WELCOME TO BIKO'S WORLD

Finally, I am here!

I have been meaning to do this for the longest while, but a lot has been going on, for example, I started touching objects, taking a nap/sleeping by myself without waiting for my mother, lifting my head, laughing, talking, sucking my finger and just watching moving trees.

I know your world has been quite messy, and I am sorry not as exciting as mine is..but that's life. I know Wall Street tumbled onto mail street. I heard about the gas crisis in Atlanta, the government plan to bail out Wall Street, the billions of dollars owed to China, the collapse of the US dollar and oh! the Presidential Campaigns. I have been following all of that, but most importantly, I have been trying to enjoy the first two months of my life in this world. So, far all is going well.

My parents are lovely, they enjoy me and so do I. They take me to the park every Thursday and sometimes to the Mall. I have already visited Dad's grandmother (my great grandmother), attended a family barbeque, rode on the bus, got my first shots, (oh! that was not too kind) and took my first studio portraits. I have received lots of presents, lots of attention and complements.

Everybody who sees me has something to say about me. They say I am cute, adorable, beautiful, strong, gorgeous, eeh. Some call me a sumi wrestler, chubby, fat boy, mr. bear (because I sleep soundly). Dad calls me Beek, the Big Deal, the B. Abram (Sullivan) calls me -Beek. Mum calls me Mr. Beek, Mr. Henderson. That's the story of my life. Everybody has an opinion about me.

I say, I am a self-expressive boy, strong, happy, and will not settle for mediocre. That's why I thank mum for giving me my name -Biko...because I am indeed a freedom fighter. I settle not for less. I am already supporting Barack Obama -isn't it lovely being born in this year? with the first African American Presidential Candidate of a Major Political Party? Oh! we are enjoying it!!

Let me tell you about my likes. First the breast, second the Breast, third, The Breast. After that, I have found a new love for my thumb, which I suck to sleep. I don't fancy the pacifier, although I used to suck on it when I was still little. I also love my car seat, but now the crib seems to be a better place. I love having my diaper changed, I love taking a bath in that sink..looking at myself and maama in the mirror as I splash water all around. Also I love getting rides in the car, but not the stop light. I want us to go go go. Mum says I will be a car racer (just like my father). I also love waking up and laughing and talking.

Things I don't fancy too much. when mum talks on the phone while breastfeeding me or when she tries to clean my ears or under my neck or wakes me up from sleep to change my diaper. I don't like that. Usually i fight her but other times I just cry in protest. I have become so much better. I know who I am and don't want to discomfort me.

Mum says I have really grown. Auntie Kim too says so. You know, I was born with a a lot of hair and sometimes people have to ask whether I am a boy or girls. But for the most part, I have the boyish look so not too many questions. I can now stand while supported, I bounce around in my bounce chair, I chat endlessly, I sleep through the night, only feeding at intervals, I don't wake up and stay up for four hours. I rest in my crib, which I didn't like before. I am now a pro at taking milk from the bottle. You know, my mum spent a whole week teaching me how to drink from the bottle because if she goes back to work outside the house, I will have to go to daycare and drink from a bottle. I did not like it. I cried and cried but now, i can drink 5 ounces/day in a bottle of maama's express (pumped) breastmilk, non-stop. I am lovin't! Although I usually refuse to take it when I am not really hungry.

You know I have already passed through that stage of "crying"..while getting used to this world. There's a time I used to cry non-stop. In fact there's one weekend when i cried and cried and cried. I would not stop even when maama lifted me up and soothed me. I just cried. Mum got really scared and started calling up friends/mentors. One said I had colic -which is something my grandma in Uganda had talked about although in Luganda it goes by the name, "Obwooka"..especially for breast-fed babies when their stomachs are trying to adjust to in-take of milk (food). Also, gas is another cause, coz I used to have a lot of gas. Partly because my mum was laxed in burping me. The other reason is because my maama loves beans, broccoli and eggs too much. She's a very vegetarian eater. Also, that weekend maama ate something different from what I was used to. She had "personalized pizza" from Pizza Hut. My stomach did not welcome it. So, she took me to urgent care and the doctor recommended "Mylicon Drops" -my first medicine. Grandma (Uganda) had recommended water from boiled orange pills. Oh! now i am fine and maama has started to carefully monitor what she eats, xcept for that one time when she had coconut rice with fish in peanut sauce. I feel for my maama but then again, it's my world for now.

This month, I can lift my head while on my stomach, I can hold my hands together. I have already sang my first song and I continue to enjoy the outdoors. When it's time to take a walk, I demand that so persistently from maama. Oh! i enjoy the baby björn, and now I have outgrown the sling. Anyway, I'll keep coming back to tell you what's happening in our lives -maama, Popsy and myself. For now, welcome to Biko's world and please continue to visit!!