15 months 17 days

Last night I went to bed what was early for me, at 1:30, as I was extremely exhausted after two 3-hour nights. Five hours later the babies already got up, at 6:30, just 15 minutes later than yesterday, but their regular time if we were in the time zone we came from. It was a more normal morning in that Randy fed them, changed and dressed them and took them to the living room, while I stayed in bed. There's no sleeping while all this activity is going on, though, as we're all in the same room, contrary to our apartment in Vienna.

I got up at 8:30 when I heard quite a bit of fussing and crying and figured they must be ready for their breakfast and a nap. I made them the same kind of cereal as in Vienna, and added a little of a liquid fruit snack we had already opened to give it some flavor. They were definitely hungry and ate well. Then they went to bed, at 9:15, for their morning nap. Sammy had already fallen asleep, but Emmy was walking around in their shared bed and woke him up after just minutes. Even though Emmy had acted pretty tired, he would just never lay down and sleep. Randy got Sammy just after 10 am, as he was crying, not going back to sleep, and I thought maybe Emmy was gonna sleep then, but he didn't, so Randy got him as well at 10:30. Tammy needed some time to fall asleep on me, especially being distracted by Emmy walking around in their bed right next to us, but she ended up sleeping from 10 to 11.

We came out to join the boys, who were getting pretty tired, not having slept, and so I put them to bed for another try at 11:30. This time Emmy got to lie on me, so Sammy had the bed to himself and could sleep, and Emmy also got what he wanted, the spot on Mama's chest. Sammy didn't sleep very long, but Emmy slept for an hour on me.

Now that we don't have baby food jars, we have to cook for them as well, which is a learning experience. Tammy and Emmy are doing really well, but Sammy can only eat what is cut really small, and it's challenge to feed him. While I was sleeping with Emmy, and Randy had the other two, Barbara was making lunch - pasta with meat sauce. I had brought some tiny star and alphabet pasta with me from Austria for them, and the rest was bought here. Randy and Barabara started feeding Tammy and Sammy right after 12, and Emmy joined them after waking up. Tammy ate really well, Emmy not so much, and we added some banana which he loves. But first I cut up some fresh watermelon - the girl ate one piece after another, but Emmy just made a face when tasting it and refused to eat it. Bananas only.

As Sammy had STILL not had a decent nap, he went to bed after lunch. It was 1:10 pm, and he got 45 minutes of sleep, which is not much but decent. That was his only nap today though.

Today it was Sammy who got acquainted with very friendly cat Brownie for the first time. Of course none of them remembers that they'd already met in January. While Emmy was fearful, and Tammy is fearless, Sammy very much enjoyed it as well, without any fear, stroking the cat. I just had to help him a little as he tends to grab things hard, and the cat did not appreciate him grabbing and pulling her fur like that.

After the adults had eaten, they were eating some watermelon. When Barbara got her plate, she was the center of attention of course, and they immediately came to see what she got. Again, Emmy turned away when she tried to give him watermelon, but Tammy loved it.

Emmy is a very social boy who loves meeting people, and today he got passed around from kid to kid. Tammy had one of those days when she didn't want to be held by anyone; probably just the wrong time, like right after waking up.

Paul came over and had lots of fun with Emmy. Our internet is slow so uploading videos is a challenge, but I have a cute video of their interchange. With Christmas approaching fast, there is a lot to discuss with Paul, a lot to prepare, but time is so very short, and I can barely find a minute during the day to do so, and at night Paul is not here. We got a few minutes today, when I was holding Tammy, and Paul was holding Emmy. And I was able to do the Christmas drawing. Everyone in our immediate Malian family draws the name of one other person they give a Christmas present to, and they bring their gifts to me to wrap, so that the recipient does not know who it came from. The kids really enjoy drawing those names, and that's when Emmy was passed from kid to kid coming into the house to draw a name. This year we have FIVE people to give gifts to, as we're a family of five!!! But then, I've always tried to give extra gifts to everyone anyway.

I cherish every minute I get with my Malian kids when they come over, as I see them way too little, so it was nice having them over. 3-year-old Esther actually comes over a lot, as she loves to be with the babies. All our kids are already on Christmas vacation because of Corona.

At 3 pm we fed them their afternoon meal. I used the cereal I brought (without milk this time) and mashed up a banana that I added to it. They all loved it, and even Sammy ate well!

Then Emmy and Tammy went to bed for their afternoon nap. This time Emmy lay down and slept after a while, for about an hour. Tammy did her usual "dance" of crying and moving and fell asleep after half an hour. Emmy woke up first at 4:40 pm, which woke up Tammy, who only got 40 minutes of sleep. However, the rule in Austria was "no sleep after 4 pm" so they'd still fall asleep at night, and that rule will apply again here, as it took them VERY LONG tonight to fall asleep.

Poor Sammy had not had much sleep today and definitely needed to go to bed at the regular time. I was thankful that Barbara was cooking a carrot soup, as I had wondered what to feed them, and I wouldn't have had time to do it (and she's a good cook). And I had brought some packaged whole grain bread and thought I'd give it a try to see whether they'd eat it. I was surprised at how much they like it! I guess the consistency is a bit like those cereal-fruit bars they ate while traveling. I'm happy as it's really healthy bread (the one today even had carrot in it). Tammy always likes her soup and ate it all, while Emmy preferred the bread and bananas. Nothing new there.

Today I had turned the water in the bathtub on BEFORE feeding them dinner, and that way there was enough water in it, as our water pressure is low. I was hoping Emmy would be his own joyful self in the bathtub again, as he did not encounter the running water that scares him, but not so. We put him him, but he wanted out right away and just kept fussing the whole time he was in there, even though I was right there, kneeling by the tub. Today Tammy didn't care for it either. Only Sammy was having the time of his life, as always, laughing and smiling, and moving all his limbs! It would have made a great picture!

Out they came, got a diaper and a pj and a prayer and went to bed. Sammy fell asleep immediately. Then Emmy joined him who also went into sleeping position, which surprised me. When the girl joined them, she woke them both up, and so all three were awake again. It was after 7 pm - nearly 90 minutes after putting them to bed - when I finally decided to give them all milk. They all drank eagerly; they really drink a lot more in this heat, and I'm glad to see them drink (water) frequently during the day. Sammy went to sleep right away after the milk, and Emmy followed suit. Not so Tammy. She cries and cries, standing on the side of the bed, if I'm not RIGHT there. The chair and table I'm sitting at right now is just 2 meters away from her, but that's already too far! I finally sat next to her bed again, and by that time she'd already cried so much and it was already so late, that she finally fell asleep pretty fast. But only after lifting her head a few times to make sure I was still there.

I had already started eating my salad at the table, and after finishing it, I felt the least tired I had felt all day, and finally got to do some much-needed physical work. I tidied up the kitchen and dining room table, putting away all the stuff from the suitcases, and now we can use our dining room table and have room in the kitchen. I also plugged in our colored lights we always have hanging up. Tomorrow we need to put up the advent calendar (I've been putting their daily chocolates into their hands since arriving) and hopefully the Christmas tree as well. The kids also need to put up lights over in their areas. So plenty to do!

Now it's after 2 am and time for bed, although there's still office work I should be doing. By the way, last night Tammy and Emmy slept through the night, while Sammy had milk once. Tonight Emmy and Sammy have had milk.