baby girl

My little sister Tricia had a baby girl yesterday! Welcome, Katalina Mercedez Flores!

haircut

Since the weather got warmer, and Juma kept complaining of a sweaty head, we decided it was time for his haircut.

before (from Easter)



after





He got quite the reaction as school. One teacher didn't recognize him at first. When I asked him if any body tried to kiss him because he was soooo cuuuute, he giggled and giggled.

girls and boys

Juma: Some girls at school today were saying, "Girls are better than boys!"

Sarah: Do you think that's true?

Juma: No.

Sarah: Do you think boys are better than girls?

Juma: No! They're the same!


That's my boy.

sandals

As the weather has suddenly become warmer, we decided Juma needed some sandals. I took him to the store and searched around for sandals his size. The only ones were some black ones with a silver and black Spiderman on them, and red lights that flash whenever he steps.

So of course, he absolutely loves them. He put them on as soon as we got back into the car from the store. And and in the evening we had this conversation:

Juma: Mom, can I wear my Spiderman sandals to bed tonight?
Sarah: Mmm, I think it's better that you take them off.
Juma: Why?
Sarah: Because you've been wearing them all day, and they've gotten dirty. You don't that dirt to get in your bed. Then it would get on your face, your hands.
Juma: What if I leave them down by the end?
Sarah: How about you leave them down at the bottom of the ladder.
Justin: Then they'll be there first thing in the morning for you to put on again.
Juma: a little disappointed, but happy with the compromise Okay.
Sarah: But you do need to take them off to get in the bath.
Juma: disappointed Oh, all right.

After the bath, as I was settling down to read him a story, he pointed out that he had arranged his sandals right at the bottom of the ladder, facing the bed, so he could just step right into them when he climbed off his bed in the morning.

This morning, when he woke up, but before we were out of bed, we could hear him walking around the house, clomp, clomp, his sandals already on.

all better, and so is the weather

After being so wasted he wanted me to carry him to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Juma woke up Thursday will an incredible amount of energy and went off to school healthy. Which was good timing, since it was also Justin's birthday. Unfortunately, I was stuck with school from 9-5 and 6-8, so we couldn't exactly squeeze in a party or even birthday cake. We're planning on going out with some friends this weekend to make up for it.

Juma's now outside with his best friend playing with water guns and enjoying the first day of warm weather. Finally.

still sick

Juma's still sick, with a mild fever and still waking us up in the middle of the night to do his business. He's missed two days of school, which means we've missed school and work.

Update: Still sick Wednesday.

Juma = coolest son ever

warning: gross bodily functions feature heavily in this post

Juma woke us up in the middle of the night. As it was my turn, I slid out of bed and followed his pitiful voice calling me. I found him in the bathroom, already over the toilet, informing me he needed to throw up. I stayed with him while he aimed for the toilet, and made sure the vomit-session was passed before taking him back to his bedroom.

He said, "I'll sleep on the bottom bunk now, so I can get to the bathroom fast if I have to throw up again."

"Great thinking, bud," I said. "I'll get you a bowl, just in case you can't make it to the bathroom."

Three hours later, he woke us again for another session, and since it was nearly 7am, I stayed with him on the bottom bunk. He put his arm around my neck and smiled. "I'm just waiting for it to get more light outside."

I thought to myself, "What a considerate, mature kid to race to the toilet first, then call for Mom and Dad."

I remembered one time when I was sick as a kid, much older than Juma. For some reason (something about how people turn into complete wimps who want to be pampered when they are sick), I felt I needed to inform my mom I was about to throw up before I went to the toilet to throw up. The result? Vomit all up and down the hallway carpet, on the bathroom floor, and on the toilet seat. And a little in the toilet. Good job, Sarah.

I also remember my dad kneeling there in the hallway, cleaning supplies in hand, hesitating.

"What are you doing?" my mom asked as she ushered me past him.

"Just preparing myself to clean this up," he answered, steeling himself against the inevitable gagging.

Thank you, Juma, for being on the ball.

Sorry, Dad, for the mess.

mo' news

And I just found out today that a paper I co-authored, the anemia paper based on research we did last summer in Pemba, got accepted to a conference in Amsterdam! So I should be headed to Amsterdam for a quick trip in May. More woohoo!

Man, this has been a good week.

more money

And I just heard today that I got a not-so-small fellowship for my research in Africa. Woohoo!

money

I just found out today I got a small fellowship to help pay for our next trip to Africa! Woohoo!

easter

We only had brown eggs, so it made the color come out somewhat earthy, rather than spring-y. But I like them that way.

I didn't get any good pictures of Juma on his Easter egg hunt, unfortunately. But he had fun. And there are a few eggs still about the living room that were too hard for him. He'll have a nice surprise later when he discovers them.

Happy Easter, everyone!

spring walk

The other day Juma and I took a springtime walk to look for signs of spring, such as flowers, buds, and new growth on trees.

april fool's

I introduced Juma to the idea of April Fool's Day, and told him a few pranks so he could figure it out. I told him about Grandma Beckham's tradition of slamming a pie in Grandpa Beckham's face (Juma was horrified). I also told him about a couple pranks Justin pulled as a teenager, but I won't repeat them here, in order to protect the guilty...

Juma tried to pick up on simple versions of April Fool's jokes, such as this one:

Juma: Mom! Mom! There's a spider on your shirt!
Sarah: What? Where?
Juma: April Fool's!

Even after explaining this particular technique to him, Justin and I were each able to fool him once:

After painting, Juma took off his smock...
Sarah: Oh, no, Juma! You got paint on your brand new shirt.
Juma: dismayed Where?
Sarah: April Fool's!

Justin: Juma, you have a gross bug on your neck. Ew.
Juma: scared Where? Get it off!
Justin: Oh, no, I can't, it's too gross.
Juma: really worried Get it off! walks over to Sarah, very upset
Sarah: Oh, yeah, there it is...April Fool's!
Juma: laughs good-naturedly