(This blog is just an excuse to share some Micah pictures with you, not a pitiful plea for packages in the mail.)
The tradition is expanding. We arrived in Ethiopia in May of 2009 and in July of that year, we received our first package. Since that time, we feel there has been a pretty steady stream of care packages coming from all of the US, for which we are very grateful. Since receiving goodies/surprises from home is not an everyday occurrence, we tried to make the grand opening of each one a special occasion. When it was just the two of us, we would wait until bedtime before opening (that way we weren’t distracted by phone calls, work, or dinner burning in the oven.). Then, when bedtime came, we wouldn’t just rip into it. Instead, without looking, we would take turns reaching into the box to pull something out (no we have yet to be BITTEN by anything inside! Don’t get any ideas, there are customs laws that protect us there!). So, it’s always fun to see what we pull out (especially when I pull out something like the book “Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength.”) Anyway, we enjoyed our little tradition as it was, that is, until we welcomed a new addition to the family.
Now, for the first 4-5 months after Micah was born, most of the stuff inside the package was for him anyway, therefore, we thought it would be good to include him in the celebratory opening ceremony. First that meant doing it at a time when he was still awake. Then, for the first several months, his involvement was limited to just laying in our lap as we pulled stuff out of the box and piled it up around him. But, now that he has motor skills and loves to grab stuff, we have revised our tradition a little. Andrea and I still don’t look into the box, but Micah can. Then we ask him to grab stuff as he chooses. His eyes get real big as he sees all the goodies inside and then he is so happy when he finally gets a hold on something. Once that thing in taken away, he turns his attention right back again to the box of goodies. Let me give you some examples pictures from the last two boxes we received (one from each set of Micah’s g-rents).
“Ah yes, a package! Let me at ‘em!”
“Yuck, Oatmeal, boatmeal, double moatmeal, I hate Oatmeal.”
“Oooo, canned chicken? Hey dad, I thought you said baby chickens come from eggs!”
“Ah yes, it’s one of those funny things I have to wear when I eat.”
“Wow, my very own monkey finger puppet to remind me of my grandma singing me the ‘Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed’ song!”
“Dust rags? What are these for? Could you open the package so I can taste them?”
“Woah! Every time my mom blows into that circle thing, these trippy butterflies escape only to vanish when I try to catch them. If I only had an Encyclopedia for Babies to read up on this amazing species.”
“Wow a magazine! Now if only I could read.”
“Yea, a plastic bag! I love plastic bags! What’s that mommy? What’s a balloon?”
“Oh yea, a book, jar of Nutella, and my favorite - a spongy toy car!”
“Oh, THAT’S a balloon! That’s even better than a plastic bag!”
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