the kiddies

We've got a new addition to our household: Iaimon's daughter, Laree, has been coming to our place with her Mum every day for the last couple of weeks. Iaimon has had a terrible time finding someone to take care of Laree, and when her oaf of a babysitter finally took off for greener pastures, I was able to convince her that the best idea would be to bring Laree here so she could play with Seung Yi. So far, this plan is working out really well. Seung Yi is getting super vocal and super speedy under Laree's tuition. Nothing like having a big, 3-month-older friend to show you the ropes, huh?

Poor Iaimon, at first her sister was taking care of Laree right after she was born, but then the sister wanted to go back to the North-East where the rest of the family is. Iaimon left Laree with some other babysitters during the early winter for awhile, but they didn't take care of her and left her lying cold for the whole day! When Iaimon started working for us, her other sister was taking care of Laree, but then that sister got pregnant-er and had to go back home, too! Finally, Iaimon's Mom sent a girl from Shillong to help her out, but the girl turned out to be a ne'er-do-well shopkeeper's daughter who was as lazy as a sloth and about as helpful. She wouldn't make food or formula for Laree (!!), and pretty much just made the baby sleep all day with her. Iaimon would just prepare bottles and leave them around the room for Laree to get herself. The final straw for me was hearing that the babysitter wouldn't tidy up, and so she therefore wouldn't let Laree play with her toys. She'd put them all in a plastic bag and put that up away out of reach (!!) So, I have to say I am happy with the development of Laree being here with us where she can play and enjoy herself and have fun. She is an absolutely lovely little girl; very friendly, lets me pick her up and snuggle her with no trouble, isn't jealous of Seung Yi, and is really extremely smart. She's 11 months and already walks super well, talks a bit, can follow some directions, and aside from enjoying sticking her fingers down her throat to make herself retch once a day, is also very sweet and polite as a baby can be.

Now, the next hurdle is convincing Iaimon to let Laree come back with her when their summer holiday is over. Iaimon has long been planning to get Laree to stay with her Mum (in the very far far away northeast, in Assam) after the summer. Iaimon's son, Malbin, is already there being raised in the village. This idea makes me as sad as can be. The idea of having someone else leave their baby just so they can take care of my baby doesn't suit me well at all. I know that this happens all the time, and that tons of women depend on being able to go away from their kids to make money to suport them, but me I would just rather that it didn't have to be that way for someone who is taking care of my kids and sharing my house. Also, I think there's a difference between leaving kids who are school-age and leaving a wee little baby girl. So, I am hoping that we'll have the same set-up in the fall. So far it is working great for both girls and both mothers -- though I'm sure Iaimon is pretty tired! She's like, "I used to think it would be good to have twins, but now I am not sure." Heh heh. Still, not so bad; she's got friends at a place near by and they bring over the kids from that house to play here and then one of them watches the whole passel of kids and Iaimon can get lunch and do some work.

Here's Laree, desperate to hug and play with Seung Yi, and Seung Yi trying to escape from her clutches:

And a close up of the baby with the most beauteeeous hair in the world, bar none:

Lastly in kiddie news, on the weekend when I was in recovery from my stomach upset (due, apparently, to our water filter being temporarily non-functional!) our driver John came by with his lovely wife, Gracie and his adorable son, Edwin, both of whom I'd never met. It was so sweet of them to drop by. The day before I'd surprised John by remembering Edwin's 3rd birthday and giving him a brand-spanking-new football (he told me about his birthday several months ago and I sneakily remembered it) and they dropped by on Edwin's birthday to say thanks. Here's Edwin, a little shy, visiting with us:

Yes. More spectacular hair. Sigh. (Mum, you may note he was wearing the cute polo shirt you bought him and he also had on the navy pants you sent -- all gussied up from visiting church [they're Catholic!]). (Waay tooo much punctuation in that last sentence).

Otherwise, around here, just gearing down at school as the year finishes up. The kids are all mentally CHECKED OUT, but are on good behaviour for the most part. I'm excited because I found out I'll get my very own classroom (and computer! and overhead computer projector! with cordless keyboard!) next year.

More this weekend about the heaty heat heat here.

[Delhi-17-May-2007]

ps

[Delhi-20-May-2007]