New Autumn Pictures

Things have been really busy for our little family lately. All sorts of transitions abound, but some things that I am excited about are the new little school that Malcolm will be going to, another pumpkin patch trip, Halloween, warm cider and much more!

Malcolm's New Friend From Across the Street

Meet Boo's Across the street playmate Sequoia. We just met a couple of weeks ago and they have become fast friends. Here are some pictures of them playing when we went over to Sequoia and his Mommy and Daddy's house for dinner.

All the New Things Malcolm can do

Ok, so first I am really excited about all the new things that Malcolm can do all of a sudden. It is just like part of him just woke up and bloomed. Suddenly he is helping me wash the dishes, while standing on a stepping stool, carrying water and helping clean his new little potty, walking to everyone in church and shaking hands during greeting time all by himself, and so much more.

Today he stunned me in church. He stood up when everyone else stood up, sat down when they sat, sang when they sang (in his own language of course) clapped when they applauded and added his own little "yay!" to the end of each song. The amazing thing though was watching him walk around shaking hands.

I am posting a picture of him this morning. I left his left toilet in the sun to dry after we scrubbed it down together ( he even washed it with his own little sponge), but when he saw it he just went back to the tub of water outside and started washing it again. I didn't want to discourage him from cleaning so I took a picture.

It is good that he is learning to clean because on the downside THIS KID HAS BEEN PEEING ON EVERYTHING! That is driving me crazy. He takes off his diaper and pees. He sleeps in his diaper and soaks through a diaper and liner and wrap and sheet and mattress. He gets undressed to take a bath, but first pees on the bathroom floor. I have had to wash so many things I am losing my mind. I don't mind messes-art, food, water, juice-no problem. Pee pee-yuck!

Trillium Lake

Here is a picture of the beautiful Trillium Lake where we went today with people from our church. We had a great time, by the end of the day I was more relaxed than I had been in weeks, but Malcolm did not get a nap until the car ride home so in some of the pictures of him he was getting pretty tired. There was just too much to see and do! Nonetheless, we had a great time and I would love to go to that lake again!

At the campground water spout

This floats my Boat Mom

Taking a ride in the floaty boat

Malcolm takes a dip in the lake

This video is a little rough. Malcolm never jumps into the water without his cue "Ready Malcolm Swim" so I was taping him wading at the side of the lake when he decided to take a dip, and then I had to juggle camera and getting him out of the water. He loved watching this video though so I think he will gladly jump back in another day,

Playing at Wilshire Park

Malcolm and his Teddy

Hmm

An artsy pic.. Remembering the rocking chair

Pontificating on the state of the world...

or maybe he is just thinking about lunch or some new words. In any case, it seems very serious.

More of Malcolm's Moods

Everyone has been requesting more Malcolm pics lately so here they are. A new series of Malcolm in his many moods as he works on becoming a two year old which he seems to be closer to each moment.

This one is called "Got Teeth?"

Malcolm at Anna's Wedding

Our friend Jaimie came for a visit

We miss her so much!

My One Triumph this Week

My one triumph this week, in the midst of my toddler's crankiness from being sick, staying in and being driven nuts was this- ONE BEATUIFUL GREEN TOMATO appeared in our garden. I can not believe it. I am managing all this without Baba Malcolm. Now I am the farmer!

Malcolm has been sick

Malcolm has been sick lately, and so I have not taken pictures of my poor little guy. I have basically kept him home most of this week since Aunty Anna sent him home. Yesterday I went to work and he stayed with Uncle Nathaniel. When I came back I found them both sick and panciked. I was sure that he had an ear infection, but after a little baby motrin and a full night's sleep he woke up doing much better. I kept him most of the day, made sure we stuck to nap schedules, kept him hydrated and gave him some homeopathic ear medicine just in case. We spent one hour in the garden in the afternoon. He feel much better then and he helped me put composted dirt on the broccoli . I am so glad that he is doing better. Hopefully, I will have a more fun and photo filled posting soon.

Post-Bath Masaai Baby

Malcolm's Little Stevie Wonder Impression

Check out Malcolm at Benjamin's birthday party. Benji was turning two. Benjamin and Malcolm hang out in the Nursery at church together and I think that they are going to get to hang out more this summer. Are they adorable?

Summertime

Malcolm's Daddy flew away home to Kenya yesterday, and we already miss him. Malcolm searches the house when we first arrive for people. Today it was only he and I, but by 8:30 he had walked, eaten, brushed his teet, taken a bath, and collapsed on the sofa by the big window for the night. We do a lot of sofa sleeping in the summer because it gets much more air than out bedroom.

Hopefully Daddy will have a wonderful time in Kenya, and rush home to us soon! I am posting pictures now of some of Malcolm's latest adventures. This kid seems to be coming up with new words every week.

Oh, I forgot to post ( although I have been telling everyone) that Malcolm spoke his first sentence just about two weeks ago now. He says " I love you" only it comes out I luv oooh- how cute is that?

Daddy's Little Guy

Malcolm and the Foot Steps to Freedom Walk on World Refugee Day

Malcolm wanted to walk for Freedom too!

Riding on Slavica's shoulders. She is originally from Bosnia. She fell in love with Malcolm and did not want to give him back, but duty called!

Malcolm had a wonderful time on the World Refugee Walk put on by Lutheran Community Services. This first picture shows us modeling our World Refugee Day T-shirts.

I can not believe that it has been year since I started this blog, and life has been full of those full circle moments. Malcolm has been doing so many new things. He just knows and understands so many things it is pretty unbelievable to me. Of course, to me, everything is still miraculous as if no other child has ever done the things that Malcolm has but of course I think that is just part of mamahood.

Malcolm is in love with cars right now, and anything else with wheels. We did not program him that way, but that is just how he is right now. He loves to watch the cars from his car seat, and Anna has a toy car that he plays in when he is at her house that he never wants to leave. Everytime we go to the grocery store we have to put him in one of the car grocery carts because if he so much as sees one he only wants to ride in it. Anna says that she has observed that some of these gender things just seem to be innate as well like the little girl toddler she knows that just gravitates to pink.

Malcolm has many passions right now but his main ones are being outside and anything with wheels. He is very active. He runs around telling everyone " Hi" and flashing that melt-your-heart smile. I am told almost everywhere I go that he is the most adorable baby, and I have to say that I totally agree but he is growing into a little boy so fast!

Boo Plays Peekaboo

Enjoying a Summertime Bath in the Garden

Here are two pictures of Malcolm enjoying a summertime bath in the garden. He picked the yellow flowers that you see floating in the water while he was sitting there. He has his mama's love of flowery baths I think.

Watering the Garden with Our New Hose

Day of the African Child

This weekend, I went with Malcolm, my colleague and twenty something refugee children to the Day of the African child. Malcolm had a great time and fit right in with the rest of the crowd. At the end of the day some of the children sang old slave songs that they learned at home before coming to America, and Malcolm stood up and danced. The other children laughed-and he laughed and I thought about circles and generations. I thought about my people as slaves returning to Africa and teaching songs there to people who did not speak English or understand its meaning who taught it to their children, who lived through war, who came to America and taught it to my African and American son who laughed and sang and danced and loved everyone and who cried and slept when they left and we went home.

Unbearably cute picture of Malcolm at Aunty Anna's

More pictures with Daddy

The top two pictures are ones that were taking in front of a local coffeeshop in Portland on one of our friends cell phone. They are the best pictures of Geoffrey and Malcolm that I have seen in a long time. The last one is of Malcolm at the park. I did not really mean to upload it with the others, but it is cute so it may as well stay.

Memorial Day Weekend at Grandma's

We had tons of fun at grandma's. We got to go on a boat, eats lots and lots, play with cousins, eat lots and lots, play with a baby doll stroller, take baths, play with a stroller, eat lots and lots etc. The pattern is intentional.

Anyway, we had a great time and it was good for all of us to get to relax with family at last.

New Things Boo Can Do

Well, I officially heard him say "No" multiple times today, but not in a defiant toddler way. He said it in a cute singsong way that mocked the way that I was saying it to him completely. Kind of cute, but I know that won't last long.

Malcolm has also recently aided the word "Bye" to his list. He can now say the following words...

1. Hi
2. bye
3. Mama
4. Mom
5. Baba
6. Dada
7. Uh-oh
8. Yes
9. No

I am pretty sure that I heard him say don't and he is working on thank you also. I just wanted a chance to write all this down while I have a chance to catch it. So much has been going on in our lives I feel like I am missing opportunities to record it all.

We went to Colorado to see Grandma this weekend, and Malcolm had a wonderful time-with the exception of Grandma's pooch Mo who kept knocking him over. We went swimming, took baths in a real bathtub (we only have a shower and plastic basin at our house) spent time in a hot tub, played with cousins, ate nonstop and spent time surrounded by loving family. I will post those pictures next, but I think that my blog catch-up time is nearing an end. More soon...

Mowing the Lawn with Daddy

This year Geoffrey has planted a wonderful garden-a tiny little shamba- in our front yard. We started teaching Malcolm to water it. He carries his tiny little cup over to the plants and dumps the water on them-or sometimes on his shoe instead-and then carries the cup back to one of us to get refilled. He loves being outside, and this seems like a great continuation of last year's leaf watching. I do think that I am going to miss leaf watching, but at the same time it is fun to see my little guy bloom.

In these pictures he is practicing pushing the push mower that we borrowed from a friend. He is very proud. He loves to push things.

Day of the Young Child April 29th

Malcolm could not stay off the stage when they had drumming on the Day of the African Child. He was cranky that day-he did not take a nap-but that could not stop his sense of rhythm. I can not wait to take him to the Children's Musuem again. CM2 in Portland really rocks and it was a fun day. The whole day was free for the occassion.

Malcolm's Easter

Malcolm had a wonderful Easter until the end of the egghunt which was just too close to naptime. I loved being with this weekend though in the sunshine and teaching him all about plastic eggs. He loved them. They shake, rattle, roll-and feed you sweets!

Malcolm's Peace March

Cool Slideshows

Five minutes of sun in February

In February, we had five precious minutes of sun. Malcolm and I ran outside to play. I was encouraging him to walk, but he was more interested in hugging the tree-that's my baby!

Cool Slideshows

New Things Malcolm Can Do

This kid is really growing up before my eyes, and honestly I am not really sure that I am ready for it, but on the other hand it is a lot of fun. He is over his ear infection now-Amen-and life can go back to normal.

He now can say five words, although he doesn't say "dada" as much as he used to. Malcolm can say "mama,""baba," "dada" "uh-oh" and now he can also say "hi." The "hi" bit is pretty darn cute I have to admit.

He also has started doing this thing where he vigorously shakes his head no when he does not want to eat something or do something, but sometimes he does it just for fun. That is pretty cute too.

What do you all think of his new African clothes? He is our budding little Obama!

Gifts Arrive from Africa for the King of Portland

A FRIEND IS BORN IN KENYA

Here is a picture of Baby Earlyn. She is the daughter of our friend Nancy Njambi in Kenya. Nancy tells me that Earlyn would make a great wife for Malcolm someday! Anyway, the picture is too sweet, and we don't have a lot of pictures of our Kenyan family on here so I thought that I would add it.

This kid is really a toddler now

This kid really is a toddler now. He is walking like crazy! I can't believe it! What happened to my cuddly little newborn? My baby is gone and now I have a child. We actually walked together a lot today while we were waiting for a friend to meet us at a coffeeshop. We just walked up and down the sidewalk, and each person that we passed smiled at us as Malcolm toddled along on one of the first spring like days in Portland this year.

Have I mentioned I absolutely can not wait for summer-fun times in the park and in and by large bodies of water. We need to get the Bunyolis to the ocean again, and I have to find some way to do more camping with Boo.

If you can hear me God-please send us spring so this toddler and I can play! Thank you. Amen.