Where's Lydia?

As I've mentioned before, I like to get around.  The other day my parents put me down on a play mat that my Grandma and Grandpa Warden got me.  (Not the one in the above the picture.  I was actually on the other side of the room.)  My parents weren't really paying much attention, and all of a sudden I hear "Um...where is Lydia?"  For about 30 seconds I was lost, but then they spotted me.  Can you find me in this picture?

Feria Minichef - Los Sabores de mi Pais

Today at my school was Feria Minichef - Los Sabores de mi Pais  (Mini Chef Fare - Flavors of my Country).  I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to do any of the actual cooking, but we did get to help out at the food stations.  And we got to wear cool chef hats and aprons.  We had 7 different food stations, each with a traditional Bolivian dish.  All the parents got to come and try out the food.  The 7 different dishes were:

Mondongo - A pork dish with a red spicy sauce served over noodles and potatoes

Chicharrón - Seasoned pork ribs that are boiled and then cooked in their own fat.  Typically chicha (home-made fermented drink) is added for more flavor.  Served with a potato.

Charque - Dried llama meat, fried and served with stewed corn, hard boiled eggs and cheese.  Served with a potato. 

Picante De Lengua - Cow's tongue with a spicy sauce. Served with a potato.

Chorizos Chuquisaqueños - Sucre is specifically know for this flavorful sausage.  Served with a potato.

Pollo Picante - Chicken served in a spicy sauce with a potato.

Coco de Pollo - Chicken simmered in a mild yellow sauce with vegetables and...you guessed it, served with a potato!

As organized as our stations were, good luck getting to the food.  There were so many people, and Bolivians are not known for forming lines and organizing themselves.  (Note above picture.)  My Mom was by herself with Lydia, and after trying just 2 dishes,  she gave up and we went home!  Viva Bolivia!

Tea Time!

We are getting close to our summer time here in Bolivia.  It was really nice the other day, so my Mommy and I had a princess tea party out on our balcony.  It was fun!  

8 months!

I've got another month under by belt!  They seem to be flying by.  I'm getting in my grove, sleeping through the night, eating when I'm suppose to and taking my naps like a good little baby.  What more could my parents ask for?  Apparently they want me to gain more weight!  At my last appointment I was 13 pounds 3 oz, up just over 1/2 a pound from last month.  Even though my height is taking off at 25.6 inches (25th %), my doctor here is freaking out.  Bolivians believe that the heavier the baby, the healthier.  She is never too concerned about my development...just wants to know how much I weigh.  My doctor had lots of suggestions for me.  Here are a few of her suggestions:

2 cooked egg yolks a day

PediaSure

chicken liver

yogurt

jello

2 spoonfuls of vegetable oil a day

spinach

Thank goodness by parents are taking her advice with a grain of salt.  But, I am going to try several of these suggestions.  My mom did buy chicken liver at the market the other day...we'll she if she is brave enough to give it to me.  Anyways, I do need to beef up a little bit.  I have a weigh in on the 27th, so you can pray that all the hard work my parents are doing, cooking me 5 meals a day, will pay off!  

Other than my weight, I'm a pretty normal 8 month old.  I love sitting up, but I don't really stay in one place long.  Technically I'm not crawling yet, but that doesn't stop me from getting to where I need to go.    In fact I've already run away from my parents.  It took them a little while to find me...but that's for another blog.  I'm talking more and more...and I try to be just like my big sister.  So I have to talk really loud!  Life is pretty good and I can't complain.

Think I'll be spending a lot of time in this chair!

Love playing with my big sister.  

I like being out and about.

Just in case you were wondering...I can still get my foot in my mouth!

Visitors!

Our friends, The Moulding Family, came for a visit last week.  They are missionaries from the UK that work for FH in La Paz.  Maybe you remember me talking about their daughter Alana before.  She is just turning 5 this month, so she is a little bit older than me.  But this visit we also got to meet her new baby brother, Isaiah.  He was born 1 1/2 months after Lydia.  The two of them had fun together.  Lydia did a good job sharing her toys with him.  

Hamming it up for the camera.

Lydia is trying to measure up!

Feeding the birds at the plaza.

A Visit to the plaza is not complete without a ride on the lion.

"Hey guys...don't forget us in these things!"

Thanks for coming to visit.  It was fun!

Special Daddy Time!

Since Lydia has been born, I've gotten to spend some extra time with just Daddy and me. I LOVE it!  A few weeks ago, Toy Story the Musical came to our outdoor theater in Sucre!  Daddy and I got to go and it was so much fun.  Well...actually it turned into quite a Bolivian adventure and the anticipation was the most exciting part.  The doors were suppose to open at 4:30pm.  So we decided to get there right at 4:30pm even though we knew there would be a lot of people waiting in line most of the afternoon to get the best seats.  It's a good thing we didn't leave any earlier...we ended up waiting in line for an hour anyway as the doors didn't end up opening until a bit after 5:30pm.  (Which is when the show was suppose to start.)  We found seats and waited, and waited, and waited.  Clowns came out to entertain us...and they kept saying "cinco minutos mas..."  (5 more minutes...).  This went on for almost 2 hours...finally the show started a little after 7pm.  After all that waiting...nothing really lives up to the hype.  We ended up leaving at intermission at 8:30pm, an hour past my bedtime!      

For his job, my Daddy does trainings in churches, which usually happens at night time.  Since I don't get to see him much in the evenings, I am happy that he can be home with us in the afternoons sometimes.  A few weeks ago my Daddy and me did a project...making a prince and princess out of aluminum cans.  (My Daddy is a really good artist!  A lot of people don't know that!)  

Thanks Daddy!  I love spending time with you!

Jugando en la casita con mi hermana!

The other day I was playing in our playhouse with my sister...

Somehow, I became the play toy...

...but it was fun...

...and I survived...

...barely.