The many face of Abi: 2nd Instalment

For a four month old this kid is very expressive...

'Who me?' Face

'Dead to the world' Face

Contemplating Face

Yawn Face

'My hand tastes so good' Face

'How you doin' Face

'Get out of my face' Face

Paci Face

Mommy Shock

One night during the first week of Abi's birth Z woke me up, 'Hey, you need to feed the baby.' My groggy response was 'But the baby is in my belly.' At first I blamed the incoherent comment on pain meds...but now I know, it was mommy shock. Every morning I wake up, look at my daughter and exclaim in my head 'wow, I'm a mom!' Little by little it is sinking in...

I love being a mom. I should've done it sooner. Oh and most people say that Abi looks like Z, there are the small 4% that say sweet things like 'She's so pretty, she looks just like her mother.' Thank you dear 4%...I will always believe you, you can tell me anything (like faulty end times predictions) and I will believe you :)

~what the mailman thinks~

This morning I was cleaning our garage/patio.

Most women clean the inside and outside of their homes every morning. Usually because A) It gets too hot to do housework later in the day B) Everyday loads of dust accumulates and necessitates daily housework.

Side note: The garage/patio is my least favorite area to clean.

1 - It's dirtier than the rest of the house

2- Our car and motorcycle are parked in this area, so I have to clean around them

3 - It's an outdoor area so 1 hour after cleaning it becomes dirty again

4 - I've always had grand plans of making a little garden and pation seating...I dream of sitting on wicker furniture, drinking tea and bird watching. So everytime I step out there reality hits...I don't have the wicker furniture of my dreams. Every plant out there dies. And I have yet to find a bird book of Curry Land (if anyone finds one...it's what I want for Christmas)

Anyways so while doing one of my least favorite chores this morning the mailman came. Art came to the gate to get the mail and engage in a friendly conversation. I love having Art living with us, people talk to Art, they talk to him as if we are not standing right there listening.

The mailman saw me cleaning our garage/patio and had an epiphany...'They are normal people.' he told Art. This small comment made my heart swell. I have spent years trying to learn the language, culture, food, and mindset here in Curry Land...finally I have arrived! I am considered normal here.

So when I am back in America Land in six weeks and I am no longer 'normal' by American standards I am going to console myself everyday with the fact that the mailman thinks I am normal.

Some Curry Land mommy tips

Since I am a new mom people here are very forthcoming to share any advice that they may have. Unsolicited Curry Land advice is one of my favorite things to write posts about...it really gives a glimpse into the inner workings of this culture.

Tip #1 - when breastfeeding do not drink cold water, it makes your milk cold.
Tip #2 - your baby should not wear a diaper all day, so when at home let them go without a diaper, only put a diaper on when you are going to visit people.
Tip #3 - Give babies water to drink, mother's milk makes them throw up, water does not.
Tip #4 - put a black dot on your baby's face so that no one places the evil eye on them by coveting in their hearts.
Tip #5 - Tie a red string around the baby's wrist for protection.

Just so you know I have not followed any of this advice and Abi is doing just fine :)

The many faces of Abi

'awe & wonder' face

'Kissy' face

'milk on my face' face

'Kung fu' face

'nuh uh, no way' face

'sweet girl' face

'suspicious' face

'ohhhh' face

'thug' face

I love her Face!

a new fusion dish...i think?

I rarely am surprised by the things Z eats (I am just glad he keeps the fridge clean)...until I found him eating egg fried rice with salsa.

Here it is...

the bathroom post:

Lets retrace our steps shall we...So A was here, she was checking out this old cementary in the 'Rut'. She stepped on the heel of a pair of draw string pants she was wearing so inevitably they loosened...she had to be Magiver to keep them up until we got to the mall where she got to the bathroom to adjust herself.
This bathroom was not pretty, most public restrooms here are on the icky side so you have to go in prepared with your own toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer. And you don't want to go in alone if it can be avoided. In most public restrooms there is a janitor type person usually charging admission to the bathroom. I am always curious what this person's job description is because they obviously do not clean anything.
So 'A' and I walk into the bathroom, I have Abby in my arms, and I see the janitor lady. She is just chillin' on the bathroom counter...Literally, laying across the counter, getting in her afternoon nap. 'A' goes into the stall and I stand in the middle of this gross bathroom holding my newborn baby (I tell you, the things one does for sisters). 'A' was taking FOREVER...so it left me plenty of time to people watch. The only person to watch...you guessed it, napping janitor lady. One girl came in the bathroom to wash her hands...the girl tentatively approached the counter since their was a lady laying across it, and then proceeded to wash her hands. Unfortunately the sink she chose did not work so the janitor lady offered a small token of assistance while she laid there. She pointed, with her toe, to the sink that the girl could use...
Meanwhile the reason 'A' was taking so long in the small stall was because she was trying with all her might to do her business and fix her pants issues all without touching anything...I didn't think she was going to make it...and I was not much of assistance with Abby in my arms. Luckily I did not have to resort to sending lazy toe pointing janitor lady in after her. 'A' finally came out...and I then pointed (with my finger) to the working sink.