Our 1 Year Old

I have always liked the Mary Tyler Moore theme song- "Who can turn the world on with her smile?  Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worth while?..."  It is Silas.  I just love his different smiles and he truly does brighten everyone's day. 

Vital Stats at 1 year:  weight 9.15 kg (20 lbs), height 74cm (30 in) 

He is small for his age but he is healthy and active :). 

What people say about Silas: "How did you get his hair to do that?" (Me: how can I get it not to stand up like that?)  "Awesome hair man!"   "Such big blue eyes"    "Such a good baby"  "Such a smiler"  "Very talkative for a boy his age"   "Too cute!"  "He is so happy"  "Does he ever cry?" (Me: definitely)

What I love about my little man:  The way he squints his eyes and smiles as wide as possible at me, the way he snuggles with me in the auto, the way he talks all the time and the funny things he says (naganaga, dikadika, ahahah...), the way I can see his mind at work when he is trying to figure out how something works, his persistence, his knack for exploring, his sensitivity toward other kids, the way he claps at random times for no apparent reason, how much he loves me...and the list could go on and on.

Mode of Transportation: Silas walks all over the place as long as he has something to hold onto.  He has taken a few steps (up to 4 at a time) but he prefers crawling between objects.  He hasn't riden in a carseat since 6 months but sits on laps in taxis, autos, planes, and trains.

Diet: He is good at feeding himself with his fingers, though somethings are a little difficult to work with.  He likes to eat pureed carrots, apple sauce, mango, plain yogurt, bread, crackers, paneer, tofu, mushrooms, veggie burgers, bananas, chole, rajma... and much prefers Indian food to Thai food.  Silas has just started the weaning process, nursing 3 times a day and drinking some milk from a bottle.  He has no known food allergies and he has tried most of the big allergens.  The above picture was his first time eating cake and it will be a seldom treat in his diet. 

Favortie Activities: emptying the cabinets, emptying the drawers, emptying the bookshelve... singing songs with mommy, reading books, playing with wheels, climbing, playing while both mommy and daddy watch, being with people.

Sleeping Habits: Silas is a good sleeper.  He goes to bed around 7:30 and wakes up around 6:30.  After taking a bath Silas drinks milk, reads a Bible story and Good Night moon, gets in his sleep sack, says a prayer, and sings "Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus".  He generally goes down without a fuss.  Up until our trip to Thailand he had to sleep with his swamp cooler making noise, but now he goes down without white noise!  Silas takes 2 naps during the day but he seems to be nearing transitioning to 1 nap. 

Vocabulary:  He talks a lot but most of it doesn't make sense.  He says "baby", "momma", "dadda", and tickle tickle. 

King of the Slide

We are staying at a Guest House in Thailand right now and they have playroom for the kids.  Silas loves playing in there and I love watching him play in there.  When older kids are in there it gets a little rough so Silas kind of stays out of the way, but when he is by himself, he is king of the slide. 
This video was taken after his 1st birthday party.  The kitchen staff made cake for dessert and we provided balloons for all the kids.  It was just a little thing, but it was fun.

One Year

Tomorrow is Silas' 1st Birthday!  I have heard most parents say that they can't believe how their child is already one, or how fast the time goes, but my perspective is a little different.  Silas is finally one!  I can't believe it has only been a year since he was born.  So much as happened in our little family since Silas entered the picture that last November seems like several years ago (though I have to say that I still remember the labour nightmare quite clearly and am not looking forward to doing that again anytime soon). 
Since Silas was born we have resided in 6 different cities (7 if you count our short trips to Beaumont) in 3 different countries.  The first six months Silas' life was divided into 2 month interval: 2 months in Fort Worth, 2 months in Virginia, 2 months in Carrollton waiting.  At six months Silas moved half-way across the world to start again.  After a brief stint in our port city, we fortunately got to stay in one place for about 5 months before having to leave to come to Thailand- where we are now.  And Silas is such a flexible boy.  By plane, train, auto-rickshaw, taxi, and car Silas has proven to be a good little traveller!  He has adapted so well to all of his new surroundings and I am so thankful for my little man.
  I wish that we were home so that I could throw him a 1st birthday party with a cute cake, decorations, family, and friends, but we will have to wait until next year. 

On the Move

Last night I had my first South Asian train experience and Silas rode his first train ever.  As soon as the train started they served us tea with a samosa, sweet snack, and salty snack, but with Silas on my lap, it was a little difficult to partake of it.  A little while later they served tomato soup and a roll, again could not eat with Silas on my lap but I didn't really want to.  A little later they came by with a full meal: chickpeas in masala, chicken, rice, chapatis, yogurt, and salad.  But I didn't eat because I was busy holding my squirmy child who was really tired but couldn't go to sleep (he did really well though).  I want point Silas managed to crawl under the seats and go three rows ahead of us.  I laughed imagining what those people thought when they felt something tickling their feet :).  Silas eventually went to sleep so the sound of praise songs and we finished the train ride off with ice cream!  I was reminded of different life is now with a baby, but also how wonderful it is to have a little one cuddled up on your lap, knowing that you are the only one who can calm him in any situation (though normally his father can calm him too). 

Warzone

I am currently sitting in my bedroom listening to the warzone of firecrackers sound around, amazed that Silas actually fell asleep and praying that he stays asleep tonight.  Today is Diwali- the Hindu festival of lights- triumph of good over evil- a day of good fortune.  The festivities are a cross between Christmas and the 4th of July- pretty lights hung on houses, candles, exchange of gifts and sweets, big sales, plus lots and lots of fire crackers.  Some of the fire crackers are a pretty display of colored light, but most of them are just loud- and relentless. 
    But Diwali isn't just about lights and noise, it is about worship- honoring the goddess Laxmi and other gods.  It is about spiritual and physical renewal.  Most people I have met here are not really very spiritual- they go through the motions of spirituality because it is part of their culture- part of their identity, but they have no real relationship with their religion- no relationship with their god.   

Engagement Party

Last night we went to an engagement party for a friend of mine.  The Bride (my friend) is from a somewhat poor family and they are all believers.  The groom was an orphan from a Buddhist background who was taken in by some Americans living in the area when he was a boy.  They raised him, along with many other orphans, and he is now a believer as well.  It was really a blessing to be able to attend this ceremony and experience such a meaningful tradition that was a mix of both Indian tradition and Christian.
      Once the girl and boy were seated, there was prayer and singing songs of praise.  Then the American father of the groom gave a blessing and message about the meaning of the occasion and the commitment that is being made.  I was really thankful that this was in English and then translated into Hindi so that I could understand.  The purpose of the ceremony is to bring two families together- for the family members to celebrate the engagement and get to know one another, as two families are bing joined together.  The message was a really good word on what true love is, and the father used scripture and the example of God's love for us.  I know the hindu family sitting next to me has been having marital problems and I think this was certainly a good word for them, but also a good reminder for me as it is so easy to seek my own good in marriage instead of my husband's. 

After this, the family of the Bride to be lined up in front of her and the family of the groom to be lined up in front of him and the father of the g2b asked the family for their daughter.  Then the couple came forward and there was an exchange of rings and a word of commitment on the part of both families and the couple.  Then the families exchanged gifts with one another. 

The bride 2 be is in turqoise and the g2b is off to the side (people kept standing in front of me so I couldn't get a good picture)

After the family exchange of gifts, other people brought gifts up to the couple and greeted them.  Then a large dinner of fried rice, fried bread, paneer, chickpeas, chicken, and mixed vegetables was served. 
It would be fun to do this when our children get married!

   

Dusheraa

This man is selling some kind of pickled vegetables.

Yesterday when I was walking around on my language route there were many families out all walking to the same place.  My friend told me that everyone was going to the parade ground for the Dushera festivities and recommended that I get JP and Silas and go as well.  So, we did.  Dushera is a celebration of the the triumph of good over evil when Ram defeated Ravana and his sons in order to win back his wife Sita who had been kidnapped and taken to the Island of Lanka. 

A woman dressed like the goddess Kali is collecting money from the crowds of people

Many vendors were taking advantage of the masses, selling trinkets for children like masks, balls, noise makers...

Replicas of Ravana and two of his sons.  At 5:30 there was a reinactment of the battle and the large statues were set on fire (we didn't stay for this event).

Another vendor sells colorful bangles.  These are worn everyday, but even more so for festivals.