It’s been
5 months... almost 6 months here in the US and life has somewhat become
ordinary. With all the yearend festive celebrations over we begin the year
pretty standard... to an extent (always a but).
So here
is where we're at:
1. Jaime is settling in better than
ever. His little personality is shaping and growing every day. Eating, a once
torturous time, is now an absolute pleasure. He tells us what he wants; he sits
at the table, and best of all he eats! It’s fantastic! Along with the great
eating, comes the growing. His quecas we brought from SA were once dangling
round his waist, are now filled up by his little bum - to precious! Most of his
clothes we brought have been put aside as they just don't fit!
2. His vocabulary is expanding on a
day to day basis. Now we hear words like: although, except, instead. He tells
us how to say words now, best of all he splits the words out in syllables and
makes us repeat each syllable after him so we get it right.
3. When we left SA, with a list of
things from the OT to work on. Naturally things have been a bit hectic to
concentrate on any sort of list but with school and my kickboxing in the
morning Mr Jaime's body strength as improved. He now stands on one leg for a
few seconds (Good balance), can hop on one leg, does a perfect push up,
attempting hand stands, speeds on his bike, his strikes and crosses achieve a
perfect A+ with the virtual instructor.
4. Ili has started his computer
course, started last Monday. He seems quite interested and keen to start
dismantling my laptop....note my laptop not his! Hey, maybe he can kill the
virus in it...??? Maybe. Well with his new tools (magnifying glass, twisors and
flash light) he is bound to be a success!
5. Me, I start a very busy tax
season soon. Unlike in SA where we get a full year to file ( Feb 2011 close is
due for filing Feb 2012), here all companies file their Dec 2011 close on March
15th (unless they request a different date, which isn't often) a mere 3 months
after year end and individuals on April 15. So the next couple of weeks are
going to be stressful but I'm looking forward to it. hey I'm learning alot on a
daily basis, plus these rich people and their technical lives are teaching me
indirectly how to make money in this first world country.
6. We still are looking at houses.
Ili scours the Internet on a daily basis comparing location, price, size,
taxes, heating systems ai yai yai so much to think about! Basically every
weekend for the past 2 months has been looking at a house or two, driving
around the areas looking at neighbourhoods and facilities. We have found a few
houses that we like, but each one has something we don’t like or will have to
change or upgrade. It’s tiring. I hope the "one" that is meant for us
will come through for us. Besides we really are not in a rush because we have
this place till June. So plenty of time to wonder this sleepy part of
Massachusetts.
7. With the pending house purchase
we've been trying to save money so that when we move we'll be able to kit the
house up with the basics. This has forced us to stay home more - now if you've
ever been to the US you'll understand why I say we need to stay home. Ok let me
explain. Here most stores, clothes, shoes, technology, food, are always on
sale, giving out deals etc leaving just window shopping an impossible task to
do. You thinking, ja ja, it’s really not that hard not to shop TRUST ME when
things are going 50-60% off marked price you get very tempted! With the temperature
as it is going to the playground or walk on the beach for more than 15minutes
is difficult. So we stay home. We play lego, playdough, read, talk,
laugh...just be! I love it!
8. The winter has been a mild one
apparently, so it really hasn’t been a big event in our lives (ignoring my
previous point lol). We have had one snow storm (as you notice all my posts)
that came and went over one weekend and washed away in the rain on the
Wednesday. Nothing to fun about that. So all that is left is this icy chill in
the air and sunny skies. The chill, let me define it - it’s like walking out
side mid July at 1am in the morning, all day. Once you get used it you can wear
a sweater and a jacket and feel comfortable. Of course our shoes and jackets are
slightly different to what we would wear back in SA!
9. Ili has become as excellent cook.
His grilled chicken reminds us of home (his mom's chicken), his burgers remind
us of Nandos, his butternut remind us of my mom's Sunday lunch. Every day is
something new, always simple to create but great to consume and enjoy!
Mmmm thats all I can really think of on this sleepy Sunday Afternoon. I hope everyone is well, missing everyone lots!
Forward and onwards to February we will go..