Seven Days in Kyiv: Week 29

On Monday morning, Eric was rushing off to teach his theology class, Dietrich and water bottles in tow. We have two lifts. One is small, smaller than a Target shopping cart. (WAY smaller than a Costco shopping cart.) The big lift provides a much more comfortable ride, especially in the morning when the whole building is trying to leave -- but it generally doesn't come to our floor.

So, it seemed a special treat when the doors to the big lift were just closing as Eric and Dietrich stepped onto the landing. Eric stuck his foot in the door. And the door? Well, it didn't care that there was a foot there, and kept right on closing. He called me to come get Dietrich, then called a neighbor to come pry the door open. He could feel the door closing more and more, but they got him free before his foot was crushed.



This is a new peculiarity of this lift, and it is so hard to remember! I've nearly missed getting stuck myself a time or two since then.

Eric usually takes Dietrich to sadik in the morning, and I pick him up. But since he was teaching, Eric often needed to be at the seminary early enough that Lev and I took Dietrich. I don't often get a chance to connect with other parents at sadik, since we pick Dietrich up after lunch, and most of the other kids stay through dinner. So, I was thankful when this rather-wild schedule resulted in the opportunity to help another mom out.

Her baby was sleeping when she came to drop off her two older boys, and twice I was leaving just as she was starting to lift the sleeping baby out of his stroller. I've had to do that oh so many times, and my baby NEVER made it through the entire drop-off or pick-up process without waking up. (Kids change into inside clothes and shoes upon arrival at sadik, so it's a rather long and loud endeavor.) I stood outside and rocked both strollers while she got her boys dropped off.

I also got the satisfaction of sending both the Harvest Heartbeat and the Eurasia Prayer Guide to their respective printers. I still have the e-mail versions to complete, but the lion's share of the work is behind me.

And I made fingerpaint, which resulted in this creepy scene:



While Eric found his mobility limited by that persnickety ol' elevator, Dietrich discovered the freedom that is bike riding.

This probably should have been mentioned in the last post, because we actually gave him the bike on a Saturday, but it this week that he really learned to ride it.


Pleased? I think?


Yep, definitely pleased.

He practiced with Daddy on Saturday and Sunday, then took a break until the next Saturday. A few minutes after they left, Eric called.

"If you were here right now, you'd be crying," he said.

"Uh-oh," said I. "Why?"

"Our son can ride a bike."


Away he goes!

Alas, we only have video of some early attempts.

Untitled from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

I am so thankful that this skill came pretty quickly to Dietrich. He really needed the boost. He came home SO proud of himself, and since then has said many times, "I wanted to give up, but I didn't and now I can do it!" Yes! THAT, my friend, is a valuable life lesson. Don't forget it!

I also can tell that Dietrich feels he's been initiated into some kind of Big Boy Club. He points out every bike rider he sees (and most of them are adults, or at least teens) with a kind of fraternal connection that he's never before exhibited. Good stuff.

Meanwhile, Lev started sleeping in my favorite baby-bottoms-up position.



And he found a new play place.



And he discovered ice. Slippery fun!











And he wore this for the last time.



Oh, and this was entertaining.

Untitled from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

And one more, for Baby Betty!

Untitled from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

Seven Days in Kyiv: Weeks 26-28

A lot happened in these three weeks, but of course I waited to long to write it all down, so who knows what precious memories are lost forever?

Anyhow ... I do recall that the Talbot session continued -- it was the last session for the five students who will be graduating in May. At the end of the session, they gave Eric, Edik and Vova sauna hats with funny sayings written on them, and made a presentation to their co-students. They showed them a beautiful rose, then chopped off the flower part and encouraged them to persevere through the program so that they, too, can bloom.

We took advantage of Eric's one week off between Talbot and his theology class to have friends over a couple of times. Of course, one of the nights that we invited friends over, a last-minute sadik meeting was called, so we had to scramble to change plans. Sadik strikes again!

Lev took his first half step on March 29! His feet were unevenly placed, and he picked one up and brought it in line with the other. Actual forward movement has yet to be achieved. But look, I finally got a picture of him standing!



I met with an accredited lactation consultant to explore the idea of being trained to serve as a peer counselor. (Bet you didn't know this was a secret dream of mine.) I'd be able to help with some breastfeeding issues, and would be trained on when to refer a struggling mom and baby to someone more educated. I think I'm going to do it! But not until the fall.

We sprang forward (two weeks later than in America), and Lev tried to use the opportunity to drop down to one nap. I fought back (and I think I won).

We discovered the secret to entertaining Lev for 30 minutes: A small trickle of water in an otherwise empty bath. Here he is making my favorite Lev face.



Dietrich recognized a word in a book, and started involving books in his play time. I'm excited about this mostly because I've already started a reading program with him, but, in all honesty, he wasn't exhibiting all the signs of being ready to read. Specifically, he didn't WANT to learn, as he told me over and over. "You can just read to me, mom," he reasoned. The program starts with writing letters and practicing their sounds, so he doesn't yet know that he's learning to read, and now I feel encouraged that, by the time he figures it out, he'll be on board. Here's his name, or, if you prefer: "Die hcirt." (Not really sure what hcirt did to deserve death. It must have been pretty bad.)



Dietrich has also refined his Uno-playing technique. He beats us with embarrassing frequency. Here are some Uno action shots.




I started Harvest Heartbeat; Eric started teaching theology.

Lev's stepped into that phase where toys are boring, but everyday household items are fascinating ...





... and he's still super cute.





Eric spent a lot of time in meetings pertaining to the selection of a new area director for our team. And the process continues.

We made a chain to count down the days before we leave for America. Good idea, except for how we always forget to take a link down at dinner.



Dietrich finally fulfilled his dream of climbing into the playpen WITH Lev.





Actually, the boys are playing together more and more. And by "playing," I mean wrestling.






And, most significantly, Baby Betty was born. We're over the moon about her, but her arrival sent me into a period of unexpected sadness. It was so difficult for me to miss visiting her in the hospital or holding her when she was just an hour old. There's just something about being involved in someone's life from the very beginning that is precious.


Uncle Sam and Aunt Jit, aka Betty's mom and dad, meeting Dietrich.

One thing I loved about Betty's arrival was the slow rollout of information about her. First we got this e-mail: "Baby is here name TK no drugs five pounds fourteen Jit is healthy and so is TK woohoo." (TK means "to come" in newspaper speak.)

The next day: A name.

A few days after that: A middle name.

And then, Betty's mom started blogging about Betty like, a lot. Hooray!

It's been so fun to have more and more of TK to look forward to.

Thankfully, we will get to see Baby Betty soon. Dietrich is convinced that she is ours, so we'll see how he reacts when we leave America without Betty in tow.