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Monday, 06 July 2009

  • Pinch me, I live in Africa......

    On Wednesday, Kev and I had the privilege to head for an overnight at Tree Lodge.  We took our computers and got some much needed work done in the day, but the goal was to rest and just get away for a bit.  Serena and Sierra watched Piper and Andrew so that we could go on this lovely overnight. 

    Upon arrival at the lodge, Diane told us, "So we have a new baby giraffe that was just born a few days ago."  I had heard from Jerry that one of the giraffes was expecting so I was excited to hear that she had delivered.  Kev said he wanted to go look for it, but rest was on my agenda and I didn't quite feel like walking or driving around hunting for a baby giraffe that I probably wouldn't see.  Instead, I rested......that's what I came to do, and that's what I did! :)

    On Thursday morning we woke up to a horrible flat tire so when the group left on the truck to find the baby giraffe, Kev and I missed it.  I still thought to myself, "Oh well.....it's just a giraffe, not like I've never seen one of those before!"  I still get excited to see animals here, but after living here for 6 years I don't get quite as excited as I used too.  (Now if there is a lion or other cat around......watch out, I can hardly contain my excitement! :))  After getting our flat fixed we decided we should head back home.  Erin loaded up with us and we decided to drive around a bit to see if we could see the giraffe.  (The Lodge property has 7) After driving for an hour we didn't see it. We did see some Gemsbock, Impala, Zebra, Ostrich and various other deer like animals.....yes, I get them all confused. :)  I thought, "Oh well....no biggie".  Just as we were getting ready to pass through the gate to leave, I spotted them.....giraffe.....the whole heard!  We knew the baby had to be close but that the heard was probably really protecting it.  Kev off roaded a bit and we saw it (still not sure if it's a girl or boy as the umbilical cord is still attached and they couldn't tell yet)........
     

    This sweet baby giraffe (pics courtesy of Erin Adams)

    I've never seen such a small one before so as I stood their watching it I realized it was pretty rare to see a giraffe that was just a few days old.  It still stood every bit of 6ft tall and as I looked at the others I wondered how in the world the momma carried such a big baby.  Doug (the Lodge's manager) said that he watched it being born and it was quite amazing as it comes out feet first and then it just drops a good 4-5ft on the ground when it's born!  Can you imagine!? 

    The others did a good job of shielding it from us, but we sat for awhile to just watch it and the others.  I sat in the stillness......hearing the birds and the sound of Erin's camera clicking away and had a moment.......at "pinch me I live in Africa" moment.  All this just 20 min outside of where I live.....seriously!  Crazy!?! I guess I really did care about seeing that little baby after all and we were so lucky to catch it just on the way out. 

Friday, 26 June 2009

  • Catching Up.....

    Gosh, time sure does fly these days!  I realized it had been almost two weeks since I updated so I thought it was time to do some catching up.......

    Life in Botswana was a bit stretching this week.  Our internet has been down quite a bit and we've not had much in the way of consistent running water.  Just when I start to get used to all the comforts, I am quickly reminded that I live in a third world country.  Yes, at times I forget! :)  Internet I can deal with....but water shortages are no fun.  Especially when you have poopy cloth diapers, bottles to wash, and need fresh drinking water.  It also never fails, that's when get those sudden Big D attacks!  Yikes! :) 

    It's also been COLD!  I've been having to run the small heater in the kids rooms so that they stay warm.  Both refuse or kick off covers so I have to keep them warm some how.  Kev and I have been snuggling in the covers with our hot water bottles and extra blankets.  Sure makes it hard to get out of the bed in the mornings too!! 

    Speaking of rooms.......my little lady is officially in her side of the room now!  Her "room mate" has been working with us and so far he's stayed out of her bed. :)  She's doing great in her crib and it's really nice to have our room back again.  It's small to begin with so having the Pack and Play in there made it a bit cramped.  She also turned 3 months old on Father's Day!  Where's time gone? 




    Isn't that hat precious!?  Linda Madeksho knitted it for her....it reminds me of a birthday cake!



    Andrew has completed his second week of school and so far so good.  The first week was rough.....he was crying a lot and was really grouchy when he would get home.  This made for a very long week and fried my nerves as he would refuse to nap.  This week was much better as he still cried, but was in much better spirits when I picked him up.  He is still stuck like glue to Edith, but she says each day he gets a bit braver. :)  I do think he enjoys it so far.  It's nice to have three mornings with just Piper and I.  I can often times get a bit of work done too which is nice. 

    First day of School! :)

    Andrew is really starting to speak in sentences too and tries to sing songs with us when we sing.  He's growing up fast! 

    Having fun with Serena's Mac. :) 

    Next Wednesday Kev and I are having a night off and away at Tree Lodge.  I can't wait!  I really just want to sleep in! :) ha!  Serena's sister Sierra arrived on Sunday and it's been wonderful having her here.  She's like a mini Serena and Andrew loves her too!  Soon we're going to have to say goodbye.......that's just too sad to think about right now. 

    And seriously.....Michael Jackson...dead!?  I am still sitting in shock over that one!  While I wasn't a huge fan, I can say that I loved his Thriller Album.  I remember the inside cover where he was in the white suit with the tiger!  I remember when his hair caught on fire when he was filming the Pepsi commercial and them wheeling him out on a stretcher, but he still had his silver glove on!  I guess that was all my generation.....my time.....when life was just a bit simpler because I was like, six! :)  Someone asked me today...."Do you even remember Michael Jackson when he was black!?"  of course I do!!!  He was weird but such an icon of our time.......I can't believe he's gone. 

    Well, better post this and head to bed with my hot water bottle! :) 



Friday, 12 June 2009

  • Oh Speed.....there he is!

    Get ready for a totally random post! :) Sorry, there is no hidden meaning, just random and life with a toddler....never  a dull moment!

    So about once a month I clean out Andrew's toy chest as well as move our couch and pick up all crayons and various toys that have gotten lost under it. I've determined that this is Andrew's favorite thing to do with me as he's hot on my heels and lights up like a Christmas tree when I find a long lost toy!  Usually the long lost toy is a Lightening McQueen die cast car that usually ends up rolling under the couch, never to be seen until I get the energy to move everything.  Sure enough today "Speed" was the first toy that came out and Andrew exclaimed......."Oh Speed!!!! There he is!!!"  He then proceeded to play with his beloved Speed for almost an hour.  I'm sure in a few more days he'll end up back under the couch.  Andrew loves his cars, trucks, and tractors so much.  Often times our floor will look like a used car lot with all types of modes of transport laying around.  However, I've noticed one thing.....Kids are hard on toys....or maybe it's just Andrew.  Often times his trucks are missing a wheel or what not.  This doesn't seem to phase him.  He still plays with them all and has his favorites!

    Last Friday as I was bathing Piper, Andrew decided to take Kev's phone and throw it in the tub with her!  Thankfully it wasn't a fancy phone and it was honestly time to look at getting Kev a new cell phone anyway, but still. Well low and behold Kevin.....yes, my husband is now sporting a Blackberry!  Seriously!  You see it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the Mission had a contract phone that needed to go to someone and it just happened to be a new Blackberry 900.  Kev was the next in line as a director so he got it!  So now he's got this fancy phone and I'll be honest.....there is a bit of jealousy in me. ha! In all honesty, I hate phones but this little gadget does everything.....really fun!  I still have to shake my head at the odds of it all.  I am thinking maybe Andrew should throw my laptop in the bath tub and maybe I'll get a shiny new macbook?  (Kidding....I know I'll get one one day, but that is not how I want it to happen! :)) 

    Kev's taking Andrew shoe shopping tomorrow morning.  Andrew only owns croc type shoes which is good for here, but I am thinking for school he should have something a bit more sturdy for running around.  So, Kev's taking him shoe shopping for school shoes!!  Oh Monday is going to be a day of many mixed emotions for this mommy. 

    Speaking of school....I've been trying to prepare him a bit this week.  We've worked a lot on our Please and Thank You's.  He's long got the thank you down, but the please has been harder.  Well, I think we got it now! I started with "What do you say?", but my little parrot just repeated me so I had to resort to a look.  Now when he asks for something I turn and look and you can tell his little wheels are going and then he bursts into a smile, "Please Juice!"  Of course we clap and say Yeah when he gets it right and well that's just the funnest thing to him.  We've also worked on the potty this week as this is another thing they will be teaching him.  He was all into sitting on his little potty, but as soon as his little bare fanny hit that seat he bolted off of it and said, "No Potty Mommy....Diaper!"   Oh man.....I think it's gonna be a long road. 

    I will have mornings with just my Pipes while Andrew is at "school" and I am looking forward to it!   I just love her to pieces.  She's just so sweet and content.  I love that she can lay in her bed for awhile and just entertain herself.  (Hands seem to be the new thing right now....she loves to look at her hands! :))  I also love that she's getting interested in Andrew.  Today I have no idea what he was doing, but she was giggling.  When I tried to do what he was doing she stopped, but as soon as he started in she started giggling again.  I don't know......maybe it's there little thing?  None the less, I loved it. 

    Well I think that is about as much randomness as one post can hold.  BTW, our rainy and cold weather has left us.  It was nice while it was here.  It's still chilly, but the rain is gone now.  Who knows though.....I suppose it could come back! 

    Toodles!

  • Oh Speed.....there he is!

    Get ready for a totally random post! :) Sorry, there is no hidden meaning, just random and life with a toddler....never  a dull moment!

    So about once a month I clean out Andrew's toy chest as well as move our couch and pick up all crayons and various toys that have gotten lost under it. I've determined that this is Andrew's favorite thing to do with me as he's hot on my heels and lights up like a Christmas tree when I find a long lost toy!  Usually the long lost toy is a Lightening McQueen die cast car that usually ends up rolling under the couch, never to be seen until I get the energy to move everything.  Sure enough today "Speed" was the first toy that came out and Andrew exclaimed......."Oh Speed!!!! There he is!!!"  He then proceeded to play with his beloved Speed for almost an hour.  I'm sure in a few more days he'll end up back under the couch.  Andrew loves his cars, trucks, and tractors so much.  Often times our floor will look like a used car lot with all types of modes of transport laying around.  However, I've noticed one thing.....Kids are hard on toys....or maybe it's just Andrew.  Often times his trucks are missing a wheel or what not.  This doesn't seem to phase him.  He still plays with them all and has his favorites!

    Last Friday as I was bathing Piper, Andrew decided to take Kev's phone and throw it in the tub with her!  Thankfully it wasn't a fancy phone and it was honestly time to look at getting Kev a new cell phone anyway, but still. Well low and behold Kevin.....yes, my husband is now sporting a Blackberry!  Seriously!  You see it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the Mission had a contract phone that needed to go to someone and it just happened to be a new Blackberry 900.  Kev was the next in line as a director so he got it!  So now he's got this fancy phone and I'll be honest.....there is a bit of jealousy in me. ha! In all honesty, I hate phones but this little gadget does everything.....really fun!  I still have to shake my head at the odds of it all.  I am thinking maybe Andrew should throw my laptop in the bath tub and maybe I'll get a shiny new macbook?  (Kidding....I know I'll get one one day, but that is not how I want it to happen! :)) 

    Kev's taking Andrew shoe shopping tomorrow morning.  Andrew only owns croc type shoes which is good for here, but I am thinking for school he should have something a bit more sturdy for running around.  So, Kev's taking him shoe shopping for school shoes!!  Oh Monday is going to be a day of many mixed emotions for this mommy. 

    Speaking of school....I've been trying to prepare him a bit this week.  We've worked a lot on our Please and Thank You's.  He's long got the thank you down, but the please has been harder.  Well, I think we got it now! I started with "What do you say?", but my little parrot just repeated me so I had to resort to a look.  Now when he asks for something I turn and look and you can tell his little wheels are going and then he bursts into a smile, "Please Juice!"  Of course we clap and say Yeah when he gets it right and well that's just the funnest thing to him.  We've also worked on the potty this week as this is another thing they will be teaching him.  He was all into sitting on his little potty, but as soon as his little bare fanny hit that seat he bolted off of it and said, "No Potty Mommy....Diaper!"   Oh man.....I think it's gonna be a long road. 

    I will have mornings with just my Pipes while Andrew is at "school" and I am looking forward to it!   I just love her to pieces.  She's just so sweet and content.  I love that she can lay in her bed for awhile and just entertain herself.  (Hands seem to be the new thing right now....she loves to look at her hands! :))  I also love that she's getting interested in Andrew.  Today I have no idea what he was doing, but she was giggling.  When I tried to do what he was doing she stopped, but as soon as he started in she started giggling again.  I don't know......maybe it's there little thing?  None the less, I loved it. 

    Well I think that is about as much randomness as one post can hold.  BTW, our rainy and cold weather has left us.  It was nice while it was here.  It's still chilly, but the rain is gone now.  Who knows though.....I suppose it could come back! 

    Toodles!

  • Oh Speed.....there he is!

    Get ready for a totally random post! :) Sorry, there is no hidden meaning, just random and life with a toddler....never  a dull moment!

    So about once a month I clean out Andrew's toy chest as well as move our couch and pick up all crayons and various toys that have gotten lost under it. I've determined that this is Andrew's favorite thing to do with me as he's hot on my heels and lights up like a Christmas tree when I find a long lost toy!  Usually the long lost toy is a Lightening McQueen die cast car that usually ends up rolling under the couch, never to be seen until I get the energy to move everything.  Sure enough today "Speed" was the first toy that came out and Andrew exclaimed......."Oh Speed!!!! There he is!!!"  He then proceeded to play with his beloved Speed for almost an hour.  I'm sure in a few more days he'll end up back under the couch.  Andrew loves his cars, trucks, and tractors so much.  Often times our floor will look like a used car lot with all types of modes of transport laying around.  However, I've noticed one thing.....Kids are hard on toys....or maybe it's just Andrew.  Often times his trucks are missing a wheel or what not.  This doesn't seem to phase him.  He still plays with them all and has his favorites!

    Last Friday as I was bathing Piper, Andrew decided to take Kev's phone and throw it in the tub with her!  Thankfully it wasn't a fancy phone and it was honestly time to look at getting Kev a new cell phone anyway, but still. Well low and behold Kevin.....yes, my husband is now sporting a Blackberry!  Seriously!  You see it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the Mission had a contract phone that needed to go to someone and it just happened to be a new Blackberry 900.  Kev was the next in line as a director so he got it!  So now he's got this fancy phone and I'll be honest.....there is a bit of jealousy in me. ha! In all honesty, I hate phones but this little gadget does everything.....really fun!  I still have to shake my head at the odds of it all.  I am thinking maybe Andrew should throw my laptop in the bath tub and maybe I'll get a shiny new macbook?  (Kidding....I know I'll get one one day, but that is not how I want it to happen! :)) 

    Kev's taking Andrew shoe shopping tomorrow morning.  Andrew only owns croc type shoes which is good for here, but I am thinking for school he should have something a bit more sturdy for running around.  So, Kev's taking him shoe shopping for school shoes!!  Oh Monday is going to be a day of many mixed emotions for this mommy. 

    Speaking of school....I've been trying to prepare him a bit this week.  We've worked a lot on our Please and Thank You's.  He's long got the thank you down, but the please has been harder.  Well, I think we got it now! I started with "What do you say?", but my little parrot just repeated me so I had to resort to a look.  Now when he asks for something I turn and look and you can tell his little wheels are going and then he bursts into a smile, "Please Juice!"  Of course we clap and say Yeah when he gets it right and well that's just the funnest thing to him.  We've also worked on the potty this week as this is another thing they will be teaching him.  He was all into sitting on his little potty, but as soon as his little bare fanny hit that seat he bolted off of it and said, "No Potty Mommy....Diaper!"   Oh man.....I think it's gonna be a long road. 

    I will have mornings with just my Pipes while Andrew is at "school" and I am looking forward to it!   I just love her to pieces.  She's just so sweet and content.  I love that she can lay in her bed for awhile and just entertain herself.  (Hands seem to be the new thing right now....she loves to look at her hands! :))  I also love that she's getting interested in Andrew.  Today I have no idea what he was doing, but she was giggling.  When I tried to do what he was doing she stopped, but as soon as he started in she started giggling again.  I don't know......maybe it's there little thing?  None the less, I loved it. 

    Well I think that is about as much randomness as one post can hold.  BTW, our rainy and cold weather has left us.  It was nice while it was here.  It's still chilly, but the rain is gone now.  Who knows though.....I suppose it could come back! 

    Toodles!

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MissionaryMommy

  • Visit MissionaryMommy's Xanga Site
    • Name: Sarah
    • Birthday: 2/15/1978
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 9/9/2003
    • Lifetime

About Me

  • Happily married to the love of my life Kevin for 10 years. We have two beautiful children, Andrew and Piper who are the joy of our lives! We've been missionaries for 5 years living in Botswana Africa and working with Love Botswana Outreach Mission. I blog about the daily life and adventures (some good, some bad) in a third world country.

Chatboard (2)

  • Cor9Famle
    I've missed seeing you around the board so Kris said to check out the website.....Sorry to hear Andrew is cutting teeth. I am it is not too fun for him either. In the end, he gets to chew some great cuts of meat though. How is the pregnancy treating you? I know it is getting hot there by now.
  • kc2121
    SARAH AND KEV I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 1 1/2 HRS LOOKING AT THIS SIGHT AND HAVE ENJOYED SO MUCH. I MISS YALL. THRU YOU WRITINGS I FEEL THAT I AM THERE WITH YOU ALL. KEEP UP THE AWESOME WRITINGS KIM
    • Posted 3/27/2008 1:15 PM
    • by kc2121

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