My Life as an African Gypsy

It's been awhile...

So we've had lots of visitors, making my blogging a bit inconsistent. I hope to find some normalcy in the near future, however, it will not come until I'm all settled into my new home (rented). If you remember last time though, I like to kill myself and get it all done super fast. So be prepared for lots of pics and updates. =)

While we had a team here, my schedule was a little more hectic than usual, as was my house, so I guess my body reacted. My milk supply dipped a bit, and I was a little concerned. I pumped as much as I could to encourage more supply; not fun! Once life slowed down though, the milk came back. We were on a 4 hour schedule, but we are back to 3 hour, as I felt she wasn't gaining like I would like her to. Now when I pick her up from the crib... phew! Maybe we'll go back to 4 hours sometime, but for now she is a happy guzzler.

Diapers are still going well. Every now and again she wakes up a bit damp. Not my favorite, but not horrible. She is already in double inserts... guess I could triple or put on a liner. We'll see if it becomes more consistent. With my 24 diapers I've learned I can easily wait two days between washing, especially if I used my dryer all the time, which I rarely do.

Can't believe my little babe is almost 5 months! It is going to be food time before I know it, and in all honesty I am dreading it. She is so easy and on the go right now. Oh well, we'll routine it up and it'll become the norm.



We went camping and rock climbing! I was a bit nervous, but turns out it was for no good reason. It was Anaya's second time sleeping in the tent, and she did okay. It was in the 30's at night, which made it difficult. We bought a space heater, which turned out to be a little comical; it was SO bright it was like a light was on! It helped, but it was still very cold. Anaya is a thumb sucker, so it is difficult to cover her hands. =/ Other than that, Anaya loves the outdoors and is happiest there. She chilled on our backs while we belayed each other on the wall. I did climb with her once on a real easy climb, mainly because it was easier than the trail out of canyon. Anaya snored the whole time. Ha! She'll be my adventure girl.







We spent the 4th low key with some friends eating chili, potato salad, coleslaw, and apple pie. Yum! Anaya was supportin' with her precious onesie!



I've got more stuff to update on... spiritual stuff, emotional stuff, etc. Stay tuned!

Perhaps it is because I was without "stuff" for so long... or maybe that's just an excuse?

You see Jon and I were in transition for quite awhile before and after getting married. We were either traveling or planning to travel, which meant I could only keep more or less 3 suitcases worth of stuff. Because that was nearly impossible, I still have some plastic tubs of things in AZ and a few things in Corpus to be sifted through. Still, I have vivid memories of sitting on my floor crying over my Steve Madden high heels that I got SO cheap that I would have to give away, and not only those, a pile of 'steals' that no longer accompany me to my home overseas. Or precious books that weighed too much.

When we got married, I didn't get to use the cool scanner and pick out towels, sheets, and dishes. Instead, we got a trip around the world, which might I add, I do not regret one single bit. Still, the fact of the matter was that I hadn't gotten my own stuff. We lived in gracious peoples' homes using gracious peoples' things.

Last year on our way from Angola to Mozambique we knew we were going to settle in, so that meant it was my turn. I was going to pick my very own stuff and have my very own style. Boy was I excited. How fun it was to go through the stores and find stuff that was so me.

There wasn't any problem with this. We found reasonable things and tried to make wise decisions about needs vs. wants. And I got a few of my wants; they aren't always bad.

Fast forward a few months...

My polka dot coffee mug that belongs to my set of six got broke. Did you catch that? It belonged to my set of six. That meant that my set of six was now ruined. Were they expensive mugs? Nope. But they were my only mugs! I was crushed. I went upstairs, laid in my bed, and I cried. I knew I was being silly, but that didn't ease my disappointment. (A month or so later we actually found a replacement, though a little dinged up, there was 1 left in the store in South Africa. My set of six has been restored.)

Right before Thanksgiving a plate that belonged to my set of eight got broke in the sink. Again, I was crushed. Jon encouraged me that we could use a little ceramic glue and fix it. I was appeased, and the plate still is used in our stack.

Two days ago a bowl in my set of eight got broken... too broken for ceramic glue. I tried to hold it together, to tell myself it is only stuff and not worth crying about. I succeeded, though I had many a thought of going to my bed and crying for the rest of the afternoon, though a 4 month old keeps that from being completely possible.

So here I am today, processing this little problem I have, this problem with stuff. It is just stuff. Having only 7 glass bowls is not terrible. If my sets are incomplete, it is OK. Fact of the matter is, I can get more stuff if I need it. I am realizing I need to loosen my little heart strings a bit to my stuff that is so me. It is a truth we know somewhere deep inside, and yet when faced with losing that silly stuff we are faced with the truth of where our hearts really are.

Mommy-hood is the best.

Anaya enjoys her jumperoo now! Since this pic, I've put a pillow under her feet so she can reach, and boy does she get going. I thought I'd post a pic of me in my 'Johnny Jump-up'; thanks to my Mom for finding it! They have changed just a bit over the years, don't ya think?


Cutie pa-tootie cooing in delight. (Plus a Dad pic! Heather - this is for you!)


My slobbery girl. Everything goes in the mouth! Licking is her new way of exploring. Oh boy! Bibs here we come!


Beach time in the sand. I love giving her opportunities to experience new things. So much to see and do.

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Have I bragged on here about my Baby K'tan? I love it and so does Anaya. Super comfy and easy-peasy to use. It has made my ministry at the hospital, so much more feasible.


And not only ministry... eating out too! =)


Daddy baby-wears as well, and now she is big enough for a new position!

Seriously, this is the best carrier! Get one!
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So I am currently doing Beth Moore's Bible study 'Living Beyond Yourself - Exploring the fruit of the Spirit'. I've really enjoyed the reminders of the character of God and who He is.

This week we are looking at the kindness and the goodness of God. She devotes one day to look at God as a nurturing parent. As a new parent, I was able to relate quite a bit. In one part she says, "We will never be successful as parents to our children until we are successful at being children to our Heavenly Father."

Okay, so here is the picture I got: My little Anaya is not much of a snuggler. She enjoys squirming or facing out to see the world, but not nestling into my neck. When I do try and hold her that way, her back and neck are stiff, looking around, bobbing her head. It is precious too, but then there are the few rare moments, moments when she is tired, that she relaxes into me and rests, her little head fitting so perfectly into my neck. I adore those moments; I store them up like treasure in my heart.

I think it is quite the same with the Lord and me. I rarely take the time to relax my tired head on the shoulder of God and give Him the time to love on me. It was that way before, but now more than ever, my mind is always buzzing with my 'to do' list. Even when I do my Bible study, I don't take the time to simply rest on Him. Instead, my back is straight and head bobbing, thinking of all the things going on around me. Oh how God, our Father, would like me to just stop and rest, to snuggle. I think, as I do, He treasures those moments with His children.

Maybe you, like me, need to work on being children to our Father so we can father/mother our children better.

Take a little time and rest on Him.

(Womanly topics in this post. You have been warned!)

I had one baby and my laundry tripled. How does that happen? Blankets, towels, clothes, burp cloths, and diapers, diapers, diapers! Hello motherhood!

Amazingly, I now feel as if cloth diapers are a breeze. If you are debating, go for it! AND the cheapest of the cheap are working for me! I like being cheap, but I am also too lazy to make them, or fasten them with anything other than snaps. Thankfully, I found Sunbaby diapers. 24 diapers are plenty for us to wash every other day.

Now, as Anaya is 3 months old (take a moment and let it sink in... YES, 3 months!), I have begun to look into making her baby food. Again, this not a 'green' movement on my part, just a cheap one. I feel a tad overwhelmed, sort of how I did with the cloth diapers, but in the same manner, I think if I get a routine going, we'll be fine! Once I start in a few months, I'll let you know how it goes. For now, I am gearing up. I have a food processor coming with my mother-in-love, and I am currently researching best storage containers for the freezer.

Also, a little less than 3 months after Anaya's birth, I had my first period. WHAT? I am exclusively breastfeeding and totally thought I'd have longer. Lucky me. =/ Anyways, in my laziness I had yet to pick up my birth control, and this got me thinking about things. Jon and I would love to get pregnant again in September/October (if one could plan such things), and it took 5 months to get pregnant with Anaya. The idea of putting my body through the adjustments to birth control, only to get off and adjust back in a couple months seemed silly. SO, I have read the book 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility', and we're going to give it a shot. Worst thing that could happen is that we get pregnant, and we want another little one soon anyway.

This method of birth control includes taking my temperature every morning charting it and monitoring/charting my cervical discharge. It seems like a hassle, but like seemingly everything else in my life currently, if I could get into a routine, I'd be fine! (note: I bought a thermometer, but have yet to take my temperature. Things are going well so far! Ha!) I guess we'll all know soon enough how it works out. ;)

Other news...

Anaya takes a bottle so easily now! After a week or so, she got the sucking down, no prob. She doesn't make a peep. Plus, she will even take one from me, which is fabulous for when we are out in public! My nursing cover will not get quite the use it used to... nor will my accidental boob flashing be necessary. (big sigh of relief)

Anaya is hitting at things, grabbing toys and putting them in her mouth, sucking her thumb, playing in the bath tub, practicing her standing with help (quite wobbly, but she enjoys it), holding her neck up for longer periods of time, enjoys sitting up and doesn't want to be on her back all the time anymore, making fun noises, recognizing Jon and I when we come in a room and getting quite excited, becoming a little interested in books, responds to some ticklish spots... Woah! They grow so quick!

Okay... that was long. Maybe some of you read it all!


Crazy post-bath curly hair and a cute pink diaper! Love her!

My little thumb sucker.

**Apology. Blogger had some problems and the comments were deleted. I saw them, they just did not stay. Boo! I am sorry about that.**

So I wanted to add a little follow-up to my breastfeeding post...

Good News: Anaya is now 11 weeks old and few few things improved, though I've thrown pumping into the mix, which has kind of started me on a new cycle of the awfuls. Anyways, the good news is that your body will eventually regulate, no longer causing the 'Shower Shuffle', or having a fear of boobs exploding (a.k.a. engorgement), and less of need for breast pads.

Bad News: I did start pumping this past week, because Anaya will finally take a bottle after a few minutes of screaming. Now that I am increasing my production, my body is figuring itself out again. Sigh. You only think you feel like a machine when you are breastfeeding, and then you start using an electric pump (or even a hand one)... ummm, can you say humiliating? I can be alone in a room and feel embarrassed, all hooked up with tubes and bottles. The nice part is that you can have a little freedom back, and miss a feeding while someone else steps in.

Side note: Next baby I will give a bottle sooner. I waited until about 10wks or so with Anaya and she hates it. We have had multiple screaming nights, only to end up breastfeeding. She will take a bottle eventually now, but it is not a peaceful process.
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Here is my Cloth Diaper - Report #3

We had our first leak during the night. This morning I woke up to a wet sheet and blanket. No fun! That is why having 2 sheets is a necessity! I am not really sure what the problem was; I guess she just peed a lot. I think, as I have said before, it will be better when she stops eating once in the night... filling up with the liquid. On a positive note, it has been our only leak in the night.

Double inserts are the key for us, even though she is only 11wks. I've had to put aside my vanity and poof up the diaper. They work. We have had hardly any trouble. I say 'hardly any' because every now and again the leg will be a tad damp, but not like it was. They last a good 3-4 hours.

I feel like we are operating a successful operation, and that is what it is, an operation!

I wash every other day and never run out. I stuff the diapers with inserts right when they come off the line, during a nap time; it only takes a few minutes. I scrub the poopy diapers immediately, and then let soak in cold water for a bit. Stains haven't been a problem so far. The dry bucket is SO much better.

It is not too bad, and not too much work. I am actually pleasantly surprised.

So, better late than never, right?

It took a little longer for me to get the diapers stripped and dried on the line. We had a cloudy day in there, and that doesn't work too well for drying. Anyways, I have now been using them for about 2 days. Here are my findings:

They are still cute, cute. I really love her in them with a little T-shirt. Precious!

I think my daughter is a heavy wetter. The diapers, with one insert, are good for about one pee, and then I need to make a change. The other option would be using double inserts all the time, which my husband is pushing me towards, but in my vanity, I would prefer her bum not to be that big. We may get to that point.

I do use double inserts at night, and we have not had a leak for the two nights I have used them. This is a huge plus, because I don't want to be washing sheets all the time.

When they leak, the diapers do not leak a ton. I can just feel them damp around the leg, and I know I need to change her. Not too bad, and I think I can live with it. Depending on how soon she goes after changing her, a diaper can make it approximately 2-3 hours. I have 24 diapers, and I have safely made it 2 days and will wash today with some clean ones still in the drawer.

I switched to a dry pail. I kept my cute bucket, but we put a trash bag in to save the plastic from absorbing too much of the lovely scent. This is some stinky business! I would maybe recommend a stainless steel trash can. After wringing out the wet diapers from the wet pail the first time, I decided it was sick and didn't want to do that anymore, since the water pretty much turns to pee water. Gross!

I do rinse the poopy diapers. Kind of gross as well, but I think it will help with stains, and at this point her poop is soft enough to dissolve. (Good to know, right? Ha!)

So there are my findings after 2 days... the second time around. I think I can stick with it. I'll write again about them in a week or so and let you know more.