Kelly's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 6/21/00 -------------------- 6/15/00 6/6/00 5/24/00 5/10/00 5/3/00 4/25/00 4/18/00 4/12/00 4/6/00 3/29/00 3/22/00 3/15/00 3/8/00 3/1/00 2/23/00 2/16/00 -------------------- Kelly's Introduction

April 25, 2000

"STAGE FRIGHT AND MORE FIRSTS"

 

 

Mabuhay. *

 

The Lenten week was the best time we have had so far together here in Indonesia. We went down to Merak (some 135 kms from the capital Jakarta) because Aaron had several days of trainings to conduct and I didn’t want him traveling up and down everyday.The place was a

3 boys at Merakfront: "Celebrities in the neighborhood"

welcome respite from the heat and pollution in the city as the staff house in Merak was right across the beach. We left Jakarta at dawn Wednesday, so early morning we settled in the house and Orion was ready to conquer the place again.

I was alone with him during the first two days while Aaron was at work. It was both tiring (to say the least) and pleasurable at the same time. I haven’t been alone with him for a whole day since I got a day nanny, so it was like rediscovering each other again. It was also during this time that he did a lot of "FIRSTS" much to our delight. One morning while we were going over his "I Spy" book, he pointed at something and asked straightforwardly "Mama, what’s that?" and I was like "Huh", not because of what he was asking but how he said it. And before I could even recover, he followed it up with "That’s a …." (I can’t recall exactly what it was anyway!) The feeling was like "Oh my gosh, my baby is suddenly grown up!" He continued with the question and answer routine and nowadays that’s his standard question. (Guess the "whys" will come soon too).

For the past few weeks, we have introduced him to the potty and how to pee like a "big boy." So there will be times during the day that I don’t put a nappy, just his briefs. When Mama had to excuse herself to "wee-wee," he said "Orion wants to wee-wee also" so I removed his briefs and took him to the toilet. He was quite conscious and kept looking at me with a silly grin. I was going "wiswiswiswish" and told him to open his legs to induce it and yes, he did it! I clapped and said "Orion is really a big boy now." His face had that sparkle and look of triumph. Oh well, nowadays, he sometimes tells you when he wants to go and at least that’s a good start.

Buddha Lama: "After a standing shower with Papa"

We took walks around the "complex" (that’s how they call the housing system there) in the afternoons and we would always stop at the soccer field. One time, there were some school boys (probably 8-10year olds) playing and Orion was so excited, first to watch and within minutes he had to join them. Luckily, the ball "always" landed near where we were seated and this gave him the chance to "kick" the ball back to the boys!. He loved it and wanted to kick more as this was the "real" soccer ball. Since I was talking to him in English, the boys paid more attention and kept kicking the ball towards him.

At first only one or two would coach him "Kick the ball" and he’ll do it. But then, all the boys got interested in him and everybody was like "watching and coaching" him all at the same time. Orion, I guess was "overwhelmed" and he just stood there while the boys cheered. Well, who wouldn’t be "frightened" when suddenly everyone focused on you!

Another time, while Aaron and I were eating lunch (Orion sits with us, although I feed him ahead), we gave him some egg-drop cookies so he will stay put. We have been teaching him to count and was good from one to five but not beyond. He then started "One, two, three, four, five… six, seven…eight, nine, ten". While he was saying this, Aaron and I were just quiet. After he finished, we both looked at each other in happy amazement and clapped excitedly. Orion was surprised that we clapped and we kept saying "Very Good." We requested him to say it again and YES, he did it again and again and again…. Now, it is his routine to count almost everything.

The trip really did us a lot of good. Father and son had great bonding time during the swims at the beach; the "standing" showers; the soccer plays with Papa; the bike rides all over the place (Aaron said that Orion was singing songs while he pedaled away); the walks on the shore; digging the sand and chasing the tiny crabs. My two boys and our beloved Jaga, the Rottweiller, were immediate celebrities in the neighborhood.

Mama&OrioninMerak "My angel of delight"

For one they were the only "un-Asian" looking people and Jaga was like the biggest dog they have ever seen in their lives. It was amusing that people were very friendly and accommodating but annoying when they deliberately stop in front of the house to gawk at Jaga or at us. Even then, the vacation was a real success and we would really love to do it more often.

See you next week.

From Indonesia,

 

Aaron, Orion & Kelly

 

* Filipino Welcome, literally means Long Live.

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