Selah & Eden Playing

Eden is old enough now that she really enjoys playing with her big sister. When Selah is gone, Eden notices and asks where she is. A friend tells me that she noticed when our babysitter takes the girls to the park, Eden plays more and seems happier when Selah is with her.

Of course, they fight and hit during the course of their play and we're working on teaching both of them how to treat people, especially loved ones. Eden seems to love the concept of time out and will give herself one if she is reprimanded for her behavior. Things she likes to do: hit in the face, pull hair, or push. Selah has perfected the art of swiping a toy and running, or holding her things high in the air when Eden is present--to keep Eden from touching them.

Ryan and I are new to the world of teaching our children how to get along, though we both had 2 siblings growing up--so we should know something from experience, right? One thing I'm trying to do is teach the girls to talk to one another about their issues before getting Ryan or me involved. You know kids, one takes the toy and the "wronged" kid whines to mom. It seems to me that these are good opportunities to teach the girls how Jesus taught us to deal with conflict. They should talk to one another first before bringing the adult on the scene. I know they're young, but Selah definitely grasps the concept. I don't know if it is effective, but something I'm trying. If any of you very wise and experienced friends have any great tips for me, I'd love to hear!

Eden Footage

Two videos of Eden. She's 21 months old and talking all the time. When she wakes up, her first words are, "Selah woke up?" Every night she looks at pictures in her room and says goodnight to the people in the pictures. The first video was taken after Selah finished with the cheerleader costume. Eden put it on and did the same thing she saw Selah doing, minus the jumping around. She's saying, "Go (H)Aggies!" Of course, you'll also catch a glimpse of Selah's performance...which are never ending in our house! In the second video, Selah was helping Eden practice her words. Notice how Eden says what Selah asks her to say but not what her mom asks.

2 1/2 Weeks

This is the new retro-fitted computer cabinet I told you about last week. I still like it--a lot.

This is how Eden plays with markers: coloring her face, lips, legs, arms, etc. The markers are under lock now, but she still manages to get her hands on them.

From the beginning of the first child becoming ill to the (hopeful) end of the 2nd parent--and everyone in between--we've been sick for over 2 weeks. On day 10 of being sick I finally went to the doctor and learned something new-but not about viruses or colds.

I learned that I assumed primary physician-type care functioned the same way here as it does in the States. When I was pregnant with Selah, my OB told me that she would be my primary physician during the pregnancy. So, when I decided to go to the doctor on Friday, I made an appointment with my OB. She gave me a slightly confused look when I explained my symptoms to her and told me, politely, that I should make an appointment with an ENT. So, 30 minutes and 1 "just for fun" ultrasound later, I was in with the ENT in the neighboring building of the hospital. After the appointment, I put the dots together and realized that I am almost certain that we don't see general physicians for anything here. We always go to the specialist. The great thing is, I don't need any kind of referral to do that. Different countries, different practices...most likely because insurance companies work differently here. The diagnosis: sinusitis. Hopefully we'll all feel 100% soon.

Ryan and Selah had a date night on Thursday. Both of us got excited about dressing her up for the show. They saw Aladdin on Ice. They left 1 hour early and arrived 30 minutes late due to horrific traffic. Selah fell asleep during that long drive and Ryan carried her into the ice rink. He said he wasn't sure she ever fully woke up, but did seem interested in the show. She slept all the way home.

She chose to have two french braids and her Indonesian dress and church shoes.

Sick on the couch

She looks TOO grown up in this shot...but oh so beautiful, just like a "princess"

Today, we went to the park as a family for little while and enjoyed the sun and fresh air. We stopped at the picnic tables to enjoy some spinach or ground beef or feta cheese filled pastry. The girls love the spinach filled ones.

After returning to our apartment building, Selah and I posed for a 25 (ish) week prego shot.