Settling down in Utah

Almost two months after getting back from Africa, I am finally adding a new entry!

Brendan is excited that the snow has melted enough he can go play outside. In fact, when he wakes up from his nap today we are going to go test out a new soccer ball! He has also started swimming lessons, which he LOVES. We also added the planetarium to the places we have a membership. They have a really cool “sculpture” that is called “Newton’s Daydream.” “The two-story tall sculpture combines an intricate maze of moving balls with bells, drums and other noisemaking obstacles to create a whirring visual and auditory palette.” We also watched a short movie in the dome theater – it almost made ME motion sick and I don’t usually have a problem! Brendan loved it, Sela did not.



Sela is growing and turning out to be quite a little princess. Which one you might ask? You remember the story about the princess and the pea?!?! THAT one. :) She is getting a little better about not letting every little discomfort (like her big brother patting her on the head) set her off, but she is still pretty sensitive. Funny how even non-birth siblings are SO different. Sela isn't crawling yet, either, but is certainly making motions in that direction. Until then, she is simply rolling around to get where she wants. Which usually means to get a toy that her brother does NOT want her to have (trains, cars, books). Won't he be in for it when she really does start to crawl, and then walk!!!


As for sleep, well, some nights are better than others. MOST nights Sela will sleep from 8 to around 4 or 5, will drink a bottle, and head right back to sleep for a few hours. Occasionally, though, she will wake up 2-3 times a night. (This usually happens on the nights we need sleep the most, of course!) Her big brother isn't really helping matters by waking up himself 2-3 times a night. If they would coordinate their waking up so it occurred at the same time, mommy and daddy might not go insane. Only time will tell!

As for Utah itself, it is really pretty here, and they are SO family oriented. I have also talked with a few different multi-cultural families, but haven't really connected with too many just yet. I am hoping that by started to get more involved with kid activities (swimming lessons, Children's Museum, etc.) that we will make some connections along the way. What I don't think is going to change is the looks we get when we go anywhere as a family. It really cracks me up to see people doing a serious double take, looking hard at both of our kids and then looking hard at both of us. Quite amusing.

Right now is also a time of fasting for Baha’is. It has been a challenge, especially for Brian as he has been working 12 hours days to get one of his tools up and running. I think, however, that I am actually really enjoying this Fast more than any before. (This is only our 4th year of doing it.) One of my friends says that she likes to dedicate her Fast to something and shared a story on her own blog about a friend she dedicated it to one year. It is a really touching and powerful story. And I really like the idea of using this time to focus on something important. So, I am adopting her idea and have been saying a special prayer for assistance (Tablet of Ahmad for my Baha’i friends). This prayer has an added benefit of reminding me of yet another friend who would say this prayer at a difficult time in her own life. So, every day not only am I saying this wonderful prayer which helps to alleviate some of my stress (living in a new place, being away from family & friends, house not selling), I get to be reminded that while the people I love may not be physically close, they are still really close in my heart.

Love,

Lori

P.S. After I began this entry, we (the whole family!), went to play in the park. We had a great time. The pictures are from swimming lessons and the park.