The first 100 days :: by mama

Since we are now in the habit of counting our days in blocks of 100, allow me to make this announcement: Kiran, or Kiki as he has come to be known around here, is now 100 days old. Yes, he is already into triple digits. This is a sobering fact, as it means that he will soon be an old man. He is taking this very seriously.


Kiki's first 100 days came in like a lion and have gone out like a lamb. They began with travel and adventure, but have since mellowed out into some semblance of domesticity. We are getting to know him and his personality, and he seems to be accustoming himself to us. And we have loved it, loved getting to know this charming, sensitive, adorable little boy.

I think we each have different perspectives on these first 100 days. For Chris, as he mentioned in a previous post, Kiran's arrival makes our family feel complete and even more wonderful than it already was. For me, it was never a given that we would have more people in our family -- I felt that we could have been complete with just the three of us -- but now that Kiran is here, I feel that our family has been enriched beyond measure. For Kaya, I think he loves having a brother. It is so wonderful to see the way they both look at one another, with curiosity and something that I'm sure will turn into a lasting love.

Kiran's accomplishments in his first 100 days with us are many. He is a champion eater; he regularly sleeps through the night; and he has a smile to melt the world. However, his main focus thus far has been perfecting his thumb-sucking technique. His thumb still ends up poking him in the face sometimes, but he is improving every day. He is clearly very satisfied with himself and this newfound ability.

We are so, so grateful to have this wondrous little person in our lives. I can hardly wait to see what the next 100 days (and the next, and the next...) will bring!

Happy spring! :: by mama

If I am not mistaken, today is the first day of spring. I mean, not here, not in Bangladesh. I'm not actually sure what season we're in here. My notes from Bangla class inform me that Bangladesh has six seasons: summer, rainy season, autumn, late autumn, winter and spring. So maybe we are also in spring, but I doubt if today is actually the first day.

Nor is it the first day of spring in Australia. Our Aussie friends have reminded me numerous times that our upcoming break is most definitely not spring break. This is now fall for them, not spring, so why on Earth would we call it spring break? Preposterous.

In any case, with all of that as an introduction, I can get on to the real point of this post: I really just needed an excuse to post this photo. Spring, summer, whatever, it is definitely not winter anymore. It is hot outside! And so the boys of Team Hesse are back in their natural state, shirtless and happy.

Happy spring!!

An awesome project :: by mama

A few months back, Kaya's Uncle Mike sent him An Awesome Book, which has been a hit and an inspiration to all of us on a number of levels. On the very literal level, this spread --



--inspired a little Saturday afternoon creativity in Kaya and Chris. Out came the knives and scoops, and before you could say, "magic watermelon boat," this was the scene in our house:


Kaya had a magic watermelon boat of his very own, with a stick for a mast and a plastic sandwich bag for a sail. He spent a good chunk of the afternoon in that bathtub, sailing the boat around with his little Lego people as passengers. It was good fun and a great father-son activity.

Among the many things, big and little, for which I am grateful every day, this one comes up often: I am thankful that my children have such a wonderful father. They have a father who not only loves them deeply and spends quality time with them, but who is fun. He is creative and zany and loves to get messy. He loves having a project, and the more hammering and cutting and making, the better. What more could a 4-year-old boy want? He is the ultimate playmate and, from my perspective, the perfect role model for two boys. We are all lucky to have him.

The countdown is on! :: by mama

It's true: there are exactly 100 days until summer vacation. The countdown is ON.

Now, those of us who try to be more Buddhist in our approach to life will undoubtedly say that I should be focusing on the present, enjoying the moment, and not thinking about the future. And I assure you that I am enjoying the present. The present is wonderful. The present is filled with smiles...


...and flowers for mama...


... and family time with my three favorite boys.


I love and treasure these moments. However, just imagine this much sweetness accompanied by, oh, I don't know, a toasted sesame seed bagel with muenster cheese and a real lemonade. A mama can dream.