away and then we can plant other veggies and replant the corn. And we'll hope!

We have a potato plant growing in our compost pile, so at least there's that.

On Thursday I was given the all-clear from my doctor to resume life as usual.  And then I stopped by the dental clinic and ended up having an impromptu gum graft by a visiting gum surgeon!  And Sunday, I had to have my friend Francis drain an infection in my thumb, so I decided to not resume life as usual just yet, and eat a lot of ice cream.  It seemed the right thing to do. 

I'm grateful to live in a place where I can get such great medical care so easily. 

bath time

Our days are slow, and moving into a bit of a routine.  I haven't managed to get a schedule down for feedings as of yet, but we're generally in a three-hour(ish) cycle of eat/wake/nap/repeat.  It is important to get a bath in the mix, too!  I've finally managed to do bath time alone, without Dexter's help, which feels like a big accomplishment.  It is hard to give a squirmy, wet baby a bath!

Thankfully, Kyalo seems like the bath!

Really, that's the face of enjoyment! I'm sure of it.

The days are cooler here, and our house seems to be about 10 degrees colder inside than outside, so it is important to wear layers!

 

 

 Bath time brings back the curls.

{yawn}

This little outfit is a "newborn" size, and the days remaining in which he can wear it are numbered.  He's growing so much already! Sunday marked six weeks.  He's brought so much joy into our lives in such a short time.

Now, I'm off to tackle some laundry while he naps!

mother's day

Yesterday was my first time celebrating Mother's Day as a mother!  It was pretty uneventful, really, although Kyalo was kind to me and after his early morning feeding slept until 9:30. I'd say that's about as good as a gift as any!  I also got a pedicure in the afternoon with my friend Evelyn.  It was my first one since before my wedding, so I'd say it was overdue! At less than $10.00, I think I may have to treat myself more often.

I had wanted to get some photos of me with Kyalo for our first Mother's Day. We were running late for church (probably because of sleeping til 9:30) and Kyalo was ready for a nap so it wasn't quite what I expected.  Even so, I got this photo.  It is nice to have a photo where I look alive.

How excited does Kyalo look?

Even though the photo above doesn't look like it, the cooler days are coming to Kenya, or at least to Kijabe.  Today has been a weird day of clouds-rain-sun-clouds-sun.  It rains pretty heavy at night, for the most part.  I'm usually still able to get laundry out on the line, which I'm grateful for. 

Since today was so cool, I put Kyalo in this cute hat (made from reclaimed sweaters!) from a dear friend:

Lastly, I just want to say Happy Mother's Day (a day late) to my wonderful mother who has modeled grace and patience and friendship to me.  I hope to be half the mother she is to my children!

one month

Today, already, Kyalo turns one month! We have a lot of empty walls in our house, and I'm hoping to have a month-by-month display of the little man. It will be fun to chart his growth and the changes he makes from month to month. I'm amazed by how much he's changed already! I miss him in that floppy newborn state, but I'm enjoying watching him grow and change. He feels like a real boy to me now!!

This first month has been better than I could have imagined.  We had family here for a couple of weeks to help us ease into the transition.  Friends have showered us with love and support, and thankfully, I'm recovering well from the labor and C-Section.  Life continues on as we adjust to being a family of three. 

Kyalo had a clinic appointment last week, and all is well. He's growing right on track -- 9 pounds, 11 ounces.  Not bad!

I also captured a few shots while he was sleeping this afternoon.  I can hardly resist watching him sleep.

Don't you want to watch him, too?

time with Grandma

My mom left on Thursday after her two-week visit.  It was so great to have her here at this time.  Primarily because she had the chance to get to know Kyalo, but also because she was an extra set of hands to help me, and because she helped us get our house a bit more organized.  Oh, and she made us lots of good meals.

Needless to say, we'll all miss her.

I had wanted to do a little photo shoot with her and Kyalo one sunny afternoon, but somehow that never happened.  I think afternoons are when Kyalo has his meltdown time and so instead of happy, smiling photos, my photos look more like this:

Mom is trying hard not to take it too personally.  And really, it isn't. He just likes to scream. A lot.

The best thing to do when he has his afternoon meltdown is to take him on a walk. I throw him in the front pack and off we go.  I figure carrying an ever-increasing baby + the Kijabe hills = baby weight melting off! I hope so, anyway! 

Grandma brought a sun hat for Kyalo to keep the sun from beating down on him.  I did manage to get this one, great photo of the two of them...

Nice, don't you agree?

And, here are a few more miscellaneous photos of Kyalo who already turns three weeks tomorrow! Wow.

 in his new swing.

 getting to know Jenny

snuggle time with papa

Mom left on Thursday, and Dexter has Friday and Monday off for the Easter holiday, which has been great.  He seems to have the magic touch in getting Kyalo to settle down -- and sleep -- especially in the long afternoon hours.  This is great, except that he'll be back to work on Tuesday.  I'll have to work on my own magic, I guess.

Happy Easter, everyone!

family gathering

Last Saturday, just 6 days after Kyalo's birth, we hosted Dexter's entire family and my parents (who'd arrived on Thursday).  It might have been a bit much, but it was great to be all together again.  It was the first time the two families were together since our wedding two years ago.  A good time was had by all!

It is hard to believe that it is already two weeks since Kyalo came into our lives.  He's a precious little man!  We're enjoying getting to know him and to learn this new thing called parenthood.  Dexter has been on paternity leave for the past two weeks, but goes back to work on Monday.  My mom is still here until Thursday, so I don't have to go it alone for a little while yet. 

Here are some photos from the family gathering. . .

 the dads and the grill

Dexter's Mum with Kyalo

 Baby Andrew - 6 weeks - and so BIG!

Helen with the cousins

.preciousness.

 grandparents

everyone!

First photo as a family of three!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a few more photos of Kyalo...

 {dopey}

 {lip quiver}

{not happy}

Kyalo makes the most interesting faces when he's upset.  It is hard not to laugh. Is that terrible?  These are a few of the faces. I'll try to capture more!

Since Mom is here a few more days we'll be organizing the house and Kyalo's room. Maybe more photos will come!