Monkey See, Monkey Don't

While I find zoos a place of torment for those unlucky to find themselves behind the bars and walls, especially if the habitat is replicated poorly and animal is alone, pacing, or bored (or in Kansas), they are nevertheless blessings to families and babies. Our favorite and most feared (beside the rhinos who usually pee on us), is, of course, the primates. Feared because it is hard watching these near-humans caged, so far removed from their native habitat, looking into those thoughtful humanoid eyes; and also because at least one baby always gets scared. Favorite because they are monkeys, after all, and they love scooting up to the glass to tease (and it's fun watching baby get scared by monkey).





Speaking of monkeys, the 'monkey see, monkey do' thing is sooo Sira. This kid is hilarious as he copies and mimics everything. Like if somebody falls and gets a boo boo (most falls get left without crying--it's a triplet thing), he'll fake fall down and fake cry and point to a fake boo boo. I've got a million examples, but watching this kid strike poses and mimic sounds, mirroring a brother, is great entertainment. Sira is our actor in the family. Although everybody is theatrical, to say the least . . .

Happiness is . . . Bereket

Blessings upon blessings is my little blessing (the meaning of his epic name--'Blessing', that is). The staff that cared for Bereket in Ethiopia described him as "the smiley one". Yet for much of the teen months, Bereket appeared uncomfortable, anxious, listless; worn out, stressed, and unhappy; overwhelmed by his brothers and maybe just a little undercared for by his tired and hand filled parents. Or perhaps it was the dreadful molar appearances that zapped my Bereket's spirit and body. Indeed, he failed to budge an inch vertically in 6 months when most babies are stretching at alarming rates. Sira was having a fit full time of it as well and wanted papa's arms day and night (yet Tsega didn't seem to notice his teeth at all). Personalities were morphing for the worser and I seriously questioned my boys' happiness. You know how Americans think; happiness is everything.

Slings got us through it. When arms fail, slings (or mei tais, ergos, whatever baby wearing fashion), tight and pressed firm to a caring body, reach a baby's soul. The soothing powers stitched within cannot be matched outside the womb. Bereket still comes to me with sling in hand, seeking the tight confines the cloth provides against my body, like a warm cave, away from brotherly predators.



My favorite Bereket pose: angel flying.


Now my little 1/3 at two years old (26 months to be exact), is becoming quite the silly goof ball. A real spit-fire. And once shy and easily intimidated, his social butterfly/angelical wings have spread. As long as he is smiling, laughing, and teasing, I can be happy. And with more happiness, came 3 inches of height during the next 6 months.

Bereket, you can lay down at the zoo anytime you want, as long as you keep smiling.






Bereket totally exhausted after a very happy day. Sira, no more poking him in the car, please.

Shameless Plugging

Although I don't normally deviate from triplet chronicles, a good plug is worth plugging.

If you find yourself idling and bored and wondering what we think about in Tripletland when we're not thinking triplets (hmmm, is there ever a triplet-free thought anymore?), then flip through National Geographic, September 2008 issue. You may spot the famous & funky triplet papa on page 146 (he's all mine, girls and guys). It's nice having a National Geographic photographer in your neighborhood.

And no other American knows better about the problems of Haitian soil than my do-good buddy Sasha Kramer, quoted on page 108. Sasha has a passion for Haiti, human rights, food growing, ecology, soil, and poop (well, and pee for that matter). Come help her build soil fertility and human health in Haiti through the construction of composting toilets or donate to her worthy organization S.O.I.L

May you eat and drink well tonight and offer your blessings, thanks, and compost to Mama Earth.

Spinnin Round

What did you do last night?
Me, well, we spun our triplets round and around.
I assure no babies were harmed and Sira's fit near the end was only because papa stopped. Spin babies, spin. Now go home and try this with your baby or fat cat. I assure you, they will love it.
-----
Ooh, ooh,
Round and round and round.

And he never listens to them,
He knows that they're the fools
They don't like him,

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down,
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning 'round.

Ooh, Round and round and round.
--The Beatles

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Magical Features

It's funny what grows attractively noticeable in the people we love. Bereket's mustachio, Sira's animated eyebrows, Tsega's curly face. The plump on a knocked knee, the wiggle of a butt, the peaks on a head of curls in profile (see Bereket above), the way a belly button folds (I'm talking babies here, clearly not all good stuff on many of us adults). Sometimes when sorting through pictures suddenly there is one that grabs me; somehow the camera has captured specific features or expressions so differently than the rest. Features that usually rest subtly in the background that suddenly pop to the surface. It's as if the face metamorphoses moment to moment. The picture below is a brilliant example. Bereket's classic Ethiopian features are filling his face during this fleeting moment. . . something perhaps only a parent perceives (Jerry noticed too before I said anything). Oh Bereket, you are gorgeous sweet baby.

When our adoption case passed the Ethiopian courts we received scanned copies of the triplets' new birth certificates, complete with close head shots of each child stapled to each certificate in the upper left hand corner. The pictures failed to flatter. Mind you up to now we had only seen three not so clear pictures of the boys and didn't have a good idea what they looked like (not that we cared, of course, but the face of your baby--or his toes, knees, and butt for that matter--is something one likes to carry in the heart). When looking at Bereket's, after wondering how a pair of eyes could get so big, I thought, Does this baby have a moustache? I would have believed it if you told me yes. I think I had gone delirious at this point in my impatience to get the boys home.

Bereket's upper lip shadow (no hair) is still noticeable, but I almost forgot about it until a few recent pictures reminded me. Isn't it adorable?


It is striking when the sun is set just right and backlights my boys' hair lighting it afire.




And maybe you noticed something different about Sira above (and hopefully you failed to notice the horrible food stains the Hoosier cabinet normally hides). His mouth is firmly shut. I think the hang mouth and collar drool are fading.

Recently the pediatrician pointed out my boys' slight over bites. I already noticed how cute their straight upper teeth slightly protrude (I added "straight" so I don't get bad binky (=bad mama) comments), and I know grandpa (OK, "Poppie") has a special memory of Bereket's little smile and protruding teeth charming his socks off during a long car ride while in California last fall. I have to get a picture, but we have this little toy vacuum and the smile and teeth on it, I swear, models Bereket's.


And who can't love Tsega's lost wild child posture and expression that often frequents this blog. Somehow this picture captures his spirit. Always on the edge away from the crowd, in his own style, figuring out the world, hardly fearful.


Clearly this post's purpose is not to brag and point out the obvious: hey, look, by Jah these are beautiful boys! It's about love, man.

Luna Babies

"Luna moths are one of the most unusual and beautiful of the North American moths known as Saturnidae. They are well known for their green-yellow colors and long tails, and although they are often seen in pictures, they are a real surprise when found in nature. Although they are common throughout the eastern U.S., their night flying habits and short life span as an adult moth, only about 1 week, combine to make them a rare find."
-Some random Google source.

An unusual & beautiful find indeed. Sounds like three Nature's boys I know and love.

Oromo not Omo

Apparently Sira forgot he is Oromo and confused the word with Omo. As in the Omo Valley, a virgin environment fed by the Omo River made up of many different tribes, traditions, cultures, and wildlife located in southwestern Ethiopia. The famous Mursi inhabit this land (you know, the women wear plates in their lower lips). This is a region on my must-see-before-I-die list. Jerry is less excited about facing the major moral dilemmas that go along with such trips. It's hard not to picture fat bellies, flipped up sun shades, and dull colored clothing awkwardly encircling these tribes in an obnoxious photo frenzy. Sira, however, is ready to go.