My Life as an African Gypsy

Well, Anaya was ready and the process was easy.

In December/January I noticed I was not producing very much and realizing Anaya was not drinking very much, especially mid-morning. (she was still nursing every 3-4hrs throughout the day) In January, just before returning to Mozambique I switched her to 3 feedings a day, and she seemed not to even notice.

Shortly after being back, I started her on a water/juice mix to keep her hydrated in this absurd heat, and we dropped the afternoon feeding. I started her on daily yogurt to boost the dairy intake, but still wanted to hold off a bit on the cow's milk. She did this all just fine, again, hardly seeming to notice.

About a week and a half ago I dropped her night feeding and decided to give it a shot with the cow's milk. She happily gulped it down from the sippy cup and even wanted more! Her tummy has adjusted well and digests everything fine. Relief!

Just this week I have dropped the morning feeding, which I was thinking would be the hard one as she always fed immediately upon waking up. I went into the room, changed her diaper, and handed her the sippy cup. No problem. She drank it with ease.

I had two days a of a bit of discomfort, as I was still producing some milk and not expressing any; however, I have pushed through and I think I'm about done! I am super happy and a bit surprised I've dried up at all. I was afraid that, being pregnant, my hormones would just signal the need to keep producing. But alas! I get almost 4 months of a break! Hooray!

I have noticed she needs some extra lap sitting and snuggling, so I'm trying to be intentional about taking time for that. I love my precious girl.

It has been a long time.

I'm still here. My little Anaya is 11 months with a birthday coming up on the 22nd of this month. It is a little hard to believe how grown up she is; however, being 20 weeks pregnant with our 2nd little girl, Jovie, I find myself grateful for each milestone Anaya reaches.

I can hardly believe how long it has been since I have posted. Whoops! This one will be a bit long and I'll divide into topical sections.

Anaya-girl Update

Anaya is now 7 months old, going on a year, at least that is what I feel like. Time is flying. My precious baby girl is becoming more independent and less baby-ish. All she wants to do is hold onto things and stand up. If there is something she can grab onto, she will pull herself up. She still cannot go from laying down to sitting up on her own, but I think it'll be soon. Tummy time is still hated, and I wonder if crawling will be something she ever does much of.

She loves 'chatting'. Her newest sound is "Ba" and I love it! Many times she starts her mouth movement before the sound comes out, and it has got to be the most adorable thing. We've had some "Ga", "Ma" and "Da", but those are random and not consistent or repeated.

She is a very content baby, full of smiles. Lately she'll throw her head back and smile as if she is laughing really hard. At times it will throw her off balance, and I think she'll fall over! She loves when Mommy or Daddy hides behind and chair or wall and pops out.

Baby food is going well. I am not much of a freezer. I tend to make a weeks worth or so at a time and just keep it in the fridge. I make a jar of applesauce and one of pear-sauce with 6-7 pieces of fruit, and it lasts nicely. She eats lots of mashed bananas, which are super easy. She tried papaya today and liked it better mixed with a little banana. Lately she does not enjoy her veggies, but she'll eat anything if you put a little fruit in front of it on the spoon. Whatever works, huh? She eats pumpkin, potato and carrot mix, plain carrots, sweet potato, green beans, and avocado. She wasn't a pea fan, and they stunk, so I haven't made them again. Thankfully she lets me feed her now, making it much faster and cleaner!

She no longer breastfeeds at 10pm and now cloth diapers aren't leaking in the night. So nice.

We went on vacation last week, and Anaya was a dream. 6-6.5 hours in the car was no prob. Entire afternoons out were no prob. Sleeping the in the pack'n'play was no prob. We stayed in a little bungalow, while the kitchen and dining area were covered outdoors. Since Anaya prefers to be outside, she was in heaven.

Anaya does seem to be very attached to Mommy at the moment, and she is less okay with many people holding her. I figure it is a stage, and I am trying to enjoy our sweet cuddle moments, while not becoming too frustrated when she cries every time I walk of the room to do something. She warms up to some people though (how she decides I have no clue) and depending on her mood, she is fine. Yesterday she spent a good 20-30 minutes with a woman at the hospital; I was proud.











General Mommy Update

I am doing well. I was in need of a vacation, especially emotionally, and I praise the Lord for a our short time away. Last month I was jokingly telling people I better be pregnant, because if not, I was just a crazy lady. Turns out I am just a crazy lady. =) We are, however, welcoming pregnancy at any point now. I am more peaceful about it this go around, at least so far, so it is nice not having a tear-filled journey. Sometimes it is an overwhelming thought, and other times it is terribly exciting. The Lord's timing will be perfect, though a winter delivery would be preferred.

Jon and I started Jillian Micheal's '30 Day Shred' a week ago, and we haven't missed a day. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too hard for me. Anaya must be keeping me somewhat in shape. We'll see how tone this tummy can get before it looks like a soccer ball again.

I turn 27 on Thursday. Sounds a lot older to me than 26, not sure why. I am so thankful for where I am at in life. God has been so good to me.

Furlough is coming up and I can hardly believe our dear families will finally get to meet our little Anaya. It's been a long time coming, and my heart wells up each time I think about it.

Spiritual Update

The Lord has been working on my heart, getting me ready to share my living space with friends/patients from the hospital. When I think through details I get scared, selfish, protective, etc. What the Lord is telling me though is that I need to walk in faith, just take the step. In a funny way I felt/feel similarly about moving to Africa, buying Gasher, Anaya joining us, cloth diapers, homemade baby food, the prospect of homeschooling, etc. When you take the leap; however, it all somehow falls into place. Life adjusts. Sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways, but it does.

So I'm loosening my grip on my plans and schedules, not getting rid of them, not even changing them yet, but loosening it up, giving some squiggle room. I am preparing for a work of the Lord, and feel like it is coming. When I thought hard about it, I came to the conclusion that it was more important for Anaya to see us loving and giving extravagantly than for her to have solid schedules and routines. I'll always watch her adjustments closely, and if she ever seems to be struggling, we'll re-evaluate. But for now, my laid back girl seems to do fine.

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So that is where we are at! Hope to update more frequently.

We're at that stage, and I am happy to report we are doing quite well. I am finding a schedule that Anaya eats the most and happiest. For now it is twice a day, usually late morning (10-ish) and mid-afternoon (3-sih). She is breastfeeding every 3- 3.5 hours, so if I feed her solids after about 2hrs, she is usually most cooperative.

I am an impatient Mommy and while it is recommended to wait 4 days after each new introduction of food to watch for allergies, I have been doing two to three new items at a time. Neither Jon or I have allergies, so I am hoping we won't run into any problems. For the past week or so we have been doing oatmeal, bananas, and apples. Today I made those three plus pears and butternut squash. I am excited to see her reactions. I also have an avocado ripening... soon!

After reading this: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/tipspices.htm, I decided we are a spicy family and I'm going to give it a shot, even starting early. I have hopes that this will help the transition to just eating what Jon and I eat down the road. So far we've used cinnamon; however, today I added some vanilla (read note on left side of website), ginger, and nutmeg.

Here's my little how to or how did. Ha.

I walk down the hallway and before each room I find myself holding a breath, just a second, but it happens. My mind races with the questions,"Has anyone died? Will she still be there? Who is on treatment? Is it a rough day?"

I had a few extra minutes after my visit to Dermatology, so I figured I'd pop over an see my friends at Oncology. My sweet partner, Alice, greeted me and updated me on our friends. One in particular was doing quite poorly. We had seen her health declining, but this week did seem worse. A few days prior her face had become swollen, and this day I was told her breathing had become labored. I decided I'd go in and sit with her a few minutes before I had to head home to my Anaya girl.

Before going inside, I sat on the lawn and chatted with a few ladies, one who had gone to the trouble to write me her recipe for fish and greens, since I had been whining that I don't know what to do with fish.

It was only a few minutes.

I was heading inside...

It was too late.

A woman solemnly approached with the news. She just died.

She had been lying alone in that bed, no one with her. Maybe she was unaware of her surroundings. Maybe the Lord was merciful and granted peace of mind... But what if she did know, know she was alone? What if she was scared?

I hate it.

I realize I cannot possibly be there for each one. I realize it is impossible to know and time when a person is going to pass on... sigh. I don't know. There may not be a good solution, but I hate it. I hate that it happens everyday.

Lord, you know I am willing, use me.