A little update

I've been stalling on blogging since I haven't downloaded pics in ages, but I figured 4 weeks is a long enough break.

We're still waiting to move into our house and it's getting pretty tiring to be living out of bags and boxes still (5 1/2 months so far). I can't really wait to just get our act together and it's been hard to do that while in transition. John's been working so hard on getting the house/office ready. He's working late every day, doing shopping for the supplies and furnishings at nights and on the weekends, and comes home with blisters and cuts from all the manual labor. We had a biggish blow last week when we discovered that our new computer had been stolen from in it's packaging at the bottom of a crate, under other crates and bags, and in a locked room. That's so frustrating! It's not just the money- though that is a big deal too, but having something stolen again (it happened a lot last year in Congo). Anyway, we should be moving sometime this week so I'll post pics of what John's been up to this last 6 weeks then.

Jeff is doing great- growing fast, sleeping well, and eating well. I am loving the newborn phase this time around. It's so uncomplicated compared to toddlerhood. Jeff is a sweet baby too and has started to smile and coo.

Sam is a good big brother- he tries to be gentle with Jeff and gives him kisses all the time. I think the hardest adjustment for him is having to be careful around Jeff (instead of just roughhousing and bouncing all around) and having to obey me without me getting up and talking right next to him.

I have a lot more energy than I did late in my pregnancy and I'm getting enough sleep more or less, but I don't feel like I'm rocking this stage of parenthood. It's hard for me to be full of energy for Sam for so many hours every day. The stay-at-home mom thing isn't really my forte I guess. I'd like to figure out something I can do with my days (at least some of them) that engages other parts of me. Right now, Sam is going to preschool at an education coop on Monday mornings and I hang out with the other parents during his school time. Then on Wednesday mornings I'm going to a women's Bible study and on Thursday mornings Sam and I are going to an international playgroup. I'm not sure how else I can plug into a community here but I would like to have more scheduled in my week.

John's on an expat soccer team that practices on Wednesday nights and has occasional games on the weekends. That's a start for him- but we're definitely not where we want to be yet socially here. I guess we'll find out if that is even possible eventually.