We took part in a baby dedication last Sunday. Another family with two children and us with Grace and Jasmin did it together. It was quite the ceremony! We were all called up front to sit in a row while the pastor explained what we were going to do. We answered two questions, creating a covenant with God to remember that our children are God's and to raise them to know Him as best as we can. It was the fathers who answered, so Michael had fun trying to follow the Khmer!
Next we solemnly signed a certificate to post reminding us what we have promised (three signatures for each child!). Then we were given roses and a present. It was a bit of a laugh to see us trying to juggle babies, presents, flowers, and signed certificates! Amazingly all the kids were wonderful with no crying and not too much wriggling.


Later in the day, we went out for a walk in one of the very few green areas of the city....

It was a great end to a fantastic day until we realized on the way home that our phone was missing - yet another phone for the thieves :o(

Grace has decided that teddies are good companions: they can't complain, stay where she puts them, and won't try to do something else while playing. They also are wonderful naptime friends...
and a cute picture of Grace wearing her hat, even if you can't see her face!

And here's a fairly typical Jasmin expression...

A photo blog...

There has been a dengue epidemic here in Cambodia that is finally winding down. Dengue fever is quite serious, especially for children - a number of people have died this year. It is spread by daytime mosquitoes. So we wage war against the houseful of mosquitoes we have and work hard to protect Grace and Jasmin. Here is the best method we've found so far:
Unfortunately, Grace won't sleep under one, so she gets sprayed instead.


Celebrating her 3 month mark, we tried her out in the jolly jumper:

She was fascinated with the colored floor beneath her and didn't even try to bounce. Here's Grace trying to show Jasmin what to do:
Both Grace and Jasmin have gotten colds this week. Rather miserable at times, we did a lot of snuggling in the hammock:

And lastly, an impromptu family photo so you can see us all:

Suddenly I find myself quite busy, tumbling through the days and coming to the evenings so tired I often fall asleep before Grace does as I am getting her to sleep! Things that are keeping me busy:
Grace! She is a full-time explorer - learner! She will climb just about anything, and is constantly grabbing my hand to lead me somewhere new to show me something or to ask me to get it for her. Her babbling is sounding more and more like talking - but it is Khmer, even though her few words so far are English. She loves to play drums on the cans in the kitchen, go out with her daddy to visit the neighbours' dogs and roosters, read and reread her books, and dance to music.... Currently she is also teething and dealing with a cold.
Jasmin! She is a thriving 3 month old... so she's not too active yet :o) But she has learned to suck her thumb already! And she can hold her own kind of conversations that are beautifully full of her delicious smiles. Not that this is keeping me busy, but I must report the celebration of Jasmin sleeping through the night already too!


ICC. I'm actually working now! Mostly from home so I am not away from the girls too much. I am a "language coach" - someone who helps the new members coming in learning Khmer. I have been organizing the resources that have gathered over the years, retyping some sheets that were hard to read, planning a program flexible enough to work for short term people and long term workers, and meeting with each person as they arrive to help them individually start learning Khmer.
French. I have finally given in to some friends' request to teach them French! Here, if someone wants to study medicine, they must know French as all instruction is in French. So, Friday afternoons I am teaching 3 girls basic French. In Khmer. I'm just very glad they are complete beginners since my French is more than rusty.
Walking and Swimming. It is not possible to go for walks naturally here. Against my usual thinking and feelings about exercise, a friend and I are going to the local "gym" about 4 mornings a week. All we do is walk on the treadmills for 20 minutes or so and then I go for a quick swim. The "gym" is quite different. Even the treadmills are jury-rigged in order to be still usable: the computers don't work, so you only have on, fast, and off. The bike machines have no power so the gearing is set - usually to far to easy. Next week we are going to try the aerobics class... who knows what that will be like!

Jasmin's life

Watching her sister's antics

LOTS of sleep in the hammok

Smiling at anyone who engages in conversation


Oops Grace has just GOT to have her say on this entry...

Self-serve breakfast. This scene I discovered this morning. She had found out where our leftover rice is kept, and decided not to wait for mommy to finish feeding Jasmin . A little too smart, this one!Two beautiful things in this picture. A wonderful after-nap hairstyle, and her latest accomplishment: stacking three blocks on top of each other. All the more remarkable as they long and thin rectangles, not cubes.