oh goodness!!

it was hard, i admit, when i first moved to haiti to make friends. i couldn't speak a word of creole and i didn't know exactly how to relate to the nannies. but one woman was kind to me right from the start. nicole. she attempted to joke with me. she told me about her family. she asked about mine.
nicole always has a smile. she has the best laugh; it's so contagious! i hate her days off. they are never as fun as the days she is at angel house. it's just a little bit more quiet around the house.
nicole is my confidante. nicole is my sound board. she is kind and trustworthy! she loves the children, especially ellie. she often allows ellie to "help" her with her housework!
while i was out of town and unable to access my pictures, nicole had a birthday! i'm so sorry to have missed it. michelle, can you please show her this post?!
bon fet, zanmi'm!! mwen sonje'w ANPIL!! mwen toujou ap priye pou ou e pou tout fanmi'w tou! salye valencia, kinsley e schnider pou mwen!

late again

alixson, baby, i did not forget your birthday! i was in the hospital with my brother and driving through a snowstorm!! you'll learn about snow soon enough! anyhow, i did not forget and i am happy you're a big 3 now! when i first met you you were so tiny there in your papa bob's arms! and just look at you now!
do you remember this from last year? probably not, but i sure do!

this is gonna be a good year for you, alixson! you're going home soon!

little boy blue

well, friends, i think we may be talking about a boy . . .

i know, i know that after the ultrasound a lot of you were convinced of that. but i was still thinking it could go either way. but today i had a fill-in midwife (who i loved and wish wasn't retired!) and i think she nearly slipped. i'm pretty sure she nearly said, "he."

:) so, in keeping with fairfield tradition, i think we may be having a boy!!

missed but not forgotten birthdays

i was out of town and couldn't access my pictures, but i just want to say, "bon fet, nata!" and, "bon fet, spend!!" i miss you both so much and you are in my prayers. i know the Lord has a wonderful plan for each of your lives and i pray you discover it early on and seek it wholeheartedly! i love you. mwen sonje'w anpil! m'ap priye pou ou, tande'm?

white trash superbowl party - 4th year running

well, it was quite a game, eh folks? what a fourth quarter!! but no game beats a party like this. chili. fritos. vanilla pudding with nilla wafers. vienna sausages and twinkies. and mullets, or mullet!!

cutest

okay, tonight my dear friend emily and i made our own onesies and oh are they cute!!
are you ready?!!

this is the "little pistol" one and i put a smaller version on the butt

and here is the long awaited pirate one!! (not as funny as megan's, but more appropriate!)

i intend to still make the "crawl the line" onesie, but how cute is this? and then the little "cash" with the guitar is on the arm! like a little tattoo.

buckaroo! how cute is this?

i have a number of favorites, but come on!! this says, "i love my papa" in creole.
and the back has a "dad" tattoo!! cute, cute, cute!

this is also for dad. the headphones are pretty cool!

i felt it was only fitting to make one like this:

this one says, "i'm coming, haiti. are you waiting for me?" a very haitian question/statement.

oh!! can you read it? it says, "give peas a chance." :) so, so cute!


and here it is; the best of the best!
ready?

bon fet, belle

belle, you truly fit that name, don't you? you are beautiful, belle, inside and out. you are sweet and caring. i know that you want to be home now, and be with your family for your birthday. and i know, I KNOW, your mama wishes she were holding you right now too. you are such a big girl today; you are turning 10!
i miss you. oh how i miss you! but i know that today will be a special day for you even without your whole family! praise God for your brother steven and his love for you! i am praying that you will be home SOON!!!
i love you, honey!
happy birthday!