taking a break from blogging

Okay- well that's not totally fair- first of all, I've already been taking a break and 2nd I promise to restart normal blogging when I start feeling better, but I've just been so nauseous and tired so far this pregnancy that I've been having a really hard time doing this.

So when I already feel sort of worn out- it's especially frustrating when blogger loads all my pictures out of order. I just don't have the energy to reorganize.

Christmas break was great- that's what these pictures are from. I felt tired and sick there too, but it definitely helped to be taken care of by my parents, have lots of good food readily on hand, and get to spend some QT with my sister's family too.

We've been back in Congo almost two weeks. I got super sick with the flu the first week back which was terribly unfortunate timing since our boss was visiting. I missed all the big meetings but was able to talk with him at our place a few times. Sam got sick too- but he bounced back far quicker than I have (I still have a bad cough).

Sam turned into a toddler during our time in Morocco. He started talking a lot more, got his first big kid haircut, really wants to do things by himself and his way, and plays more on his own. I feel badly that I have so little energy to devote to him. I'm doing the best that I can but I'm not the same mommy. Maybe this is just God's way of preparing him for a second sibling to split my attention with.

On to the pics (out of order of course)

My biggest joy at Christmas was seeing my parents with Sam again- he really likes them, talks to them often on webcam and so he knew them right away and gave them big hugs and kisses as soon as we saw them at the airport. Of course, my parents are a dream for any grandkid- they brought several presents to the airport even, so it's no wonder Sam thinks they're great.

My niece Lucy (and her parents of course) arrived a week or so after us. She's a doll and we all enjoyed spending time with her.


I'm especially grateful that my sister and John's have kids close in age to ours. With only one shot on each side for cousins, it's nice that they're not 10 years apart.

We did something new this time- we would have taken all of you who visited to this last year if it had been open- a Moroccan cooking school run by a friend of my parents. It's in an old traditional home in Meknes and there are six sets of dishes to make. The website is here

here's the view from above
Our peppers cooking
Even John cooked!!
And the outcome- Course #3
Touktouka - Cooked bell pepper, tomato & garlic salad served with bread
Chicken Tajine w/ Walnut-Stuffed Apricots - Moroccan "stew" with chicken, topped with cinnamon apricots stuffed with walnuts Our family Christmas picture
Sam bowled- they had bumpers that raised and lowered just on his turn!

Sam loved our walks in the foret- running with Papajack, hiding behind trees with him to 'scare' us, and playing soccer. Oh and the last few days we went there to fly the remote controlled helicopter we gave my dad for his birthday.

I think Sam was puzzled about the water being cold- the oceans he remembers are all in the tropics
Lucy laughed and laughed and laughed at Sam popping bubbles
This is Sam pretending to be a statue. Sam is really getting into pretending. We play a game now where we pretend to have a shower (we have that kind that you can hold separately) he thinks it's so funny and totally gets the joke.
I was especially touched to see Sam doing some of my favorite holiday things- snuffing the advent candles and hanging ornaments on a felt tree I grew up with
One of our last meals- Sam was very into being a big kid like his dad and granddad
My mom and Sam and I went to a great botanical garden with bridges, mazes, and lots of climbing. We had PB&J and Sam took monster bites like this


Helping my dad blow out his bday candles
Merry Christmas!