nigerian nuances.1

I suppose if you read this blog you're curious about what life is like in Africa.

I guess I should write more about it, but it's hard because the Nigerian government doesn't allow us to take pictures and you really need visual aids for this sort of thing...to make it believable, that is. And in some ways, life isn't that different from our life in the States. We have American TV (Armed Forces Network, the same thing available to military families), we hang out with other Americans, we go to work, eat dinner, etc.

But there are many aspects of our daily life that are so NOT normal and took some getting use to. Like the fact that there are clearly marked lanes on the road, but people don't use them...any available space on the road is fair game. I could be attempting to turn left and situated in the respective lane, but the guy 3 lanes over on the right will cut me off. Or the fact that most stop lights don't work and many people (including my husband) ignore stop signs. And don't worry if there's a gas shortage and the lines at the gas station wrap around the block. There are plenty of black market resources on the other side of the road, waiting to fill your tank.

Although, as frustrating as Nigeria can be at times, it's become our home and sometimes it surprises me in a good way. Like when someone gives me the correct change. Or when I open my eggs and they're stamped with a happy message. That's right...

Happy Independence Day. Wouldn't it be great if all eggs were stamped? What a great start to the day.

tiffany & tocca

It's hard to believe that we will be leaving Abuja in just 4 short months. I am already in packout mode and therefore weeding through all of our stuff, deciding what to keep and what to toss. I've decided that our bedroom needs a reno. The queen mattress on rollers just isn't cutting it anymore...I need king-sized and Tempurpedic. I'm tired of my insomnia...literally, ha. 

My inspiration is Tiffany blue (my favorite color) and Tocca candles (yes I'm a sucker for the packaging, but they smell equally delicious). Another favorite candle scent is Trish McEvoy blueberry vanilla, but I digress.

We're not usually allowed to paint our provided Embassy housing, but we can ship furniture. So I'm going to bring in color with fabric and accessories. Here's my plan:

Do you not LOVE that aquamarine lamp?? It's like a piece of jewelry. Too bad it's $400. The other items are fairly reasonable though. The comforter, sheets and silver tray are from Target (dwellstudio) and the night stands/lamps are Pier One. The Audrey art is from IKEA and the rest is from Crate & Barrel. The bed I want is a beautiful platinum upholstered bed with nailhead trim from West Elm (they won't let me access their site from here) or the Colette bed from Crate & Barrel. The color palette is soothing but punched up with graphic prints and metallic accessories. LOVE!

9 months

Dearest CW

(bugger, baby buggins, chicky, chicken-loo, Gerbz)

I love this picture of you...you're such a goofball and always up for some fun (mind you I was mid-plank position when I saw this). 

You have 6 teeth so far and are a voracious eater. You weight around 22 lbs right now, but you are also very long so it's starting to even out. You love green beans and applesauce. You use to like bananas but have since started gagging when I give them to you. 

You are desperately trying to crawl. You are an expert at standing and rolling, but haven't figured out how to get that leg out from underneath you. Don't worry though...you'll get there. Besides, who needs to crawl when you can get everything by rolling? Silly people.

You are a little scientist and extremely smart. You love to study things, poke them with your pointer finger and flip them over. You don't miss a trick. You know when something is gone or is suppose to be there. But the simplest things amuse you...like hoodie strings or bottle tops.

You love to laugh. You jump at the opportunity to wrestle with Daddy or splash around in the bath and you're always a good sport when we tickle you or blow on your tummy. 

You started waving bye-bye last Sunday. We were at a restaurant and you just randomly started doing it. I'm not sure you know what it means yet but you're very good at it.

You love to talk. Ba, Da, Mm, Yee and various other intonations are all part of your current vocabulary. You also like to growl and occasionally sound like Darth Vader. We think it's just a different sound that you like and you've figured out that it makes people laugh. You're friend John does it too and it's referred to as a "man cry." 

You're an expert traveller now. So far you've been on 6 international flights and were a trooper for each one! I know it wasn't easy and we expected a lot of you, but you did great. Besides, what other baby has as many stamps in their passport as you?? Pretty cool! 

You're growing up so quickly and I don't want to miss a thing. I try to freeze frame moments in my mind so that I'll remember them forever. My love for you grows stronger every day.

Love,

Mommy

4 new teeth, 3 too many cookies, 2 plane trips and a cockroach in my bed

That about sums up my life for the last 6 weeks. CW and I went home early to spend some extra time with the Grandparents and K joined us 3 weeks later. It was wonderful Christmas chaos. I think we managed to hit every major city in Virginia and see (almost) everyone. It was lovely, but I must say I am glad to be "home" and settled again. Calder is back to his 12-hr schedule, praise the Lord. He was waking early (WAY too early for my night-owl self) when we were in Virginia due to teething/sickness/cold weather. But with good reason...he has 4 new teeth on top, in addition to the two on the bottom. Poor thing.

Now it's down to business. I didn't make New Year's resolutions this year because I don't like to make promises I can't keep:) I really think that resolutions are more about detox anyways. The holidays have become so self-indulgent, from overeating to overspending to overexertion, that we become sick of ourselves. I know I am. It's time for a detox and a shedding of the winter skin. Literally, ha. My plan to lose the baby weight was foiled by Bitsie's home cooking and the abundance of treats in the house. But I have no one to blame but myself...no one was twisting my arm to eat them. Seriously though, my window to use the "9 months up, 9 months down" excuse has closed. Time to hit the gym. I have an appointment with a personal trainer at 10:30 am tomorrow. 20 lbs to lose. How's that for transparency?

As weird as it sounds, it was really great to be back in Abuja. We have a wonderful home with a relaxed lifestyle and great friends. I was feeling the love until 2 nights ago. It's the Harmattan (dry season) and the bugs migrate indoors to find water...all manner of bugs, including finger-sized cockroaches. I had made peace with the fact they were there (such if life in Africa) until I rolled over the other night and felt one in my hair. I don't need to tell you the reaction. If that's not bad enough, I brushed one off my back last night and it proceeded to take flight onto the nightstand. Great...they fly too. Totally and utterly disgusting. I feel like a prisoner in my home and enough is enough. We've set traps, sprayed, and they are coming to bomb the place next week. The war has begun and they are dead meat. So far we have taken 15 prisoners.

Don't you want to move to Africa??

Happy New Year.