The Bellweathers

Negligence

2011-09-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Summer time I am always negligent in my photo and blogging duties. There are so many great photo opportunities as we spend our time in Michigan that I find myself just enjoying the moment and not capturing anything on film. Here are a couple of photos that others have forwarded me. You can see we had fun this summer.

our "shack" in grand haven

leena at the dollar tree

ani having a good time -- she loves michigan!

More coastal bliss

2011-06-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

from a look out post at Ft. Jesus

Ft. Jesus - fort carved from a coral cliff by the portugese in the 1500s.

port of mombasa

ani at the hotel

One might think from these infrequent posts that we spend most of our time lounging on the coast. Not quite true, but we did make a journey to Mombasa this weekend. Ben had a work thing and the girls and I came along for some fun in the sun. It's actually been quite cold in Nairobi these days.

Vacation! Part II

2011-03-28T01:10:00.001-07:00

We went to the coast again -- this time with the kids and friends. It was fabulous and our friend Olav took some great pictures.

Vacation!

2011-01-17T10:57:00.001-08:00

Ben and I took our first kid-free vacation this week. It was absolutely wonderful -- sleeping, reading, relaxing on the beach. We had a cabin on the Indian Ocean and it was very tranquil, with the exception of monkeys breaking into our cabin on the first night.

Photo shoot!

2010-12-15T01:08:00.000-08:00

We had our talented neighbor and friend Anne take some family pictures of us the other afternoon. Unfortunately, the kids were having a hard time cooperating. Just when Ani would come around to smiling, Leena would burst into tears. Still, we got some cute shots.

Holiday Season Cheer

2010-12-07T23:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent picture of us at Aberdare National Park. We spent a night there this past weekend. Beautiful and I just love seeing the elephants wander out of the brush on the mountainside. Also, it was COLD, which put me in the holiday mood. While Thanksgiving makes me a tad homesick for family/friends, I am enjoying the Christmas season in Nairobi.

I like Christmas like anyone else but get worn out by it back in the US -- it's just too much -- (too long, too many parties, too much shopping, too many desserts, etc...). Here it seems a bit more contained. So far, we are able to limit the gifts (3 per kid) and if I feel like a holiday dessert, I make one instead of a sea of them foisted upon me --- granted, I always oblige because I love sweets, but regret the stomach aches after. Right now the girls and I are into singing carols, decorating, and making wrapping paper per Santa's request.

Song writer

2010-11-20T08:19:00.000-08:00

Ani loves to compose her own music. Here's a clip of her on YouTube. The wicker chair is her piano and the coloring page is both her sheet music and lyrics inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgk_zw599Qk

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

We had a great easy-going Halloween. Ani decided to take Leena's skunk costume for her own, so we made Leena a "love bug" instead. Instead of a pumpkin, we carved a pineapple!

B-day Party

2010-09-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of photos from Ani's 4th Birthday Party!

Nairobi National Park

2010-09-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

We BBQ'd in Nairobi National Park yesterday and got to glimpse a lion on the way out. She was stalking some zebra, which was fun to watch but unfortunately, the lion had a lot more patience than we did.

Ani turns 4!

2010-09-11T22:50:00.001-07:00

Oh dear, where did the time go? Ani is 4 years old today. I love it as kids get older -- more articulate, understanding more, relating more. Every day brings a new observation and a new surprise. Here you can see Ani's b-day presents --- ballet shoes and a watch to learn to tell time.

Leena turns 1!

2010-07-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

So, it appears that our camera and video camera were stolen during our travels -- most likely snagged out of our checked luggage before we even left Kenya, but who knows. Anyways, I have not had a chance to take pictures of meeting up with family and friends back in Michigan. There were some photos taken of Leena eating her obligatory 1 year-old cupcake and the ice cream cake for the rest of us. I'll post these here eventually once I figure how to get them off my parents' camera.

Leena is a kick at 1. Adorable, wiry, into EVERYTHING, and with a smile so big it literally knocks her over once in awhile. She is a delight 80% of the time and is making her needs well known the other 20%. I am excited to see other facets of her personality emerge as she gets older.

Walking

2010-05-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

This isn't the greatest video shot of it, but you can get a glimpse that Leena has started walking here.

Buddies

2010-04-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

We've been keeping busy here in Nairobi. Ani spends most her afternoons playing with her buddies here on the compound. It's pretty ideal for me -- no playdates to schedule, just send her outside to explore and play. I suppose it's not that different from many suburban neighborhoods, but it's new to me in this stage of my life and it's great.

Here's a couple of photos of play -- one on the playground and one during our Easter Egg Hunt this year.

When will I learn....

2010-02-13T23:42:00.000-08:00

...that when Ani is quiet for more than 5 minutes, she is up to no good.

"Mom...I need to put on more make-up."

Recent adventures

2010-02-13T08:53:00.001-08:00

Mt. Kenya -- Castle Forest Lodge

Ostrich Farm

Forward motion

2010-01-22T02:32:00.000-08:00

Leena has been working on crawling with great success. On one hand, we're happy to see her make such progress at under 7 months, on the other, it's time to start baby proofing ;(

Ani or Leena?

2010-01-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

My girls look quite similar. Actually, this picture of them is more distinctive than most but it still begs the question, can you tell which one is Ani and which one is Leena?

A. B.

Lake Nakuru

2009-12-28T20:12:00.000-08:00

We finally got out of Nairobi for a weekend visit to Lake Nakuru -- about 2 hours away. It wasn't exactly challenging travel -- relaxing at a lodge, taking game drives, and general lounging. We weren't particularly ambitious about seeing animals (no early rising) but did see quite a bit -- flamingos, zebra, antelope, rhinos, giraffe, and even a couple of lounging lions watching "the game" after their holiday meal.

Hope everyone's holiday was relaxing and happy!

Holiday E-Card

2009-12-20T02:14:00.000-08:00

Every year I try to come up with some excuse on why I am not putting out a proper holiday card. Excuses have ranged from: too busy with graduate school, too busy with wedding planning, too sick with pregnancy, etc... This year, our excuse is that we're in Kenya and therefore it's not administratively sensible. Thus, here you have our lame e-card version this year. I couldn't even manage a decent photo of the girls and opted for this one because it made me laugh.

It's not all the "Christmassy" over here except at the malls and I kinda like it. I don't get into the Christmas spirit until mid-December so we are just now putting up my homemade stockings, experimenting with green and red popcorn, and singing carols. I'm starting to feel the spirit now, though so Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all the rest....

Update

2009-12-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

So, I've been a negligent blogger, and just as our life gets a bit interesting.

We're doing well here in Nairobi. I have been distracted by having to relearn simple things in life -- how to use a parking meter, how to use the clothes dryer, etc.... A quick update, we have hired two women -- one to help with the kids and housekeeping and one as a driver. So far, all is going reasonably well. We are also gradually acquiring furniture, wall hangings, curtains, etc.. so our place is feeling more and more like a real home and less like an abandoned warehouse. On the weekends, we've taken little excursions... seeing an elephant orphanage, a ride through the Nairobi National Park, a walk in the Ngong hills, and lots and lots of malls. I guess it's a mall culture here and I'll learn to adapt.

In the meantime, the kids keep growing, changing, and making me laugh. Ani is starting out at a preschool on Monday, which is a relief because we are running out of activities to keep that mind busy. Like most kids her age, it's one activity after another and thank heavens I stocked a good art box and extra toys for our first couple of months here. Leena has started solids and sitting up for short periods of time. She's a sweet baby with her own unique characteristics. The girl loves toes, -- hers, mine, Ani's, you name it. Here's an amusing video:

Around the compound

2009-10-30T03:10:00.001-07:00

We have made it to Nairobi without much incident. The flight was very long with two kids -- about 15 hours in the air and another 5-7 in layovers, waiting on the plane, customs, etc... We are gradually settling into busy Nairobi and enjoying the beautiful and spacious apartment that Ben got ready for us. The best part is the lovely green space on the highly secure compound. Here are a couple of photos.

Summer/Fall Recap

2009-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

We've had a great time here in Michigan before our next adventure to Kenya. Here are a few recent photos:

Ani and Leena wearing dresses that were previously worn by Jean and Niki -- about 30 years ago.

Grandpa and the two babies...

trendiest of accessories...babies!

How do you like them apples?

2009-09-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

We went apple picking this weekend. The kids had a great time sampling the goods. I think we forgot to tell Ani that we actually paid for the apples in advance. She looks like she's trying to sneak one here.

Ani turns 3!

2009-09-13T14:42:00.001-07:00

Ani turned 3 this weekend! We went fishing in Gallup Park with cousins, grandparents, and other family and friends. It was a great time. Besides this calendar milestone, Ani has also mostly potty-trained and now has a "big girl" haircut. I feel like she's transformed from a toddler to a little girl. Pretty cool.

Summertime

2009-08-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

We've been having a great time here in Michigan. As usual, I have not been taking as many photos as I'd like to. Here's a classic shot of summer, though:

Leaving Beloved Berkeley

2009-07-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

It's with a great sigh of sadness and nostalgia that we leave the Bay area. Although the time has flown by, we've been here quite awhile now -- 8 years for Nicole, 7 for Ben.

Here's a list of some of the things we've obtained during our time here:

* 1 master's degree
* 1 marriage
* 2 PhDs
* 2 beautiful daughters
* over 500,000 frequent flier miles ;)

We'll miss the mild weather, the variety of nearby nature, the lack of mosquitoes, the endless selection of good eats, and the wacky politics. Most of all, though, we will miss our many many wonderful friends who have been so supportive during our transitions from bumbling confused students, to bumbling confused parents, to our new adventure as bumbling confused ex-pats.

Father Ben

2009-07-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here's Ben with his 2 babies

Here's Ben with his 3 babies ;)

More baby pictures

2009-07-08T08:47:00.001-07:00

Baby Leena is Here!

2009-07-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Baby Leena has arrived!

Here's her stats.

Name: Leena Audrey Bellows
Birth time/date: July 1, 2009 at 6:22pm
Location: Alta Bates Hospital, Berkeley, CA
Weight/length: 7 lbs 5 oz; 20 inches

All is well at the Bellweather household thus far....

Links to other photos:

http://www.our365.com/newbornportraits/babydetail.aspx?birthid=f4d37bee-ad34-4314-8802-7897b7e0e3a9&babyid=07afeae4-704a-4b3e-9470-23bcbbe11359

Belly shots

2009-06-12T08:26:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow we hit the 38 week mark of this pregnancy and we decided we should get a couple of belly shots since the new baby can come any day now. We are dismantling the apartment in preparation -- trying to clear out Ben's office area to make room for baby stuff. Most likely we have 2-3 weeks more to get ready but you never know....

Storytime

2009-05-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of Ani "reading" a story. She loves Ben's book of business cards and interprets them differently each time. In this story, she is reading something about "Ollie". Maybe a book read to her at daycare? Anyways, it cracks us up.

Graduation Day

2009-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a clip of Ben graduating with his PhD from Berkeley!

Pink Polka Dots

2009-05-08T09:30:00.001-07:00

It was a rainy day a few days ago and Ani got dressed in her rain gear before heading to day care. She is a sucker for pink and polka-dots. This demonstrates the power of recessive genes. While I'm not particularly opposed to either pink or polka-dots, I've never been much of a girly girl, but Ani is increasingly expressing her girly preference for PINK! On Wednesday she refused to wear anything that wasn't pink. We had to really search for pink socks to go with her pink shirt, pink pants, and pink shoes. The hat you see here was her choice too. I was trying to get her to try on a cool khaki cap, and she refused and pointed to the hot pink polka dots and said "I want the PINK DOT ONE!". At this rate, we're really hoping that this next kiddo is a girl because we're probably going to have a lot of pink polka-dots on our hands. :)

Easter Snapshots

2009-04-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

Expressions

2009-04-05T21:39:00.001-07:00

Ani loves to play "expressions" where she can demonstrate her dramatic range.

Testing of the Flip Videos

2009-02-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

Many moons ago we uploaded a couple of videos to our blog and haven't done much since. Recently, however, we purchased one of those groovy Flip video recorders and so I'm testing out the application here.

If this works, you should be able to see Ani in performance-mode. She often does this -- sings about random topics and while her songs typically make no sense, you can get a good feel for her flair for the dramatic. To the best of my knowledge, this song is a tribute to hands and paper and she is giving them a Christmas greeting. Ani is fairly capable of communicating in English but her performances are a different matter. Enjoy.

Oh - one more thing. If you are wondering how you can get that hairdo, you need to wear your hair in a ponytail on top of your head all day and then take it out and tussle it just so to really get the look.

Holiday Recap

2009-01-09T08:44:00.002-08:00

Again, we've been so busy with our holiday travels and visiting, that we have failed to record it here or elsewhere. The holiday season is an eventful one for us. Along with Christmas and New Years', we also celebrate our wedding anniversary and Ben's birthday. Of course, I didn't really take pictures. Here's one of Ani playing in the snow before my camera died.

We braved the cold of Michigan for 3 weeks over the holidays and had a great time catching up with family and friends. As many can probably relate, we spent countless hours eating, talking, eating, relaxing, and eating some more. It's amazing we can fit into any of our clothes.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving filled with carbo-loading goodness. We had a nice feast at our friend's place and have been doing some decadent loafing this weekend. I got Ani reasonably dressed up -- she is refusing dresses these days -- and decided to take a picture. This has become her default picture pose. I have no idea where she got it but it cracks me up.

Swing Voter

2008-11-05T07:38:00.001-08:00

Since I use this blog is an electronic album/scrapbook, I thought I'd post this photo of Ani on election night 2008 to commemorate the occasion. It's startling to me that when Obama declared his candidacy for this election, Ani couldn't even sit up yet -- let alone crawl, walk, talk..

As most of you know, Ben and I follow politics fairly closely and it is a regular conversation topic so it's probably not that surprising that Ani picked up on it. As we watched the debates over the last couple of months, she would point to the TV screen and yell out "Obana" and "John MonJain". She didn't have an allegiance to one candidate, sometimes asserting "I want Obana!" and other times "I want John MonJain!". We were highly amused by this and feel we'll wait until she's 3 or 4 before we try to brainwash her into our left-leaning belief system ;)

Ani had a hard time settling down last night and it was after the election was called that she finally fell asleep. I told her that Obama won the election. She answered "John MonJain?" I told her that he'll still be in the Senate and that seemed to assuage her concerns as she drifted off to sleep.

A Not-So-Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

Ani was a skunk this year for Halloween. Here's some cute photos of her before the terror struck. Basically, Ani is going through a fearful phase. Earlier in the week she hinted that Halloween would not go well when she got scared of a little boy in a tiger costume. Then last night at a Halloween party last night she saw her friend Joaquin dressed as dracula and it was all over. It was a pretty sweet costume complete with white face, black rimmed eyes, blood dripping fangs, and even an electronic hand that glowed red pulsing veins. We had to leave the party pronto as she shook and screamed in terror. Poor thing. We're hoping next year we can reason with her a little more on the concept of a costume.

Tattoos

2008-10-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

We're experimenting with temporary tattoos here at the Bellweather household. I (Nicole) am not sure if it is a lame attempt to recapture my youth or if 7+ years in Berkeley is taking it's toll, but I really want a tattoo. I just can't commit to anything long term. I've gotten Ani in on the fun and she loves animal tattoos. For awhile, I was putting them on her belly because it's a nice broad surface area and it's kind of funny. Unfortunately, Ani now greets every person she sees (friends and strangers, alike) by lifting up her shirt to show them her tattoo of the day. Hmmm...I might be instilling bad habits here ;) We've shifted to forearm tattoos for the time being, but here's an amusing picture of Ani. She's about as Berkeley as a kid can get with the crocheted skull cap and legwarmers on her arms.

How Berkeley Can You Be?

2008-09-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

In search of an activity this morning, I asked Ben to see what was going on in town because this time of year is chock full of festivals. Sure enough, today was the "How Berkeley Can You Be?" Parade. Ani and I headed off to the festivities and this time I remembered my camera.

This parade is always a crack up and filled with art cars, political extremists, bizarre and amusing marching bands, and the general populace delighting in getting ridiculous. This year, my favorite was the mexican dancing horses, however, the coolness of them clomping along to the beat was not remotely captured on film.

Ani Turns Two!

2008-09-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Ani turned 2 years old. It's cliche, of course, but it is amazing how time flies. We had a nice ice cream social today to mark the occasion. I confess, as usual, I didn't get a lot of good photos. Instead, we tried to replicate the classic birthday moment after dinner tonight.

Here's a couple of other recent photos of Ani to show how she's a big girl now ;)

Coast Guard City USA

2008-08-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday marked the conclusion of the Coast Guard festival here in Grand Haven. Why in the world is this town deemed Coast Guard City USA, you might ask? Good question. I mean, aside from beer-crazed Wisconsonians and a few Canadian gypsies who have lost their way, there really isn't a pressing need to guard the coast of Western Michigan. Outside of one week in late July, I don't recall much of a Coast Guard presence either. The best I can figure is that there is a coast guard station in town and with all the local fruits and vegetables already taken for annual festivals, they thought they'd just elevate the coast guard station to festival status.

It doesn't have to be logical, though, to be a good time. We soaked up a lot of Americana during Coast Guard Week. Daily strolling through the carnival, nibbling on elephant ears and cotton candy, browsing the arts and crafts fair, watching all the local festival queens and marching bands pass at the parade, and concluding with a dramatic fireworks display.

The parade, in particular, cracked me up. All those poor high school students marching in 90 degree heat dressed from head to toe in polyester and heavy shoulder pads. Then there was the young hunters club decked out in camouflage, followed by people tossing squirt guns to the crowd. The sheer volume of flags was the most striking thing to me. Every time another one came into view-- the entire crowd would rise to their feet. I feel like I soaked up enough mid-western patriotism to get me through another 5 years in Berkeley ;)

http://www.coastguardfest.org/

Negligent Blogger

2008-07-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

We've been having such a pleasant summer that I've forgotten to take pictures and write things down. Here's an update.

In late June we flew to Louisville, Kentucky for the fabulous wedding of Nate and Melissa Bellows (Ben's brother). It was a fantastic family occasion and I've attached some photos sent on by the newlyweds.

After the wedding we rode to Michigan and stayed on the farm for a few nights and enjoyed more family time and pleasant countryside. We criss-crossed the state making other visits and Ben left for his trip in Uganda July 8th. Ani and I returned to West Michigan, where we've been enjoying beautiful weather, daily trips to the ice cream parlor, and visits with old friends.

It's always nice to spend some time in West Michigan -- such a startling departure from our beloved Berkeley that I think it brings me some needed perspective. Today, for example, in the neighborhood we saw a man driving a motorcycle. He didn't have a helmet, but he did have a 6 month old strapped to him in a Baby Bjorn (of course, no helmet for baby either). When he saw us (myself, sister, and brother in law) staring in disbelief he said to us..."Gotta start em' young." Now in Berkeley, one is required to get outraged by such an action, but here, naw. It's summer. Have some fun, take some risks, enjoy!

SupaNani!!

2008-06-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ani has taken on a superhero persona -- SupaNani---and watch out. She punches her fist in the air and spins around the room enough to make your head spin.

Mother's day matching

2008-05-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

I've decided that holidays are perfect for cheesy matching photos. Shopping at my favorite resale store the day before Mother's day, I found a shirt that was the exact print of a dress Ani has and I couldn't resist.

Not another history buff!

2008-04-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

Whenever Ben and I travel someplace even the least bit historic, I try to remember to pack my patience because Ben wants, or shall I say NEEDS, to thoroughly read every historical marker sign within sight. Our visit many years ago to Rome was completely ridiculous as Ben insisted on trying to decipher the meaning of each sign, even though many were only written in Italian. Alas, it appears this trait is genetic, for take a look at Ani and Ben when we went for a simple morning hike yesterday at a nearby park.....

San Pablo Ave Burger Reviews

2008-04-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

We've always been intrigued by the numerous burger joints along San Pablo Ave. Not the McDonald's, Burger Kings, etc... but rather the more obscure ones that have survived in spite of the influx of the typical franchise chains. So, we've decided to go ahead and try them and rate them for future reference. Tuesdays have been chosen as "San Pablo burger review night". Our goal is to try all of the burger joints on San Pablo Ave between the Richmond and Oakland borders. Once we accomplish this laudable goal, we may extend further down the avenue -- or we may go on a diet.

Here's the rating system for the burgers and accompaniments (fries, etc...) :
* = gut bomb
** = blah, not impressed
*** = pretty good
**** = very good
***** = amazing!

Our first review (4/22/08)

Al's Big Burger
This was a good place to start as it is much less scary than some of the other places we plan to get to. The burger was actually quite tasty with yummy grilled onions and crisp lettuce. While the fries were just ok, the fried zucchini with ranch was great.
Burger = ****
Accompaniments = ***

Nation's
While this burger joint is more mainstream than the others on the list, we felt it merited inclusion. As with last week, not a bad burger at all for this type of place- tasty lettuce and lots of mayo. In my opinion, though, it wasn't as good as Al's and I thought the fries were not very good. It could have been just a so-so batch because our neighbors who came with us seemed to get better ones.
Burger = ***1/2
Accompaniments = **

Reviews to come: Nibs, The Red Onion, Nation's, and more....

Lexicon

2008-04-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Ani is gradually transitioning from a rather complicated communication pattern in her own special language to using English. She'll repeat just about anything, but there are several words that she uses consistently and somewhat accurately. So, for anyone who is going to prepare for a conversation with Ani in the near future, here's a peek into her English vocabulary:

Aacky – meaning yucky. According to Ani, almost everything is aacky, especially Ani’s feet.

Ani – she loves to talk about herself in the third person.

Apple – meaning any round fruit.

Baby - any person under 12.

Ball

Bappa – her name for Ben.

Bath

Blueberries – her favorite food and one of her first words, pronounced “boo-berry”

Book – after much coaxing, Ani is finally interested in books.

Boot

Cheese

Circle

Doggie

Duck

Hello and Hi

Help

Milk – meaning any beverage.

Mommy – meaning Nicole, but sometimes it is used for Ben – it means parent

Mouth

Nanoka – (na NO ka) I’m not sure how this is spelled but it is a 4 year old Japanese girl who lives across from Ani's babysitter and Ani talks about her all the time.

Outside

Phone

Poo/ poopy – meaning either “I have to go” or “Um, I would like you to change my diaper”

Potty

See ya!

Shoe

Slide – favorite playground equipment

Snack

Sock

Uh-oh – usually stated after doing something naughty but completely intentional

Up/ uppy – a little confusing because it means both “pick me up” and “put me down”

Walk

Weeeeeeeeeee – ok, not really a word, but sung with great enthusiasm when riding down a slide

Urban hang

2008-04-01T16:37:00.001-07:00

Ani's latest obsession is hanging from bars. Being in Berkeley, there are a lot of places to park one's bike and this means we have to stop frequently so that Ani can hang for the necessary 10-20 seconds.

Flash forward

2008-03-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

Ani has been giving us some alarming (albeit amusing) glimpses into her teenage years. Here's her with her feet up having a good chat on the telephone and one being too cool for us in her shades.

On the red carpet

2008-02-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Ani and I glammed it up for the Oscars last night. Sure, we mostly just sat on the couch eating brownies and clapped with the audience, but we did get a photo shot of us looking very serious as we struck our red carpet pose.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Ani had a busy day and is cashed out here after a walk.

I love this cheesy holiday and always celebrate it like a 4th grader by wearing red and pink and eating as much chocolate as my body can handle. Tonight we made an all red and pink dinner - good stuff.

Back to Berkeley

2008-01-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

Life has settled back into our Berkeley routine here quite nicely.

We're back in the UC village apartments, I'm back at work half time, Ani is back with her beloved babysitter Nora, and Ben is back to literally running to and around campus.

Of course, things are a little different here than when we left. Ani has many more tricks up her sleeve. One of her favorite games is to take all the clothes off her somewhat organized shelf, then cram them back in haphazardly, and then crawl into one of the cubbies herself (see photo).

New Address

2008-01-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

We've moved -- again! Our current address is:

525 Red Oak Ave., Apt 300
Albany, CA 94706

Our cell phones are the same. No land line as of yet.

Right now we are still living amidst boxes. Turns out, Ani is not the most helpful mover. She likes dismantling all our progress and keeps gleefully taking things out of the cupboards.

We'll get back to the photos once we unearth the camera and catch our breath....

Grandma Jenny

2008-01-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Ani and I have been enjoying Michigan for the last few weeks. One of the reasons we decided to come home early was to see my Grandma Jenny who has been ill for a number of years and was placed in Hospice mid-December. She passed away on New Years Day at age 95.

While it is sad to know she is no longer here, preparing for her funeral has strangely put me in a good mood because it requires conjuring up all the great old memories of the grandma I knew and loved. Grandma Jenny (Vincenza Maggiore) was a beauty with sparkling blue eyes and perfectly coiffed and colored hair. She was a woman who knew how to accessorize and I think of her whenever I see fitted leather gloves, butterfly pins, and beaded clutch purses.

While her fashion taste was impeccable, she had some hilarious food and drink preferences for someone who was a phenomenal cook in her day. My mouth waters at the thought of her cooked all-day tomato sauce and her delicious cookies but Grandma had a penchant for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Blackberry Manischewitz. She always had Double-Mint gum on hand to help with the inevitable indigestion that results from combining the Colonel's special with sugary wine. More than anything, these things bring a smile to my face.

Tomorrow is Grandma Jenny's funeral and I am grateful to be there with my freshly colored hair and butterfly pin where I will lift a glass of Manischewitz and toast a long life well-lived.

Top 5s

2007-12-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

As we close in on the end of our stay, here are the top 5 things I will miss about Uganda:

The vistas. Uganda is a country of beautiful landscapes from the Rwenzori mountains, to Lake Victoria, to the savannah lands, and everything in between. There is a breathtaking view around each corner.

4. The colors. In addition to the views, everyday life here is injected with vibrant color. The bright colors of the traditional clothing, the flowers, and the fruits and vegetables.

3. Extremely cheap organic produce – Ah, the 10 cent giant avocado…the 30 cent stack of tomatoes…. the 50 cent pineapple. Berkeley Bowl and Monterey Market will seem like an absolute rip off in comparison.

2. Living the good life – Here in Uganda we can afford massages ($7 an hour), a daily housekeeper, and a house on the golf course.

The people we’ve met along the way. We’ve met some really wonderful people here that have been incredibly welcoming and helpful – from the impressive doctors and researchers, to our fabulous housekeeper Sandra, to the general people we meet in our travels. Ugandans have a reputation of being incredibly friendly and that has surely been our experience.

Still, here are also the top 5 things I am looking forward to back in the US:

5. Reliable utilities – I have a new appreciation for the utilities in developed countries and I’m looking forward to bathing Ani in water without having to boil it first and having electricity on a daily basis.

4. Anonymity – While Ani will probably be depressed that she will no longer generate stares and smiles from everyone around, I’m looking forward to blending in a little more to my surroundings.

3. Trader Joes – and all its ready-to-eat goodness.

2. Relaxation – I’ve had plenty of time to relax here in Mbarara, but I’m looking forward to sleeping without the anxiety and vivid dreams courtesy of Larium (antimalarial medication) and not having to fret about mosquitoes, Ebola, etc….

1. Seeing our friends and family. We’ll be in Michigan from December 19^th to January 5^th and hope to catch up with family, especially my new niece Amata. After that it is back to Berkeley and into our new apartment in UC Village.

Ssese Islands

2007-12-14T02:20:00.000-08:00

We took a short vacation on the Ssese (pronounced “say say”) islands this week – sort of an early Christmas and celebrating the end of Ben’s data collection. The main island was very laidback and absolutely beautiful. Here’s the view from our hotel balcony. The only problem are the many, many mosquitoes at night. They were also apparently getting their Christmas dinner early as well – courtesy of my blood. Here’s hoping the antimalarial medication really works!

Our Holiday E-Card

2007-12-12T03:33:00.000-08:00

Seasons greetings to all! Here’s a photo of us in our matching Kitenge clothes we had made earlier in our stay. We know, it’s the ultimate in cheese but we did it anyways.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season. We have had a nice break from the onslaught of Christmas advertising but I am looking forward to some holiday cheer next week. Ani and I are headed back to Michigan next Wednesday – leaving Uganda on Sunday night and spending about 24 hours in California. Originally our plan was to stay with Ben until early January but for a number of reasons – including the recent Ebola outbreak – we’ve decided to cut our stay by two weeks.

On that note – Happy Holidays!

Booted!

2007-11-23T00:14:00.000-08:00

For those who know of our terrible, terrible luck with parking tickets, we thought you’d get a kick of out this. Apparently we neglected to pay our 15 cent parking fee last week when shopping downtown. There is a pay for parking system with attendants who collect fees when you return to your car. Sometimes, they aren’t there though and we didn’t realize it was our responsibility to track them down and pay our 15 cents. Of course, we tend to stand out here and as a result, no parking infraction goes unnoticed. So, yesterday when Ben went shopping for some Thanksgiving wine he found our car was booted. Yep, apparently they have 1 car boot in all of Mbarara and it’s reserved for us. We aren’t thrilled about the $12 fine but we can’t help but laugh at how our Berkeley parking karma has followed us all the way to Uganda.

Turkey Day

2007-11-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! We had a fabulous feast provided by Nneka (the UCSF research coordinator who lives up the road from us). We gorged on all the traditional fare – turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, greens, pumpkin and apple pie and so much more. It was all incredibly delicious and I think I consumed more calories in that meal than in all of the past week. Many thanks to Nneka and those who helped her with the feast!

African Pigeons

2007-11-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

When referring to animals and petulance, it seems that often the adjective “African” denotes a more extreme version of what we westerners are accustomed to (e.g. African killer bees, African ants with their 4 feet anthills, etc…). In this spirit, I’ve deemed these birds “African Pigeons”. These things are all over Mbarara – mostly scavenging out of trash dumpsters and in parks. I think they are called Maribous and they are huge creatures with a massive wingspan (around 5-6 feet). At first, I was intimidated by these birds but I’ve become quite fond of them.

Last week I pulled a lower-back muscle and for the last few days I have been suffering from an “African cold”. Thankfully we don’t have any mirrors in our house but occasionally I glimpse my reflection in a window and wonder who that hunched old woman is. It’s at these times, I make sure to take a stroll past the nearest trash heap and look closely at the marabous. I feel absolutely radiant by comparison.

Books

2007-11-15T03:21:00.000-08:00

Well, we’ve crossed the half-way point of our stay with 9 weeks in Uganda and 7 more to go. Looking back on my previous blogs, I’m not sure the posts have conveyed how bored I have been. Don’t get me wrong – the scenery is beautiful and the people are friendly, but I don’t have much to do and I don’t have the wonderful distraction that is television. Ani is good company but conversations with a 1 year old only take you so far. I’ve even come to relish the task of doing some of Ben’s data cleaning and anyone who has spent time cleaning data knows that I am truly, truly bored.

So, I have been doing a lot of reading. I scope out books from the libraries of other muzungus who are mainly British and Canadian, so I’ve expanded my knowledge of British and Canadian authors. Here’s a list of books I have read thus far. I have starred the ones that were particularly good in case anyone is shopping for a new book:

The Mighty and the Almighty – Madeline Albright*
The Invisible Cure – Helen Epstein*
The Bridge of San Luis Rey – Thornton Wilder
March – Geraldine Brooks*
This Body – Tessa McWatt
In the Skin of a Lion – Michael somethingorother
Life of Pi – Yann Martel*
The Foreign Correspondent – Alan Furst
A Long Way Down – Nick Hornby
How to Be Good – Nick Hornby
Neither Here Nor There – Bill Bryson
The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
Cargo of Orchids - Susan Musgrave
To Be Someone - Louise Voss
Slave - Mende Nazer*
Their Eyes Were Watching God-Zora Neale Hurston*

Fort Portal

2007-11-05T03:40:00.001-08:00

This weekend we went on an excursion to Fort Portal, a town about 3 hours north of Mbarara. The drive went past incredible scenery – glistening tea plantations, the Queen Elizabeth Park savannah lands, and the Rwenzori mountains.

Here are a few photos: (1) lunch at a hotel overlooking Queen Elizabeth park, (2) A family photo of us taking a walk in the jungle where thankfully there are no snakes this time of year, and (3) Ben and Ani in front of one of the many crater lakes.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone had a fun holiday. Halloween is definitely not celebrated here in Uganda and if we thought everyone was staring at us before, they surely were perplexed to see Ani sporting wings fashioned out of mosquito netting and wire hangers. Ani was either an angel or a mosquito, depending on her disposition. We went “trick-or-treating” at the Canadian NGO house and scored some good produce.

Food

2007-10-30T02:46:00.000-07:00

A few folks have asked about the food here in Uganda. It’s no accident that you have never been to a Ugandan restaurant. In general, the cuisine of this country can be described as bland and starchy. The national dish is called “matoke” (mah-TOE-kay), which is steamed mashed plantains and looks like congealed banana mush. I guess it makes sense if you live in a country with serious diarrhea problems but I think it is pretty unappetizing. I get constipated just looking a matoke but Ugandans love it and seem confused when you don’t order it at a restaurant. A typical Ugandan lunch plate consists of a big ol’ heap of matoke, a side of boiled potatoes called “irish”, some white rice, beans, and groundnut sauce, similar to peanut sauce. You can swap out the beans for some other small portion of protein like some fried goat bits or a skinny chicken thigh and there are plenty of other starches to choose from as well (boiled sweet potato, chapatti, French fries, etc…).

Before you start to feel sorry for us, though, I should mention that we don’t eat generally eat Ugandan fare that often at home and instead opt for locally made cheese and yogurt, pasta, and fish from Lake Victoria. The one Ugandan dish we eat a lot of is beans and rice, primarily because Ani loves it and one bonus is that the fresh beans, once removed from their pods, are quite lovely (see photo).

Also, there are some bright spots on the food landscape. Much of the fruit is delicious and very cheap – pineapples, passion fruit, extra-sweet little bananas, papaya, and melon. In my opinion, the best thing about Ugandan food is the glorious avocado. Avocados are abundant here and are usually about 3 times the size of those that you see in California supermarkets, have a milder and creamier taste, and cost about 10 cents. We eat loads of avocados – salted slices, guacamole, and blended into yogurt smoothies for an extra creamy morning treat.

Of course, there are the foods we can’t get here that I crave and look forward to diving into in January –dark chocolate, pizza, decent breakfast cereal, and chicken I don’t have to look in the eye before purchasing. When I start thinking about these things my mouth waters so I just grab another slice of avocado and try to savor that instead.

Safari in style

2007-10-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went on safari, meaning we went driving around a game park looking at animals. Lake Mburo National Park is about 40 minutes from Mbarara and is considered underrated and underutilized compared to the larger and more popular parks to the west. We took in some great sites and kept track of the main animals we saw: impala, topi, zebra, warthog, buffalo, waterbuck, hippos, monkeys, baboons, and several species of beautiful and interesting birds. I think my favorite of all the animals were the weaver birds who use the papyrus that grows along the lakeshore and weaves these elaborate nests (see photo).

Instead of camping, we decided to treat ourselves to the fabulous Mihingo lodge at the park. We stayed in beautiful thatch huts with amazing views and really good food. It was probably the nicest lodge-like place I have ever stayed in and we are already thinking about when we might go back for another night.

Ani continues to be a fun and adaptable traveler. At one point on our drive through very rough terrain, she got car sick and vomited all over me, but besides that, she was in good spirits and continued to charm the other guests and lodge employees.

“Muzungu, how are you?”

2007-10-16T01:35:00.000-07:00

This is the phrase I hear at least 25 times a day as I traverse the markets and take my walks. English is the official language of Uganda, however, there are 33 local languages that dominate day to day conversation. Apparently, anyone who has had any schooling learns this exchange: question - “How are you?” and reply - “I am fine.” Seeing a white person seems to spark memories of this tutorial and everyone springs this little conversation on us. Another popular query is “How is baby?” I always reply that we are “fine” or “well” or “good”. I’ve already tired of these responses and am considering responding with “I am fabulous” or “I have had better days”, depending on my mood.

In Mbarara, the local language is Runyankole. The only words in Runyankole that I know are “Agandi,” which means hello and “muzungu,” or white person. I usually know when people are talking about me when I hear murmurs of “muzungu” but I haven’t a clue of what they are saying. The attention is starting to get a little tiresome and I have a smidgen of sympathy for celebrities. At least I’ll appreciate our anonymity when we return to Berkeley. Ani, on the other hand, will likely need therapy to recover from the attention withdrawal she will face when we return. She has started to wave to everyone like she’s the local festival queen in the 4^th of July parade.

For now, at least, we muzungus are doing fine.

Weekend Update

2007-10-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

Our first weekend in Mbarara was spent moving into our place and Ben worked through last weekend with the pilot testing of his survey. So, this weekend felt like our first real weekend here in Uganda. Originally we planned on the rather ambitious tourist agenda of going to Queen Elizabeth Park – about 4 hours from Mbarara for a safari drive. We scrapped that plan on Friday after a couple of nights of very limited sleep due to Ani’s teething and Ben’s huge workload. Instead, we went on a beautiful hike on Saturday with a handful of doctors (British and American) working at the University. Ben carried Ani on his back and she seemed to enjoy the scenery as much as we did.

On Sunday afternoon we checked out the English mass at the nearby Ugandan Martyrs parish. Mass was reasonably the same as in the States, although a bit longer with more singing interspersed throughout. I won’t be attending with Ani in the future, however. She was fine, really, by normal American standards, but Ugandan children seem to always be very quiet and well behaved in public, so Ani’s perpetual babytalk babble seemed distracting and inappropriate in that setting.

On Location

2007-10-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

From Nicole's desk ...

When packing for our time in Uganda, I had this notion that I would bring comfortable, utilitarian clothing that could withstand hand washing and then I would leave most of my clothes behind when we leave in January. As soon as we started hanging out in Mbarara, however, I noticed that we were quite possibly the worst-dressed people in the city, followed by the other mzungus (white people) and that nobody here would be the least bit interested in our clothes except to use them for cleaning rags. The people of Mbarara take great pride in their appearance and amaze me in how they are able to stay clean and unruffled after a hot and dusty day. I live in one of the nicest and cleanest homes in the city and still by the end of the day I am covered in dirt and sweat and half my hair has sprung free from my ponytail.

In contrast to Mbarara, today Ben brought us along to a village where they were pre-testing the survey for his study and we got a glimpse into village life. The villagers are not immaculately dressed and coifed but rather fit more into the images you might see of Africa in the US media – barefoot and pantless children, a few goats along a dirt road, and tired looking women wearing old clothes. The kids we encountered were fascinated by Ani and all wanted to touch her and socialize. She loved it, of course, and it became clear that one of the benefits of being a one-year-old was that she wasn’t put off by a language barrier or cultural differences. Ani laughed, babbled in baby-speak and shook hands like she met these kids on a playground in Berkeley.

I’d like to say that I was very cool and gracious during our visit, but that wouldn’t be accurate. Looking at the kids with their distended bellies and runny noses, I did consider the twist of fate that separated them from Ani, who was dressed in her preppy outfit and leaving shortly in a SUV for a nice clean house in town, not to mention back to the US in a few months. In spite of this awareness, however, the main thing on my mind was “Oh dear, they keep touching Ani’s hands and face. Where is my hand sanitizer?” I spent the next couple of hours waffling between the emotions of a sympathetic visitor and a germaphobic mother.

Perhaps this nervousness will wear off in a few weeks and perhaps not. In any event, at least I know where I can leave behind our clothes.

Lodging and transportation

2007-09-28T02:10:00.000-07:00

Some people have asked to see a picture of where we are living so here’s a shot of the house (to post later). It’s quite nice and at least twice as big as our last apartment in Berkeley, so no complaints here. The place is also extremely clean thanks to Sandra, a woman Ben hired to clean and cook, for the supposedly generous salary of about $2 a day. It’s a bit unnerving having someone toil away scrubbing the floors and making lunch while I yawn about how tired I am as I play stack-the-cups with Ani.

Ani and I are still trying to figure out the best way to get around town and fill up time in our day when Ben is working. I have found that my one daily errand – walking to the market to get more cleaning supplies (Sandra goes through tons of bleach and laundry detergent in her efforts to make this place hospital-worthy clean) and food for lunch – totally exhausts me. Part of the reason why it tires me out is because I’m a total wimp, but another factor is that I’m carrying Ani while we battle over whether or not she is going to wear her sunhat and it’s very dusty and hot for someone acclimated to Berkeley weather.

Yesterday I decided that for our second trip to town, I was going to take the jogging stroller. As if we didn’t stand out before, now we looked fully, fully ridiculous navigating this neon green monstrosity through town. People stare and nudge the person next to them. The kids – all decked out in their school uniforms – thought it was hilarious and we had throngs of them following us through town on our way to the bakery. Ani, already prepping for an ambassador position, sat up in the stroller smiling and waving to all the onlookers. In spite of our making a spectacle of ourselves, the stroller is probably the better way to go since I am freed of carrying Ani and whatever we buy and the canopy on the stroller provides some shade. So, let the staring begin because we are off to town…

Grandma Josie

2007-09-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

My grandmother, Josephine Starkweather, passed away this week at age 94. Grandma Josie did not adhere to the stereotype of the average grandmother. Instead of baking cookies, she sold mutual funds. Instead of knitting scarves, she organized Republican fundraisers. Instead of moving to Florida when forced into retirement in her 60s, she moved to Louisiana to start a new job selling stocks and continued working until her mid 80s. When I was seven or eight years old, I remember a friend showing me a doll that her grandmother bought her for Christmas and I responded that my grandma gave me stock in Pepsi.

I have always loved telling stories of Grandma Jo. My favorite is probably the one when she got carjacked in her early 20s and, being the phenomenal saleswoman that she was, she talked the guy into letting her go and giving back her engagement ring. After that, she promptly contacted the police and assisted in his arrest.

There was an intriguing complexity to Grandma Jo that most people cannot recognize in their own grandmothers. She was both notoriously frugal and exceedingly generous. She had a knack for getting what she wanted from people, but was also genuinely interested in helping them improve their finances and better their lives.

I will always be grateful to Grandma Josie for her support and encouragement growing up, her financial generosity, and her example as a woman of great strength and accomplishments.

The Road to Mbarara

2007-09-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

Friday we drove 4 hours west of Kampala to our home base for the next few months, Mbarara. The drive through the countryside was quite striking – very lush with green rolling hills. We stopped briefly at the equator for some iced coffee and a photo op. In the few days I’ve been here, I’ve become somewhat accustom to what it feels like to travel around – bouncing around the potholes and narrow misses with people, cattle, and oncoming traffic. At one point though, I alerted Ben to a huge animal perched at the side of the road – a water buck – that looked like it was ready to make a break across the street. Apparently, it’s rather unusual to see game out on the road, so I’ll count myself lucky for the glimpse and the fact that we didn’t hit it.

Today (Saturday) we got settled into our new living quarters, a very nice house with lots of space and decent breezes. The power hasn’t been on for the most part and seems to be on more at night than during the day. I got up around 11pm last night and found the lights on with the power back, having gone to bed early since it was so dark. I can’t sleep because there is some insanely loud festival blaring music and shooting off fireworks.

Mbarara does not appear to be at all affected by the floods in other parts of Uganda. Everyone seems to be going about their business as usual and for the most part, it isn’t all that different from what I’m used to – folks going about their routines of running errands, preparing and eating food, socializing, and preparing for the next day. Of course, there are also not-so-subtle differences as well and we definitely stick out. Walking through the market, people often call out “Muzungu!”, meaning white person or foreigner, and just seeing us and announcing it seems something of an amusement.

Sunday morning we walked into town with Ben carrying Ani in the sling and people just stared in disbelief that a man would carry a baby about town. The women, in particular, seemed baffled by this and I walked behind Ben and Ani and saw the women nudging their friends nearby to check out this bizarre occurrence. Who knows, maybe Ben can start a trend and give the ladies a little break. :)

In Uganda

2007-09-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello all. After talking and planning for months now, we finally made it to Uganda. The flight (San Francisco to Seattle to Amsterdam to Entebbe) was LLLOOONNNGGG but we made it without too much incident. Ani was a real trouper and spent most of the time sleeping or playing with the in-flight entertainment remote controls. We spent last night (Tuesday) at a very nice bed and breakfast in Entebbe and this morning we went to the Entebbe botanical gardens where the first Tarzan movie was made and we saw Colobus monkeys and fishermen on the shores of Lake Victoria pulling in their nets of Tilapia. Tonight we are in the substantially larger and busier capital, Kampala.

Ben asked me if the sights and sounds of Uganda were how I imagined and I realized that I have been so focused on the health aspects of this trip (vaccinations, malarial meds, insurance, etc…) that I hadn’t even gotten around to putting a good picture of what I thought Uganda would look like. So, here I am trying to soak it all in. Since watching traffic is completely terrifying to me, I sit in the back seat with one eye on Ani and one eye out the window. So far, I guess it does fill some expectation of what “Africa” looks like -- people walking into town with heavy baskets balanced on their heads, motorcycles racing by loaded up with bananas, belching diesel vehicles (including our own) clouding up the air.

Part of me wishes that we had done this a few years earlier so I could enjoy the whole saturation of the senses that comes with travel to a different culture without being on edge about what Ani is putting in her mouth and whether she is flushed because it is warm out (we are at the equator, after all) or because she has a fever. I take each mosquito as a lethal threat even though we are well protected by drugs, bed nets, and bug spray. I’m giving myself a couple of weeks to linger in this fearful nervousness but am hoping I can relax after awhile once we get settled in and survive our first and inevitable bout of travelers’ diarrhea.

In the meantime, Ani is already the absolute star attraction. Everyone wants to hold her and while she is very open with smiles and blowing kisses, she is not too keen on being held by others yet, which I am somewhat grateful for and hope it continues for awhile. Our girl loves being the center of attention, though and I already fear it will become a substantial blow to her ego when we return to Berkeley and she is just one in a sea of other babies and toddlers.

That’s all for now…. In fact, that might be a bit much considering I have only been in Uganda for just over 24 hours now. Oh well, I guess you were warned in the previous post ;)

Warning: Text-heavy emails ahead

2007-09-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Normally my blog postings are photos with quick descriptions so family and friends from afar can track Ani's progress. Now that we've arrived in Uganda, however, I'll probably be posting a lot of text-heavy entries as a way to communicate efficiently with everyone and to take up time in my yet-to-be-scheduled days.

Birthday girl

2007-09-13T17:59:00.001-07:00

Ani turned 1 yesterday! In addition to cake, Ani received 7 immunizations (Yikes!). She's handling them pretty well and we are looking forward to our adventure to Uganda on Monday.

From Baby to Toddler

2007-09-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Ani's stay in Michigan is coming to a close. Here are a couple of quick video clips showing her transition to a bonafide toddler.

Better late than never

2007-09-02T18:47:00.002-07:00

We've been a bit negligent in updating our blog lately but here's a few recent pictures. The first one is of Ani taking a bath with her cousin Dominick in the cooler after a particularly messy dinner. The next one is of Ani sitting with her cousin Ryan on a recent visit. And finally, Ani with her Grandma Elaine who has returned from her service in Iraq. So good to have her back!

Chatterbox

2007-07-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

We are trying to up our game on our website to include YouTube videos. It might take a few tries, but if this link works, here's Ani doing her gabbing that is typical of her these days. She tends to be very expressive with her hands. :)

Cousin time

2007-07-25T09:42:00.001-07:00

Here's Ani with two of her cousins, Emily and Nick Barrett, from a visit last month. Somehow, I didn't catch a photo with her other cousin Ryan. :( Next time, we'll have to make sure to get a good picture of him too.

In Denmark with Dad

2007-07-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

We spent the past week in Denmark where Ani and I met up with Ben. It was a great trip - we enjoyed the pristine farmlands, beautiful castles and churches, and Viking history. Most of all, it was great to hang out as a family.

Baby feet

2007-07-09T17:12:00.001-07:00

Aren't these little piggies cute?

I'm waiting on perpetual hold with Delta airlines, which just may be the 7th circle of Hell. Anyways, I thought I'd try to cheer myself up by looking at cute pictures and posting them. It's almost working, almost....

Beach day

2007-06-25T05:57:00.001-07:00

Pictures and lies

2007-06-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Isn't it great how pictures can capture a moment and give the false impression of reality.

For example, here's a great photo of Ani's Uncle Brian reading a story to her and cousin Dominick. Doesn't it look like Ani is listening intently to the story? While Dominick may enjoy story time, I've pretty much given up on reading to Ani for now because she always insists on devouring the book herself, quite literally.

This second picture (taken just moments later) better captures reality, but I'll save the first one for the albums to brag about what a good listener my little girl was :)

Real food

2007-06-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'm convinced I choked to death on something in a previous life, because I've been very hesitant to give Ani any real foods. Since Ani is completely over babyfood and has 8 teeth now, I've put my fears aside and let her go for the solids. Although Ani is only 1/4 Italian, spaghetti is clearly her favorite food.

Rub-a-dub-dub

2007-06-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ani and Nicole have made it to Michigan -- our home base until September until we go with Ben to Uganda. Here Ani is taking a bath with her cousin Dominic (18 months). The two have become fast friends and Ani wants to do everything Domi does. It's pretty adorable.

Little red Ani B.

2007-06-10T07:52:00.001-07:00

With the flurry of moving activity and visitors we are a little behind on our photos. Here's Ani in an adorable outfit made by Uncle Nate's girlfriend Melissa. Ani loves it. Thanks Melissa!

The power of prunes

2007-05-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

For indelicate reasons, we fed Ani stewed prunes this morning. In the process, she took on many characters.

First, she looks like a Revlon model sporting the newest lipstick color "Prunella":

Next, she decided to venture into a Charlie Chaplin routine:

Finally, she decided to transform herself into one of her favorite characters, DAD:

'sup?

2007-05-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

In reverse

2007-05-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

Watch out everyone! Ani's on the road. Ok, just the playground. She's old enough now to enjoy all the great communal toys lying around the village.

Not your average 7 month old

2007-04-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ani is trying to help her dad understand the intricacies of multilevel statistical modeling. Hmmm...maybe we should start with ABCs.

I just wanna fly....

2007-04-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

When she's not scooting across the room --- she has the military crawl down now --- Ani assumes the skydiving free fall position. I get a sore neck just watching her.

Sitting pretty

2007-04-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's official, Ani is a bonafide sitter. With her long torso and little bottom, Ani has not been inclined to sit but rather has been working on her crawl. She's mastered it now though and is happy to sit and play for almost 3 minutes before getting bored and rolling into her crawl position.

Visit from Bappa and Mimi

2007-04-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

Ani's grandparents (named Bappa and Mimi by cousin Dominick) came for a visit. Ani was remarkably chipper all week, giving her grandparents a distorted impression of her day-to-day demeanor. Of course, she cried the whole way home after her grandparents were dropped off at the airport.

Yuck!

2007-03-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

We're enduring a case of the Ani diarrhea here at the Bellweathers. Is it a virus, food sensitivity, just teething??? We have no idea and are hoping that whatever it is, it ends soon. Ani's biggest complaint is a sore bottom and she's expressing her displeasure here. She's pretty darn cute about it though. :)

Raindrops on roses....

2007-03-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of Ani's new favorite things:

1. DAD. She is over the moon for dad these days. Mom will do if she's hungry enough, but really, it's all about dad.

2. Moving around. She's a semi-crawler of late. She scoots backwards and shifts around in 360 degree circles but can't get very far in a forward motion yet. Still, we're quite proud ;)

3. Breathing fast and furious through her nose. She found she can make some cool noises this way and always gets a laugh from us. See photo for the great face she makes when she does this.

Two teeth

2007-03-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ani's two center bottom teeth came in recently. Now she can do some serious damage to the furniture and to mom as well :)

I couldn't get a good photo of her teeth so I decided to put this one up instead that was taken by Ani's new friend Pavlina.

I'm so baked....

2007-03-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a cute picture of Ani that one of her babysitters sent us. Sure, she can't read, but she can model the latest in baking fashion.