Evangeline is now 2 months
old. We are getting into a schedule and
she is extending the hours she sleeps at night, reaching 8 hours twice. She is also providing us with many
opportunities to learn culture.
Everyone in Barat, and in many
other parts of this country, were very surprised that we would venture out of
the house at first with such a small baby.
Most people here do not go out before the baby is 40 days old. Granted, Evangeline did take her first
airplane ride at only 3 days old making her a unique case even by U.S.
standards. Occasionally I, Erin, will go
out with Evangeline to a neighborhood shop or to visit a friend. People are worried she may get sick because she
usually is without a hat. At first we
would take her outside in just a onesie, but due to people’s comments, we began
wrapping her in a light blanket. We have
always worked by the principal that infants are best dressed with one addition
layer than what we would be comfortable in.
In this climate I would be comfortable in nothing, so I figure
Evangeline is fine in just a onesie. The
Barat people on the other hand think babies should be all wrapped up, including
socks, mittens, and a hat, especially when outside.
Some of the things we are seen
doing have been met with comments such as, “I didn’t know you could do that,”
or “Our parents always told us not to do that.”
This frequently occurs when we hold Evangeline in an upright
position. They hold their babies
horizontally for at least a couple months as they fear for the safety of the
baby’s head. One friend told us that is
could cause the child to become a hunch back.
Mostly for small talk, people frequently
ask me if I am breastfeeding and if we use a hammock. All babies here are placed in a type of
hammock hung on springs, then bounced to sooth and put to sleep. It is used much in the same way baby swings
are in the U.S. are, except there is nothing automatic about them, causing
someone to always be tugging on the hammock to keep the baby bouncing.
A few other differences we have
learned are that many people do not use diapers, of any kind, for the first
couple months. One man mentioned chafing,
where as another friend mentioned the remains of the umbilical cord as reasons. Most baby girls get their ears pierced almost
immediately. Once neighbor told me I
should make sure to get it done before her ear lobes become hard. Every time there is a visitor to meet our
new baby and congratulate us, they always bring a gift. Gifts have consisted of clothes, mostly
brightly patterned dresses, soap for us and Evangeline, and pillows.
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Gifts
Not sure what to do with all the pillows!
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Evangeline being weighed at a local clinic.
Yes, that is her in the sack.
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Most of these differences are easy
to just nod, smile at, and agree that yes we do things differently. There have been a couple differences that are
more difficult for me. One, is that everyone
wants to touch Evangeline, mostly on her face. The second is even people who are sick, or
very recently sick, will come to visit.
One lady with a cold and a girl who had a fever the night before came to
visit. Then a neighbor we all call ‘grandma’
came to chat with us while we were outside.
She proceeds to tells us all of how she has had diarrhea since the night
before, all the while holding Evangeline’s hand. These times it is ok to be a little more
forward and tell people it is not ok to hold or touch her.
All in all I am so thankful for
Evangeline’s continued health and growth.
We also just celebrated Caedmon's 8th birthday. Blessed by another year with Caedmon!
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| We started with cinnamon rolls before school. |
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We made a piñata.
Whitman taking a turn.
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Caedmon's turn
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| Caedmon wanted vanilla and strawberry cake. |
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| We ate cake with neighbors after the piñata broke. |
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| Getting so big! |
