cause you've been asking.

I have had a few people ask me to write more about my time in Africa. I am definitely planning on doing so, but I don't have the time to dedicate to reflecting on it just yet as school and my impending practicum are about all I can focus on for now. School will be done in a few weeks time and then I will be able to focus on Ghana and spend some time thinking and writing about it. I will say that it was wonderful and amazing and I would go back in a second if I could.

It Finally Fits!

Remember this adorable dress I made my niece?

Well it finally fits her! I used the three month pattern, but Hailey Jade is skinny so it didn't fit her until now (she's 9 months). 

The pattern is intended to be used as a dress first and then as a shirt/vest as the baby grows... but Hailey is almost skipping the dress phase and moving directly into the long shirt phase. Thank goodness tights are in style.

My Girls.

I should have been doing homework, but I decided to play with my little girls instead! The best part was that their mama's came along too -- my four favourite ladies. They (the girls, not their mothers) have gotten so big and they have learned all sorts of new tricks. Sawyer even decided to do things today that her mama had never seen.

They make me so happy. And they were mostly happy... at least when they were eating. They don't really play together, but they do play beside each other and they "share" food and toys.

Maelle refused to nap when her mother was trying to put her down, but she passed out on my lap later in the afternoon. 

Sawy giggled so much when she was over. I am so glad she isn't afraid of me -- I thought she might be after two months apart. She doesn't crawl or walk yet, but she is more and more interested in moving and she is getting more daring. 

 Maelle is still much bigger than Sawyer even though she is 3.5 months younger than her. Bean happens to be in the 10th percentile while Little Miss is in the 90th. Or something like that. 

And Bean's little lion bum. You may recognize it from here when Maelle wore it back in December. She was kind enough to pass it on to her older smaller friend.

Warshington

Erik and I had a lovely time in Washington. Today was a bit overwhelming with the amount of work I needed to catch up on, but I am so thankful I went down when I sneak a peak at the photos we have from the weekend. It was so wonderful!

 I'm told Diego picked out this snazzy outfit for himself. Grandma's glasses finish it off nicely. And I love how he is smiling so nicely for the camera. Presh.

 Nothing better than snuggling with a sleeping babe -- especially when it is cool enough to appreciate the warmth the little peanut provides you. 

Uncle Erik with Mister J. I love seeing my hubby delight in babies. 

Seriously, he feels SO good. I love all his chubbiness.

Saying goodbye to the boys.

With Shawnaron and the boys. 

Erik and Truen. Look at his grin!!! So cute!!

Surprise!

Erik's sister is in Washington visiting his family for a few weeks. We haven't seen her since August 2009 and little Jamie was just born in January. I was so disappointed that she chose to come now just days after I came home from Africa and in the busiest month of my academic career. I really couldn't take the time off to go visit her.

Erik picked me up at the airport on Saturday night and then he went down to his parent's house on Tuesday to visit with Shawna and the family. I spent the week at my sister's house regretting that I didn't go with him, but I had a lab to attend and CRNE study books to purchase (and study). Erik had his nephews ask me when I was coming down every time I called and he eventually wore me down.

After trying every possible avenue to get down there, I made a last ditch effort and went to the bus depot at 10:30pm in hopes of catching the 11:30 bus to Abbotsford. This plan was only hatched at 9:30pm so it was a bit of a surprise to myself. Erik drove from his parent's house to Abbotsford and picked me up at 3:30am! We snuck into his parent's house at 5:30am and managed to catch a couple hours of sleep before we heard little voices chatting and little bodies making their way downstairs.

Erik hadn't told his sister that I was coming so he was very excited to march me into the kitchen to say good morning. When we got to the bottom of the stairs our nephew came around the corner, pointed at me, asked "how did you get here?", and then jumped into my arms. When Shawna saw me she did a little happy dance and said something or other in disbelief and then she came and gave me a great big hug! I'm a sucker for surprises. I just love 'em.

So even though it was absolutely ridiculous to travel in the middle of the night, for Erik to pick me up in Abbotsford and drive back to his parent's (he left at 1:20 and didn't get back until 5:30), and to make the trip just for a day and a half -- it was worth it. Absolutely worth it.

Especially after I had these three little boys in my arms.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a refreshing weekend!

*** *** ***

{this moment} updates.

I have decided to add some more {this moment}'s from my weeks in Ghana. I have posted them to their appropriate dates, but feel free to sneak a peak.

February 4

February 11

February 18

February 25

March 4

March 11

March 18

Same Same

Canadian and Ghanaian babies really aren't that different.

Home Safe

I finally arrived home in Surrey after 52 hours of traveling. I am very tired, but so happy to see my husband and my family.  I am planning on posting some pictures and more blogs about the last month of my time in Africa, but those will have to wait until later. Erik is going to Stanwood for a week on Tuesday so I will be spending all my time with him until then. You can expect something later this week though... I hope.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** ***

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** ***

Enchi - Quick Overview

We are back in Kumasi for a night after spending a week and a half in Enchi and we're heading up north to Bolgatanga tomorrow. I had no desire to come to the internet tonight, but I know my dear husband would be happy to hear from me so here I am. I am so glad I have been keeping a journal during my time here because I really don't feel like posting much -- there is just too much to say.

I absolutely adored Enchi. The town was small and beautiful. It was very dusty, but there were also some incredible thunderstorms while we were there. We even managed to go running in the mornings because it was nice and cool (only 30 degrees!). Enchi was so lush and green and humid. The people were lovely and they made us feel so welcome. I loved that we saw the same people daily so we were able to develop relationships with them. We got to know so many wonderful people and I was sad to leave this morning.

I did get a skin infection which the medical assistant kindly diagnosed for me. He gave me a prescription for some topical antibiotic/antifungal/anti-inflammatory and it appears to be doing the trick. I hopefully won't be bringing this little infection home with me.

And that is all the energy I have right now. I promise I will write more about Enchi later -- it was so amazing to be there. For now, know that I am safe, I am happy, and I am mostly healthy.

Much Love.

Ashley

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** ***

A short phone conversation

Hello everyone. Ashley's husband Erik here.  I thought I'd give an update about the team since its been a week since their last post and it will be another week since their next one.

Ashley called me last night at 11pm which is 7am over there.  She let me know that they are all safe and that she is enjoying Enchi.  Apparently the nurses in Enchi are a little more welcoming and easier to work with than the nurses in Tamale which is good because of this quote from Ashley regarding the nurses in Tamale:  "They really didn't like me."  Hah!  That's my girl.


Ashley let me know that they are working in a small clinic in Enchi and I believe that they were going out from the clinic today to do some outreach work.


One interesting and almost unrelated side note, as I was speaking to Ashley she was walking to the clinic which was about 300 yards away from where they were staying.  In that short walk I could barely hear her over the crowing of Roosters.  I asked if she walked into a chicken coop and she said that there were chickens everywhere in Enchi.  I got the impression that she had a rooster sitting on either shoulder.


Unfortunately that's all we had time to talk about.  I thought people might be interested to hear about it.