Happy 6 Months Brooks!

My precious boy,

How can it be that you are SIX months old already? It seems like only yesterday you were born, or what I like to think of as the longest beginning to anything ever. I can still remember the moments surrounding your birth so clearly, and yet how is it that so much of the past six months is already a blur? I can say without question that becoming your mama has single-handedly been the absolute hardest and best thing I have ever done. I knew that you would change our world forever, but I had no idea how you would redefine me and how I see the world. But you see Brooks, you have brought us more joy, love and laughter than we have ever known. Your spunky spirit never ceases to amaze us, and I'm convinced your room-filling laughter must be what heaven sounds like.

At six months old you are busy, and I have a feeling will only continue to be so with each passing month. Even when you're nursing a leg is almost always moving, on your back you're always kicking, and man do you go to town in your jumperoo! You love when your daddy sneaks up on you, and you get yourself tickled to death in anticipation of peekaboo. I love how you pat my face when you're nursing, and how you have the biggest grin when I come in to get you in the morning. When you sleep we find you in all sorts of crazy positions; your lovie over your face, your legs propped up on the crib, or even in some kind of a half twist with arms and legs in different directions. You are so curious sweet one, and thankfully this allows you to embrace new situations and people with ease. You love an afternoon walk in your stroller, even though it inevitably means 3-4 stops for aunties in the complex to pat your cheeks or tell me how fat and white you are. You are rolling over from back to front and front to back, although from time to time you get hung on your arm. You just hate that. You are incredibly expressive, with everything from raspberries, gurgles to high pitched squeals to get our attention and tell us how you're feeling. In your six months of life you've already been on a train, plane, and bus, and had three trips to villages. On each trip you do better and better, probably because your mom is finally learning to relax.

I have to admit I cried some this morning my dear as I realized how big you are and how quickly time is passing. Each day it seems gets sweeter and sweeter, but I love you just as you are right now my boy. You are all baby, squishy, rolly (in both your thighs and movements), and simply delightul. I know you can't stay like this forever, but I hope you know how we treasure our days with you. You have changed everything Brooks Michael Bentley, and I for one am so, so thankful.

Halfy Birthday my darling boy!

Spring Festival 2013

(Better late than never, right? Sure this happened almost a month ago, but still worth posting!)

Well, we did it. We survived another year of the pre-holiday rush at the market, travel during the largest mass migration in the world, the killing of the pig, the subsequent multi-day deluge of meat at all meals, and the firecrackers that make your living room feel like a war zone. Each year it seems we become more accustomed to this aspect of culture, although admittedly there is something new and potentially shocking to be learned and experienced every year.

This year we traveled to our friend Yvonne's house. Yvonne was one of the first people we met in our town, and the fact that she was outgoing, friendly, a believer and spoke English pretty much sealed the deal on our friendship. Now pretty much everyone will invite the foreigner to come to their house for New Year's, it just kind of what you do. While I believe most people sincerely mean their invitation, very few expect you to take them up it. Thankfully we've long passed all such cultural niceties with Yvonne, and have actually visited her house (about 10 hrs by bus from ours) twice.

Her mom is perhaps one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet, and has called us her son and daughter since day one. She was really, and I mean REALLY, excited when she found out we were pregnant, and from that moment on invited us to come for this year's Spring Festival.

After comparing the ease and expense of driving versus flying, we ultimately decided to give the 45 minute flight a go, particularly after we found a great deal on some tickets. Even with weeks of planning, packing and preparation (what? It was our first big trip away with Brooks!), we were still kind of nervous. So much so we arrived in Kunming a full day before our flight was to leave just so that we would have time to rest and "be ready". Thankfully we made it through security, the flight, and the following 3 hour bus ride to Yvonne's house with nothing more than an audience at every feeding and a diaper explosion. Which for our part of the world, we consider a wild success.

When we Yvonne met us at the airport and immediately asked about Brooks' schedule so as not to mess it up, I knew the prayers of this mama's heart had been heard. Sure, they inevitably found some of our choices and habits in caring for our son a bit different, (what?! we allow our son to play on his own and on the FLOOR?!) but all in all they were incredibly gracious in caring for us as we cared for him. And Brooks, my sweet, flexible, laid back Brooks. Maybe it's just me, (as in literally I'm learning to relax more!), but he seems to take such drastic changes in his environment better and better. His laid back attitude and smiles for everyone is exactly what I prayed and then some! By the end of our four day trip, however, I could tell he was a little over being passed around during most of his waking hours, and when we returned home we gave him the space and hours I had a feeling he wanted to just kick and play all on his own.

 

Before we left we experienced a first for us during the New Year, which was the giving of "red envelopes". We had heard that children were the big receivers of these monetary gifts, but it wasn't until 5 envelopes and almost $125 dollars later did we really know that to be true. Talk about humbling. Here was the family who had cooked non stop during our visit, gave us the best room of their house, laughed with us, entertained us, loved on our son like their own . . . stuffing his pockets full of cash. Crazy, right? We are so thankful that we were able to overcome our new parent anxiety and take this trip. It was such a special time with people who are so dear to us, and we are so thankful for their hospitality in inviting us not only into their home, but their hearts and culture.