My Life as an African Gypsy

3rd trimester? Really?!

Okay, so when I think back to the day I took that little test, it does seem forever ago.



Now we're at 27.5 weeks pregnant! This picture is at 26 weeks:



Again, I have been blessed with an easy pregnancy, and I praise the Lord! As I move into the 3rd trimester, it is time for naps. I have started having slumps when Anaya naps around 1, and just this week I've been decidedly taking advantage of my 1-childness state and resting! It is hard for me, not to feel lazy.

While this pregnancy has been easy enough, it has been more uncomfortable than my pregnancy with Anaya. I get more cramps/aches and pains. The end of the day brings a sore belly. I think lifting a 20+ pound child all day would be the culprit! =) I don't sleep well, though I didn't with Anaya either. I remember thinking I got so much rest when Anaya was born! I could sleep on my tummy, and I didn't have to pee 4 times a night. Ugh!

I have gained about 18lbs now. I think is right about where I was with Anaya. With Anaya I hardly gained in my 3rd trimester, and I hoping for the same with Jovie girl... we'll see! My regular jeans still go on, just no buttoning, so I feel like I'm doing fine.

Jovie is estimated at a healthy 2.6 pounds, which of course my doctor thinks is on the large side. When you live in a 3rd world country, babies aren't born big. When I saw Jovie today she was taste testing her umbilical cord! Silly girl. She is a hand sucker, which I hope to mean another thumb sucker on the way. =)

Time is running, and before I know it I will have 2 little girls in my arms! Hard to imagine really.

I am not a scheduler... I like to be in the know, knowing what things need to be accomplished by when, and no worries, I'll get them done when I feel most motivated or most stressed. That's when I do my best work, always have. But when it comes to allotted times for specific things I tend to feel caged.

Nonetheless, Jon and I are going to give a shot to a more scheduled life, feeling like we are not being the most productive with our mornings. There is no punishment system in place, nothing to be feared, just goals. Maybe I'll feel less "caged", right?

Today is day one. My first urge is to rebel. Why? So strange.

Jon leaned over to wake me up with a kiss. He gently asked if I was getting up to exercise. It was 5:45. I moaned and shut my eyes. He went on to get ready. I made the decision - Get UP! Scratching my protruding belly I walked to the restroom, thinking the whole time, "I am not a morning worker-outer." It's true, I'm not. The fact is, however, I am also a tired Mommy, so if I think I'll do it after Anaya goes to bed, there is a good chance I won't. Afternoon naps = too hot. I will become a morning worker-outer. At least for now.

I giggle when I think about my schedule. There isn't much on it for now. I know with Anaya I have to have time to be Mommy most of the day.

Another goal for today - meal planning. I tend to plan my meals the morning of. I tend go to the store a lot. I am going to try to plan a week at a time, and grocery shop 1-2x a week. Fruits and veggies don't last here like they do in the States, so we'll see how that goes.

Later this week I will be planning activities for Anaya. I would like to start 2-3x a week doing a little organized "learning/exploring" time, short but purposeful and planned. I've found some good websites for 1-2 year olds. If you Mommies have any suggestions, they would be very welcomed!

Okay, I'm cooled down from working out... to breakfast and then meal planning! I got lucky this morning, Anaya is being a sleepy head!

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was being induced by a small pill that would be inserted into my cervix. I was nervous about the day ahead, but anxious to meet my daughter and prepared as I ever could be. To read about the day:

Birth Story


(What a strange moment, and yet so terribly right.)

Somehow, Mommyhood just happened. Anaya came into our lives, and we were parents. The last year has been full of joy, growing and stretching. She has been the easiest of babies, and as her name's meaning, I look up to God and give a shout of praise!

As her personality develops, and I get to know this little girl of God, I marvel at His handiwork. When I think that the Lord has entrusted her to Jon and I to shape and develop, I am humbled, and a bit overwhelmed. May we be faithful.

I cannot wait to see the Lord's plans and purposes for her future.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful, flawless girl! (Song of Songs 4:7)

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.

February, March, April


May, June, July


August, September, October


November, December, January


Party set up -


Some color


Paper pinwheels and tissue paper pom poms - Thanks Pintrest for the ideas!


Mommy + Jovie + birthday girl! Dad's job at the grill!





We started cake time inside without electricity as we escaped the storm, but when the rain stopped we moved outside to get some cool air. Poor Anaya was drenched in sweat while inside!

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 still breastfeed. Yes, pregnant and breastfeeding. It really hasn't been a problem at all. We are down to twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. With her birthday around the corner, she will soon be weaned completely, and my hopes, only using a sippy cup.

We still cloth diaper. I took a little break while we traveled in the U.S., but we jumped right back in the day we got home. I am still so very happy with my Sunbaby diapers and I am about to order some more, since I will have new buns to cover and clean soon. I worried when I couldn't find them on Ebay anymore; however, Sunbaby now has its very own website! Check it out here. My only problem with Anaya is that they are starting to be a bit snug, and she is only 1 yr. So Sunbaby now has two sizes and we will order the bigger size for Anaya, allowing Jovie to use the old ones.

I made it through homemade baby food the whole way! Even in the U.S. I managed to keep up with it, which shows you how easy it can be. I never once bought a jar of food, which I take some strange pride in. As of last week Anaya has decided she is finished with baby food and now eats whatever we do, making life seem just a bit easier.

This pregnancy has been a breeze. I had less nausea with this one, vomited once which was the same as with Anaya, and now I'm in my 2nd trimester, the one I love! Jon reminds me that I am more tired, usually wanting to get in bed around 8pm, but it is mid-summer here and very hot, which sucks up a little extra energy. Sleeping is just recently getting a little uncomfortable.

I have lots I could go on and on about, but I'll save it for another post, which I hope to be more consistent.

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.