Family News

Benjamin has taken a couple of steps on his own but is still not walking independently. We think he could if he really wanted too – he pushes and rides his car at speed on the patio! He is speaking a little and signing a little too, e.g. where? (u-wu?), dog, drink, I want …, rabbit, dada, mummy ….for people generally he points and says ‘da-dee’! He is quite a mischief – this week he has managed to throw both his toothbrush and Sammy’s ‘Scoop’ digger down the toilet! He suddenly decided to stop breastfeeding two weeks ago – he suddenly decided he’d had enough and wanted to use the spoon himself at the table. You can imagine the mess! He now sleeps until past 6am most days so that is a huge relief to us! He still enjoys his ball and his cars the most, but also like clapping and dancing on his knees to music and playing a tambourine. He has also started to build small towers of bricks. He loves feeding our new rabbit!

Sammy continued his musical career on Sunday singing a solo in church in Spanish! This follows his dances for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day (see separate entries). He seems to enjoy performing! The solo was just a little children’s song they had been singing in Sunday School but we were very proud of him. He sang it as part of the feedback the children do for the adults when they come back into the service. At school their theme this month has been Cusco as this is the biggest month for parades and cultural celebrations of various types. They have made a Cusco flag and Inca costumes, eaten local food, learned a song in Quechua, and been on a trip where they ate potatoes cooked in ‘huatias’ (ovens made of stones in the ground). I went with him on this trip and it was good to see him interacting with his friends. He still speaks English to them mainly, but they speak to him in Spanish and he seems to understand a lot. Sometimes they just chase each other and make faces and laugh! He was invited to a pirate party the other week. It was very near to our house although we didn’t know the family beforehand. The mum, Anahi, thought she’d hold a party as they only moved here a year ago and don’t know many people. Her husband is from England so she speaks good English. They have two boys, one a bit older than Sammy and one a bit older than Benjamin.

Jenny – It was nice to get to know Anahi as one of my other local friends has just gone to Arequipa for a few months to have her baby. I have also got to know a mum called Heather, from Canada who has a son just a bit younger than Sammy. Apart from Spanish study and looking after the boys I have fitted in step aerobics with Hannah each week and done a bit of jogging now and again. I’m enjoying doing the mums’ and babies’ group each Tuesday morning – a good chance to practice my Spanish and get to know people.

Roland – Language study is going a bit better, but I have appreciated being able to get out of the classroom and spend an afternoon a week with Luis. He works with the Micro Enterprise Organisation here and he has taken me around to visit some of the clients. It has been a good way to get an idea of what they do, but also a good opportunity to practice some Spanish. I’m also trying to do a bit of jogging, but the altitude isn’t making it easy (either that, or I’m very unfit!)