April 15, 2011 - SuperGirl

We have been having a really great time in Denmark the last two weeks and I certainly have lots of pictures and stories to share, but I haven't wanted to spend too much of our precious time here on the computer. With a promise to provide a full pictorial update soon, I will leave with you an overview of Grace's first encounter with "big girl underwear."

It's a bird...

It's a plane...

It's SUPERGIRL!

LMW

April 3, 2011 - Top Ten

Long-haul travel with two small children (one small child and one infant, really) redefines the term "tag team". While both Grace and Noah were as good as could be expected on our 18 hour journey (door to door, that is), Kristoffer and I were by far the busiest people on our 8 1/2 hour from Nairobi to Amsterdam (which was followed by a 6 hour layover and then a 45 minute flight to Billund, DK and then a 45 minute drive to Farmor's house). Grace didn't have any meltdowns on the plane until the last 20 minutes when she really wanted me but couldn't have me because I was trying to nurse Noah, who initially refused to nurse and therefore had pain in his ears on our descent. Their meltdowns - the only one for both of them, actually - overlapped by 5 minutes during which everyone the plane hated us I'm sure. But such is life. Noah was an excellent baby the whole trip, although wanted to be held more than he wanted to be in the bassinet or car seat, leaving us with little "hands free" time. We took shifts changing diapers and walking around the plane and entertaining Grace. I was seated next to a really nice Dane, and Kristoffer and Grace had 3 seats all to themselves right behind me. Overall, it went really well.

There were some other moments of our trip to share, categorized as: nerve-wracking, interesting, or sweet!:

1. Having to wake Grace up at 5 am to leave for the airport; thought she'd be grumpy but instead she couldn't stop beaming about going on the "biiiiig airplane" to see Farmor, Hans, and Oldemor. The only times in her whole life that I've had to wake her up were on days when we travelled so early in the morning! Category: sweet!
2. Being told that we didn't have seats together on the flight, even though I was promised that we did. Category: nerve-wracking
3. Ending up with 4 seats instead of 3, even though one was separate, which gave us a lot of extra room for Grace and all her "stuff". Category: sweet!
4. Almost not being allowed to take Noah out of the country because of his lack of passport. This is sort of a long story: Noah's US passport hadn't arrived yet and we didn't apply for a Danish one yet. I was told at the US Embassy and by the airline KLM that Noah could travel on his birth certificate; however, I did not check with Kenyan immigration officials and they were not so cooperative. In this situation, when suspiciously questioned by the first immigration officer, I maybe gave him a little too much attitude. Same went for the second more senior officer who also didn't like getting lip from a YOUNG, MZUNGU, WOMAN and very nearly denied our exit (in the moment I thought I was just being assertive but I do realize in hindsight that my tone of voice was a bit too aggressive for Kenyan man) . Luckily I married a more calm, rational, able-to-sense-when-a-disaster-is-about-to-happen-because-my-wife-has-a-little-bit-of-a-temper kind of guy who showed the necessary (although completely ridiculous) deference and apologized in just the right way that we were allowed to leave Kenya. Of course that came with a warning that without some kind of UN letter or regular passport Noah will not be allowed back into Kenya upon our return. Note to self #1: try to get the kid a passport ASAP! Note to self #2: keep temper in check when dealing with immigration authorities, particularly those who are middle-aged men. Category: nerve-wracking x 10
5. Seeing a woman on the airplane who we met at a dinner party 3 years ago. At the time I was pregnant with Grace and she told me that I shouldn't worry about it if I had hostile feelings towards my child because at some point, "you will hate your baby." I was not a fan of hers then and this time around, when she sat between two other people near us on the plane and didn't stop talking for almost the entire flight, I was so glad she didn't remember us! Category: interesting
6. Meeting a Scottish family in Amsterdam who were on their way back to Seoul, Korea where the husband/dad works for the government. They had a daughter just a little older than Grace and a baby boy who was born on the same day as Noah! They were ten-weeks old exactly! The mom and I had a great chat about having two kids and living abroad. Loved that family! Category: interesting
7. Eating McDonalds. I know, I know. It's crap. And I never eat it in the US (and, in fact, boycotted for a long time because of a weird incident I had in college). And it shouldn't be a big deal just because I can't get it in Kenya...but it is! And I loved it! Category: sweet!
8. Experiencing the adoration and humor of airport security in Amsterdam, who completelyfell in love with Noah. There was no line in the lane we picked and the security workerswere all young and maybe a bit bored. We are a nightmare going through securityusually: a baby, a toddler, a pacemaker, liquids and computers. YIKES! One of the guystook the stroller for us and said, "Can I borrow your ferrari?" Then they let Noah stay in his car seat and while they were "searching" him he started smiling, cooing and almostgiggling. Well, they all just melted and couldn't get enough of him. One of the guys inparticular was from Turkey and said he wanted to keep Noah. "I think I'll call himAhmed...but not like the terrorist!" Another worker said, "Is he [the Turkish security guy] the baby's first Turk?" to which I replied, "Well, he [Noah] was born in Kenya and has met a lot of different kinds of people...but maybe never a Turk before!" Then they allwent crazy, "He was born in Kenya?! That is so cool!" When the Turkish guy found out his name was really Noah he said, "No no, Ahmed is much better I think." We hung outwith them for several minutes as they ooed and awed over Noah. They really didn't wantto give him back to us! Overall, a very positive security experience I'd say! Category:sweet!
9. Being "entertained" by an extremely, extremely, extremely DRUNK Norweigan in Amsterdam. He started singing "Here Comes the Sun" to Kristoffer as he poured a beer all over the place; I took Grace for a walk because I was afraid of what he might do or say near her and I am generally very uncomfortable in situations like that. He and his friends were on their way to Mozambique, via Nairobi. He was some kind of "artist". Category: interesting
10. Watching Grace run and run and run around the airport shouting such things as, "Mama, look at the biiiiiig airplane" over and over again. Other people's reactions to her were quite sweet. She was wearing a tshirt that says "big sister" on it and so people would say, "Hi big sister!" and she would wave to them. Category: sweet!

So now we are here in Varde safe and sound after a tiring, but good, trip. We have travel-lag, but no jet-lag. Grace is happy to be with Farmor again. Noah and Kristoffer have been napping for the last 2 hours. It is vacation. Life is good.

LMW

p.s. Our second flight from Amsterdam to Billund was flown by a female pilot; first time for both of us ever having a female captain and we thought that was pretty awesome!

April 1, 2011 - In the Air Again

Tomorrow morning we leave for Denmark; Noah's first world-tour at 10 weeks old on the dot. Because our life is lived behind gates and walls (for good security reasons, of course), when I am in Nairobi for long stretches of time I start to feel a bit claustrophobic so I am looking forward to getting out of town. As I think I've written before, I also appreciate many things about Kenya once I am away from them for a little while! We are so eager for Grace to reconnect with our families and for them to meet Noah for the first time. Kristoffer is also in great need of rest from work - it has been quite busy and stressful lately, in addition to looking for another job! As long as we survive these long-haul flights with two small ones (gulp), I think it's going to be a great six weeks!

LMW

March 30, 2011 - So Long, Farewell

Nene and Pops leave us tonight after spending six weeks with us in Nairobi. Our life is not so glamorous: lots of repetition in our schedule, lots of time at home with two kids, lots of not-doing-too-many-exciting-things...so we hope that they weren't too bored and enjoyed a break from the nasty New England winter. Bad news for them: one foot of snow in Boston on Friday after they arrive! HA!

Grace and Noah enjoyed time with another set of grandparents; Kristoffer and I enjoyed time with another set of parents. Ten weeks into Noah's life and he has only been without grandparents for a few nights here and there - not too shabby! Grace has been spoiled with love and attention!

Just as they are leaving, we are getting ready to get out of town ourselves. Saturday morning we beging six weeks away: 2 weeks in Denmark and 4 weeks in the US. We are very much looking forward to seeing our families and friends, and hope that Farmor, Hans, Nene and Pops aren't too sick of us to see us again so soon!

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for making the big, long trip over here. It's been interesting for you (we hope) and we really enjoyed having you here!

Love,

L, K, G, & N

March 25, 2011 - MWs in Kenya

Our friends Meghan Woo and Matt Weiss are doing some great philanthropic work in Kenya after their visit last summer. Check it out here: http://blog.mattweiss.com !

LMW

March 24, 2011 - "Orange" You Glad to See Me Too?!

Noah felt left out of the Syracuse picture with Grace...

LMW

March 24, 2011 - "Orange" You Glad to See Me?

Today is Syracuse's 141st Birthday!

Happy National Orange Day!

We have an O-I-T over here...

Orangewoman In Training!

LMW

March 23, 2011 - Grace's Note to Self...

...this is what happens when I refuse to nap after school.

5:45 pm

GEW

March 23, 2011 - You know you live in Africa when...

...your daughter builds "Elmo's bed" out of Legos and then runs to get a "squito net" for him. That's all she knows!

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

'Night, 'night, Elmo!

LMW

March 22, 2011 - Two Months Old

Hello,

My name is Noah and I am two months old. This is my first blog. As you can see from the pictures my mother shamelessly posts of me, I am getting bigger everyday. In fact, when I went to the doctor today he said that I weigh 5.68 kg (12.5 lbs - about 75th percentile) and I am 59 cm long (almost 24 inches - between 50th and 75th percentiles). Not too bad, eh? I grew a lot in the last two weeks!

I am a pretty happy boy - unless Mama drinks any caffeine and then I am F-U-S-S-Y. Lay off the tea, Ma! I really like it when Pops talks to me, when Far gives me a bath, and Nene is fantastic at getting a burp out of me when nobody else can do it. I think the most fascinating person I've met in these two months, though, is my sister, Grace. Boy is she crazy! Last night she tried to catapult me out of my bouncy seat; Pops almost had to catch me from across the room! And I know that Mama and Far don't yell very much, but when she did that - sheesh! It was hard for them to keep their cool. Mostly Grace seems very interested in what I'm wearing all the time and she seems to keep track of when I am sleeping or awake. She is funny and dramatic. I think she'll keep me pretty well entertained for the next 18 years or so. As for my Mama? Well...I love her because she keeps my food readily available and knows how to hold me just right when I am a little bit grumpy. She must be tired though because I prefer to sleep during the day than at night - maybe one of these days I'll change my mind and give her some rest!

Anyway, that's all for today. I had to get a shot this morning at the doctor's office and that totally wiped me out!

Photoshoot before going to the doctor.

I was trying to wink at Mama but she sort of caught me coming out of it.

Mama, this is BORING!

This is either my flirty look or I'm saying, "I'm falling over now, Mama, so put down the camera and help me out!"

NDW

March 19, 2011 - E is for Elephant

This evening, after our big morning at Grace's art exhibition, we all went to the David Sheldrick orphanage for elephants and rhinos. It has recently become pretty "famous" with a new IMAX movie about it and they have received a lot of money so we noticed that the place had been expanded and improved since our last visit. We were visiting an elephant that our friend Deborah adopted when she was here in January. While Grace went there two times in her first six months, she hasn't been since then so we knew she would just love seeing the elephants up close. Especially after her class has just spent one week learning about elephants!

When we arrived there, she was instantly fascinated by the dung beetles we watched while we were waiting for the elephants. Then she really liked the rhinos, but was even happier to see all the elephants! She saw that they drank milk just like she did amd she watched them eat. She even got to pet the youngest elephant's trunk. As much as we (Kristoffer, my parents and I) enjoyed seeing the elephants ourselves, it was really sweet for us to see her react to and try to interact with them! Noah, per usual, slept through the visit :) It was a great day!

Maxwell, the five-year-old blind rhino

Here come the elephants...

Did my mom find a new grandchild?

One of the elephant keepers.

Bottoms Up!

Some of Grace's faces!

LMW

March 19, 2011 - Our Amazing World

Today Grace's school put on an art exhibition as their culminating activity of the term. The exhibition was called "Our Amazing World" and each class worked on producing art related to one type of environment. Grace's class was called "Savannah Safari" and other classrooms were the city, the beach, the mountains, the dessert, the ocean and "snow land". It was a really impressive display and all of the teachers obviously went to a lot of work preparing for the event. We just couldn't believe how much stuff Grace had made and how amazingly creative everything was! It was definitely beyond our expectations and reinforced how happy we are that Grace goes to this school.

Below is some of the artwork that Grace and her classmates made, as well as some pieces from the other classrooms.

Grace's footprint.

Grace and her Pops.

Our Amazing Grace!

LMW

March 18, 2011 - Going Green

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day and everyone but Kristoffer was wearing green (he forgot...and he isn't Irish!). My parents tried to find corned beef to make traditional corned beef and cabbage for dinner, but the butcher said that they don't sell it anymore because demand is so low. Instead we had a delicious beef stew that my mom made - beef, potatoes and carrots are still pretty Irish.

The other exciting part of the day was that Noah really started smiling a lot. He looks so much like Grace did at that age, just bigger! He is also starting to make cooing noises, which is very sweet. What a boy!

LMW

March 16, 2010 - Handsome Little Devil

Isn't he?

LMW