transitioning

To answer a frequently-asked question: the transition is going well. We are pretty much transitioned now, I would say. The first few days were rough; I don't know as Ivory really recognized her surroundings. But now she is enjoying them very much - saying "hi" to everyone on the street, meeting all the school kids and the neighborhood dogs, helping take care of Titus, going on walks, and playing outside. The weather here is beautiful right now - the mornings are cool, almost cold, like fall, and it gets warmer during the day, but not unbearably hot. 

A few photos of the past week or so...

Fun on the airplane. :)

The children's play area at DFW was near Pizza Hut, so that was perfect - we got food and Ivory got a little energy out. 

Titus's first international trip. 

And now we're in Ixtlan... bundled up the other morning to walk down to the market. 

Ivory is really enjoying her books lately... and this pizza box.

A couple of the schoolgirls stopped by this week to see the kids and hold Titus.

Celebrating birthdays last night with Matt & Ruth and kids - Matt's birthday was yesterday and Grant's is tomorrow. He turns 25! 

Taking a pic in their John Deere shirts. Shortly after this, Ivory decided she was done and poor Titus took a tumble head first into the couch.

People have also been asking if Ivory knows Spanish or if she's adjusting to the language. She definitely picks up that it is different, and realizes that she cannot understand when Spanish is being spoken. She is eager to try new words, though, and generally repeats after us or others if we tell her to. I try to encourage her interactions with Spanish-speaking adults and children so that she learns the language as it is actually spoken, rather than as it is spoken by Americans. :) She had a Spanish-speaking babysitter the other evening while we had Communion, and it seemed to go well. I think she is beginning to understand words like "Come", "Look", "Hello", and "Good-bye". At the rate that she is reproducing English words, it seems like the Spanish should be popping out in no time at all. You really have to watch what you say around here!

Titus is growing and eating and generally doing things that most almost-2-month-olds do. The other day he rolled over on me... I'm hoping it was just an accident! I'm not sure if I'm ready for him to be mobile yet.

We continue to find reasons that our summer in the U.S. was extremely valuable. Communion was a beautiful and peaceful time to reconnect with our church family here, and we were so thankful for that. It felt good to be back, but you don't get that feeling unless you go away for a while. :) On the other end of things, Ivory had a chance to get to know our friends and family in the States, which makes for much more interactive Skype conversations. She was very eager to talk to Seth and Addie and Scott on two occasions recently - she recognized them and enthusiastically greeted them.

We are settling into a routine as well... Grant goes to pick Roberto up in the mornings and brings him to school, then he heads to the woodshop. Right now he's working on our cabinet drawers. (yay!!!) The kids and I spend the day here or on walks. We eat lunch around 3 and then often have evening plans - whether church events, Bible studies, or getting together with other families. And then we go to bed... hoping and praying that Titus will sleep longer tonight than he did last night!