Raising two kids is more tiring than raising one kid. It also makes time go by really, really fast. We love Camille, but her first year has been something of a blur. We know that she took her first steps on April 23, 2011. Her first word, aside from the compulsory mama and dada, was "outside" which she says incessantly, walking from the front to the back doors. She still only has 3 teeth and, let's face it, she is lacking in the hair department as well. She is really sweet but has a fiery temper, particularly when she feels that her brother should be sharing. And the girl can eat. A lot.
Man, I am getting old. Thirty eight seems so old. That was my first thought this morning. My second thought was that in two years and 36 days I will be older than my brother lived to be. How weird is that? Such an odd concept, narrowing the gap of age between siblings. Maybe I wouldn't have had such thoughts if 40 wasn't just around the corner.
Luckily it was otherwise a pretty typical morning. Henry woke up and started yelling out the window for Ram Dhai. He does that now. Yells for our driver to get him out of bed. I wish that Ram Dhai could comply as 5:45am comes quite early on the heels of Camille's 4am feedings. Unfortunately Ram Dhai doesn't come to work until almost 9, so we're on our own. Henry has been singing "Happy Birthday" randomly since a friend's birthday party in July, but today he sang with purpose. "Happy birdday mama". He even finger-painted a gift for me, Braveheart style.
Camille is her usual happy self. Growing up fast. At almost 5 months she can sit up by herself for approximately 5 seconds. She also laughs and squeals a lot. She watches her brother with an eagle eye and will be chasing after him as soon as she figures out how to use her legs.
She needs some help in the hair department, which is odd considering my terrible heartburn during pregnancy. I have said in the past that I think she looks like John Candy (am I wrong?)
But these days I think she looks more like a cabbage patch kid or other bald doll. It's a good thing that I bought all of those ribbons and bows before she was born, right?
To make it through monsoon, Ryan and I have busily been planning multiple beach trips. Two trips to Thailand and perhaps a trip to Hawaii in the works. Not a bad life. All I want for my birthday is a couple of extra hours sleep.
Well, she finally made it. Camille was 10 days late, but she came to us last night in New Hampshire. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and she and her mother are healthy and happy. Smiles are everywhere...except from Henry. Here are some initial pictures to share and one short clip.
This New Year's Eve marks the 10 year anniversary of when we first went to Thailand to ring in the New Year. You remember 1999 turning into 2000? And how the world was going to shut down? We had planned to be on a beach when Y2K struck. Unfortunately nothing catastrophic happened to our e-tickets and we returned to Peace Corps Nepal as planned, but had a wonderful time and have remembered it fondly over the years. This year we decided to return to the scene of the...crime?...and catch up with our old PC friends, Annie and Ben, and their beautiful, spunky daughter, Maxine. Maxine is about 4 months older than Henry so they got along famously.
Times have changed a bit for us all, but in many ways we are better than ever. I love having the type of friends that you can see after a couple of years and just pick up the conversation as if it were yesterday when we were all living together, never missing a beat. Annie will be having her 2nd child in mid-January and is seeing the same doctor that I used with Henry. Together we waddled around the city, trying to entertain two very energetic toddlers. We hit the pool, the playgrounds, fast food restaurants, a place called the "Fun-arium", and the aquarium. I'm sure that we made quite a sight: two visibly pregnant foreigners pushing two strollers around the city, usually eating ice cream. We turned heads.
This is the first year in a while that the Smith-Mummey family actually celebrated the holidays. Living in Nepal is not exactly conducive to getting into the holiday spirit--no endless commercials, Christmas music blasting in stores, and Santa is hardly anywhere here. But now that Henry is a bit more aware, we've gone through the effort of making this time of year feel a little more like it would if we were living in the States. Mostly this involves eating and presents. Though he doesn't quite get it all, Henry really enjoyed himself. Can hardly wait to see what he thinks next year.
It was just the three of us this year, but it was a wonderful day. We slept in until 7am (oh my!) and dad made pancakes. Henry actually ate two bites.
Then we went outside to play and broke out the gliders I had bought while in New Hampshire. "BANE!!"
Henry took a nap and Ryan and I cooked furiously. On the menu: roast chicken, corn bread stuffing, baked spinach gruyere, and homemade macaroni and cheese.
Henry sat like a good boy until all of the food was served.
And then ran around the table until it was time for bed.
First off, I want to apologize to those that actually follow this blog. It's been forever since I've posted--I just haven't felt the urge to comment on any of the quirky aspects of life in Kathmandu. And there are plenty. I'd like to blame it on Jim, like I do everything else, but it's probably not his fault. Maybe I'm just getting too old or tired or jaded to write something lighthearted. I will continue to try as someday Henry may view this blog as his baby book.
Henry, by the way, is as wonderful as a 20-month old boy can be. He is active and sweet when he wants to be. He gives kisses and hugs now, sometimes without me even having to ask. He is the usually the example that parents point to for what NOT to do at his playgroup. How is it that children his exact same age can sing and dance as a group, while Henry needs to climb on top of the table to look out the window as this all happens around him? He's talking now, when he wants to, but he refuses to repeat anything you say or say anything on command. In order of importance, his current vocabulary consists of:
Plane Beep-Beep Uh oh Dog Out Car Shoes Chalk Juice All done All gone Apple Cookie Bye Hi Up No Eat Milk Quack Moo Neigh Kiss Dada Mama
Ryan Smith (or Martha) c/o Nepal Transition Initiative PMU 1717 H Street NW Washington, DC 20006
For anything more substantial:
Ryan Smith (or Martha) Remembrance House Deepkumari Marg, Prime Ministers Gate No. 1 Baluwatar -4, Kathmandu, Nepal
Nepali-English Translations*
Tulo Manche--Big Person, VIP Chiplo Bato--Slippery Road Bandh--closed, strike Limbu--ethnic group primarily in eastern Nepal Rai--ethnic group also in Nepal Biratnagar--2nd largest "city" in Nepal. 45 minute drive from Itahari Mundir--a Hindu temple or church Didi--Older sister, a term of respect for a woman older than you Dashain--biggest holiday in the Hindu religion. Offices are closed for a week or longer. Naya--new Janna--people
Raising two kids is more tiring than raising one kid. It also makes time go by really, really fast. We love Camille, but her first year has been something of a blur. We know that she took her first steps on April 23, 2011. Her first word, aside from the compulsory mama and dada, was "outside" which she says incessantly, walking from the front to the back doors. She still only has 3 teeth and, let's face it, she is lacking in the hair department as well. She is really sweet but has a fiery temper, particularly when she feels that her brother should be sharing. And the girl can eat. A lot. 
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