Mommy’s Birthday

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Yesterday was Mommy's birthday. I thought it would be nice to say "mama" for her birthday, so I practiced saying "mmmm" and said "muh" a couple of times.

We went to my cousins' house for supper (potjie kos), and Mr. Marlon, Mr. Elmer, Mr. Jeron, Mr. Ismael, and Mr. Philippe were there too. I like them because they like watching me do my tricks.

I got a swipe of frosting when the birthday cake went by, but Daddy licked it off my fingers before I could taste it. I had to eat pears while everyone else had chocolate cake and mangos.

I am practicing to walk. I put my feet on Mommy's or Daddy's feet and they walk with me.

My First Drawing

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Mommy finally let me have a go at those markers of hers, and here is what I came up with. Not bad for my first time, I think. Daddy could tell what it was right away, but Mommy needed some help figuring it out.

Hint - There is a pink space shuttle flying over the earth with the sun beating down ...

Campin’ at the Beach

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I went camping for the first time! I think I like it very much, especially waking up and having everybody right there in the tent to talk to.

We went to Bilene, a town on a beautiful blue (azul) lagoon, and pitched our tent on the sand. Just on the other side of the hedge from our tent I could watch Daddy kitesurf. I wish he would hurry up and teach me how.

It hardly took any time at all to get there - I went to sleep and then we were there. It took forever to get back because we had to stop lots of times and buy cashews, paintings, a clay vase bigger than me, pen holders, drinks, eggplants, sweet potatoes, papayas, tomatoes, pineapples, and green peppers. Daddy had to talk to all the salespeople for a long time before buying anything.

I got to feed baby chicks when we were camping.

I really like applesauce. I also like to feed myself. I've been watching Daddy very carefully to see how it's done, and I've got it all figured out. Check out the video Mommy uploaded of me eating.

Oh yeah, they took all my puppies away. Now we just have one big barky dog that Daddy likes.

Eating REAL Food!

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I have a SECOND tooth!

We went to the dedication of a church today. It was a pretty building. Lots of ladies sang and played what looked like Ring Around the Rosies except they didn't fall down.

We had to stand outside for a long time while lots of people talked before they let us in to sit down. Then I got hungry during the preaching, so Mommy took me to the car and made faces at all the village kids who gathered around while I ate. Some of them made faces back. We had given them stickers earlier, and they were wearing them on their foreheads.

And when Mommy discovered my second tooth this morning, she and Daddy decided that maybe nature was demanding that I get to eat real food, or maybe my crying last night paid off. They gave me a little bit of rice cereal – I liked the first two bites, but then I just wanted my usual meal, thank you very much.

At the Beach

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We went to the beach today. I wanted to boogie board after all my practicing, but Ouma & Mommy said it was too cold. Daddy went kitesurfing and it wasn't too cold for him, so I don't get it. Do they think I'm a baby or something?

At least I got to play ping pong this evening with Ouma. She beat me, but I am just learning. Christian (8 months), Bella (1 ½ years) and Joshua (1 month) came to visit with their mommies and daddies.

I cried while everyone was eating supper because they wouldn't let me eat anything. I tried so hard to get to the food.

I Have Puppies!

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Our new house had four dogs when we moved in. Now it has 11!

The house owners left four dogs that stay in kennels all day and are let out at night to guard the property. Three of them bark fiercely every time I go near their cages. The fourth is now a mommy of seven cute puppies! She is a nice, friendly yellow lab/Rhodesian ridgeback mix, and her puppies are obviously sired by one of the Rottweiler mix dogs here.

I'm not too scared of dogs, because I know Mommy and Daddy will protect me.

I Have a Tooth!

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My Grandma is here to visit me!

We moved to a new house today!

I have a tooth!

My cousin Marquelle discovered it while I was biting on her hand tonight. I don't understand what all the excitement is about, since I've been working on this tooth, drooling and biting everything, for more than a month.

Maybe now they'll realize that I am ready to eat real food. Drooling every time I'm around food hasn't done the trick. Neither has grabbing for food whenever they let me get close. I've even tried making them feel guilty by very carefully watching every bite they take with sorrowful eyes. But Mommy still says I have to wait until I'm six months old to eat real food.

What's In a Name?

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I want my Grandma – she was supposed to be here by now! Mr. Jucundo went to pick her up across the South African border in Nelspruit. Mommy says they got stuck at the border (this is Africa, after all), so Daddy went to pick her up at the border.

Since she's not here yet, I thought I'd tell you about our Word of the Day activity. Every day Mommy and I learn the etymology of one new word. That way, when I start speaking English, I'll have a superb vocabulary. Right now I can only speak Portuguese – the people we meet on the streets all understand me and translate for Mommy that I'm too cold, I need my head or feet covered, the sun is in my eyes, etc.

So I am learning all kinds of cool words, and sometimes we play games with them – like when the word was "binary," we had a binary parade with my Noah's Ark felts.

Some cool words I've learned are my first and middle names: Esmé Elaine. Both have French origins. Esmé means "loved," and Elaine means "shining light." So my nomenclators (Mommy & Daddy) gave me names with both a root and a purpose.

If I was a Native American, my name would be "Highly Esteemed Flashlight."

Oh yeah – Mommy gave me my first name (which is a common Afrikaans name), and Daddy gave me my middle name (which is Mommy's middle name), so I am a good representative of both of them!

Walkin' Down the Avenida

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Mommy and I go walking nearly every afternoon – actually, she walks and I stroll. Since we are moving across this weekend, I figured I better write about it before I forget.

First we usually do a little shopping. We go to the bakery and then visit some street vendors. For less than US $4, we get 10 wheat rolls, 2 kg of bananas, and 2 kg of nartjies. Sometimes we get tomatoes instead of nartjies. Sometimes we barter on the price, but other times we give the vendors more than they ask for as our act of kindness for the day. It's fun to see their reaction then.

Then we walk down Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, which has a BIG sidewalk so we don't have to dodge the crazy traffic. There are coconut palms down the median, as well as all kinds of flowering trees, hibiscus, bougainvillea, and other pretty things to look at. Heading downhill, we can see the ocean and watch the ships go by as we walk, and if it's a hot day, the breeze feels really good.

Coming back home, we go through side streets and walk through two parks where lots of other bebes play while their empragadas watch. We also see lots of security guards in front of homes, playing checkers with each other or carrying AK47s. The dog walkers are funny – dressed in uniforms and surrounded by beautiful fluffy dogs. There are also lots people rushing to catch the chapa home from work. I like watching the people – lots of them say "boa tarde" and "bonita bebe" – I think that means they like me.

Oh, did I tell you my Grandma Maritz is coming tomorrow? I can't wait!

Videos Starring . . . Me!

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Today I worked with Mommy on getting some videos on MySpace so my grandpas and grandmas and everyone we left behind can see some of my cool tricks. Since they can't see me in person, I guess that's the next best thing, but I wish I could see them too.

We also put Selah's "You Raise Me Up" music video on the site. Daddy saw this when he and Mommy were deciding to come to Mozambique, and it made a big impact on their decision. Take a look and you'll see why. I like it too, since Mommy played Selah music in the middle of the night when she was walking me those first few sleepless weeks of my life.

Hola from Mozambique!

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I am FOUR months old today, and I think it's about time to get started blogging. Mommy will have to help me type, of course - I can hit the mouse pretty good (especially when Mommy's reading the online books too slow and I want to move to the next page), but my spelling is not so good yet.

So, where do I start? Well, who am I? We sing in the mirror every morning: "Who am I? I am Esme'. I am special to Jesus." I really like mirrors - sometimes they make me giggle. And then Mommy and Daddy giggle, too. Today Mommy and I had several giggle sessions; they were so much fun Mommy is going to add them to my daily checklist. We'll have to talk about the daily checklist later.

But I digress. Back to who I am. I was born April 3, 2007 at 1:06 a.m. in Roseburg, Oregon, and I weighed 7 lb 7 oz. My parents' names are Mommy and Daddy, and they are the BEST parents in the WORLD. (I have to say that, since I would have a hard time making a living right now if I got kicked out of the house.) They are also VERY OLD. Daddy just turned 38!

Just before I turned 6 weeks old, we got on a plane and started flying to South Africa. It was a LONG trip, but I did really well, and only one plane was delayed while Mommy changed my VERY POOPY diaper. She calls me a world class traveler.

After spending a few days with Daddy's family there, we flew to Maputo in Mozambique, where we live now. We are working with Maranatha on building 1,000 churches here, and I am the youngest worker. If you want to keep tabs on this project, check out Auntie Susan's blog.
And now, a lifetime later, I am much bigger. Last week at 16 weeks, I weighed 16 lb 12 oz (7.6 kg).

Well, I have lots more to say, but it is past my bedtime now, so check in again later!