Kisses from Mada

Mada lived in our house full-time for 3 weeks. We still oversee his care at Hope Village since he is living here onsite, but only have him at our house 2 nights per week (like good grandparents, Don reminds me).

Here is a small photo journal with my favorite pictures from the 3 weeks at our house...

We had him on a special diet and fed him every 2 hours 

(and believe me, he was ALWAYS so hungry).

He drank about 2 cups of water per hour -- so you can guess how many diapers we changed. We have a nice supply of newborn diapers at Hope Village, and of course, they fit Baby Mada's  malnourished little frame. As you can see in this picture above, the newborn diapers are getting a little snug...a good sign!

He was used to sleeping with his sister Matale for the first 17 months of his life .... so yes, he slept with us in our bed (Annie tried it for one night, but realized she doesn't enjoy being sleep-deprived: he is NOT a good sleeper, although he is a big lover and cuddler.)

I said "Mada, would you like a little bite of a fresh-out-of-the-oven 

homemade bread roll?"

Without hesitation, he took the whole thing out of my hand and began to gnaw on it!  

He truly is an eating machine.

I admit, bread and cookies are probably not on his recommended diet. 

Mada's first bath with warm running water ... as you can tell by his face, 

he wasn't quite sure if he liked the experience. 

A few days later, and he became a very happy bather!

I couldn't resist the photo opp!

I know what he's thinking..."She didn't really just put me in a 

laundry basket, did she?"

Mada's signature greeting is a "pound it" sign. He lifts his arm, positions his fingers into a fist, and requests that you "pound it" back to him, knuckles to knuckles.  He does this quite often throughout the day, usually when he first sees someone he knows.

Mada's thin, delicate limbs continue to amaze me.  

Still, we're determined to put muscle on them so he can crawl, stand.

Playing rough with Daddy Don.

Just like all American toddlers - he likes to play with tupperware!

Mada knows he's loved. 

It's so easy to get Mada smiles and Mada giggles whenever we want!

After Annie taught Mada to kiss, he would pucker his lips 

and make the kiss sound any time, on demand.  

Even at night, he'd wake up and start making kissing sounds in his sleep.  

Kisses from Mada ... so so sweet, reminding me once again, 

how his mom must just had that intuition when she named him "Blessings" ("Madalitso")