I am enjoying my maama's cooking so very much..It is all homemade and no GMO. Oh! how I love my mother!!

You know, my mother is a picky eater. She does not like processed food, she does not like GMO. She also steers clear of meats for the most part. Well, she is not really a tree hugger (like popsy), plus she eats a lot of grass. Nor is she an animal rights activist. She's a "situational vegetarian". In America, she tries not to eat meats because of all the chemicals injected in animals to grow quickly and the processing that goes in the food. The quality of American food is not the best. But she loves those lamb chops at Turkish restaurants and goat meat at Ethiopian restuarants. Her excuse is that, this is Halal meat --cleaner than the regular American food. Her main diet is fish and veggies, and you know she believes fish makes you smarter.

Now, I am growing to grow up on my maama's diet. I have no problem with that, I am enjoying my butternut squash and apple sauce. Dad bought a food processor, which is working all the magic. This weekend, maama was able to make more than a week's supply of food: apple sauce, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes and berries, and froze most of it. We don't have to buy those "Gerber baby food cans"; it's too expensive when you can buy you fresh foods and make it at home.

People think it takes a lot of time, but maama says commitment and the love for me is what drives her through. It is not too hard. She feels comfortable doing it this way. Why make short cuts when you'll pay for them in future? A healthy body starts with discipline --better now than later. Very soon, I'll be starting my jogging routine. Maama says, she will buy me a jogging stroller so that we can start going out together. We are waiting for the weather to change for the better

Oh! I am Growing and Growing and Growing

By this time next week, I will be six months of age (Thursday Jan 22), Whoa! Life has been good to me thus far. I have enjoyed my life and my loved ones. I have been so well taken care of, and I am for-ever grateful to my mother. She's a super mom. Everyone says it, friends, family, loved ones. So, here are a few developments in my life

I started going to day care last week consistently. Previously, my mom will drop me off for a few hours then come pick me up. Now, I am going every morning at 6:30a and come back after 6p. This means I no longer hang out with my maama every hour because she has to go off and look for work. You see, we need to have plenty of savings in the bank, and my mother is doing everything she can to get back her financial security. We have been able to survive on her savings and friends helping hands. We've been so blessed to have people that love us. Maama says her friend was right to say, "children bring blessings." I have seen then myself; Santa was very kind, lots of friends and family. My sitter at the day care says I am a wonderful baby. You know, I got used so quickly. The first day, I did not cry. I guess I was not yet sure what was happening. My maama sobbed...She sobbed from the night before to that day, and even failed to talk when the taxi driver asked her where we were going. He gave her tissue to wipe her eyes. Very kind man. He took my maama to the bus stop and stayed by her while she waited on the bus. Then came the second morning and I cried so hard; in fact I cried the whole day. My mother was still crying as well and she would call the baby sitter to ask about me. Oh! it was hard. since then however, life has changed. Now I am happy and I enjoy my baby sitter. I also play with them very much, and they like me so. And then, my maama cries, because I so independent and don't cry for her no more. oh! my lovely maama!

Then, there is Obama --Barack Hussein Obama--to be inaugurated next week as the 44th President of the United States, and the first Black President of this ol' country know for its racial problems. This is a big big event because until now, it has been close to impossible. For a black president? Life is good. I am so happy to be born in the year 2007, the year of Barack Obama, the year of The Redeem Team (with LeBrone James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Jason Kidd), the year of Usain Bolt, the year of Michael Phellps. Generally, it is the year many records were broken including the credit crunch, mortgage disaster and global financial crisis, The Bush Shoe (formerly Ducati Model 271), Mbeki forced to resign by hungry and disgruntled ANC, ANC breaks up, Lansana Conte dies. So, it's been a year and so far, I have been very happy to share it.

My jjaja in Uganda finally got to see my pictures and my face..oh! She was so overjoyed!! you know, she'd never seen me since I were born, 5 or close to 6 months ago. All my nieces and nephews, aunties and uncles got a card with me and maama for Xmas. They were so overjoyed. They could not keep talking about it. Maama took a pic of my poop, after a whole day of constipation and sent it as well to Jjaja...she could not believe it. But you know, that's my maama...she's crazy.

I have also been spending time with my great grand ma and she's been teaching me new tricks. Last weekend, she taught me how to reach out and grab my bib. She's so sweet. She said she wants to have more like me. Well, my maama says, she's still enjoying me and wants me to enjoy my baby life for a long while. Did I tell you am a potential model? Well, last weekend my parents took me to a model and talent scout agency and I got a nod onto the second stage. You know, I am a cute baby and ready to roll. Life is good. This weekend, my parents have to return and talk to the agency. We'll see how that goes -but I know my mother wants me to model so badly. That was, I can raise money for school and upkeep.

anyway, I must go to rest now. Oh! I have to read. You know, my father bought me this, Your Baby Can Read package and maama and I have already started on it and hope by one year, I will be able to say some words. I need to stop here. I know there's a lot going on in the world now including Israeli continued shelling of Palestians..but I want to be a happy boy...that's too hard for me as a baby..I can't even imagine what the palestians babies are going through now..while I am safely tucked here in the country that supplies the military power and diplomatic backing to Israel as it happily conducts its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

bye for now

CELEBRATING MY FIRST YEAR, 2009!!

YES! I know I am sleeping, but I am celebrating..with my dearest dearest mother. I or she is the love of my life...ok. we both share this line. I am overjoyed!! My maama is here...and I am resting so beautiful.

It's been a year of wonders, twists and turns. Oh! just heard someone on BBC Africa Have Your Say talk about Joseph Kony...that notorious goon who continues terrorizing people in Northern Uganda, Eastern Congo and Southern Sudan. Oh! I hope (and my maama agrees) they catch him..dead.

Anyway, this is my first new year --and I am 5 months into this world. It's beautiful! I look forward to many more like these, obviously better ones. I have plenty of wishes and resolutions to make to my mother and myself. So help me y'all.

1) I need to start sitting all by myself by the end of this month, January 2009 -I can't even believe I am saying Jan 2009.

2) Continue my smart progress, charming face and peaceful nature. I want to carry these all the way into my adulthood. Already, maama says I am a genius. I can talk, laugh, giggle (oh! I have my maama's stingy laugh), listen attentively, play, and express myself. Oh! did I tell you that I can even type on the computer. Well, that's me, Mr. Genius

well, I am taking after my mother. don't blame me for being too ambitious.

Oh! did I tell you about my learning-to-sit" box? Apparently my mother thought it was a smart idea to put me in this box....so, I can learn to sit...and there I am, learning to sit...and sometimes feel really caged-in. But

But I guess I love it...look at me... and I am enjoying...learning to sit...Next time you see me, I'll be walking.




3) That my mother finds work to earn money. She's currently not earning an income but she wants to get back into "the earning business". I love her and I love that she takes care of me. But I also want her to get paid for taking care of me. Right now, that's not happening. And she's a very enterprising person. I want her to reclaim her inner strength, imaginative and achieving spirit. I want her to achieve so so much!! She's a wonderful person. Did I say she's the love of my life? Ok, perhaps I've overused that. Anyway, this is my advertising contribution for her. As you can see, she's also got a picture-taking talent. She took all these pics..so, perhaps she has a career in photography. But I know she wants to "save the world" and argue politics, especially African International Politics. You know what, she can do all this through photography.

I want my mother and I to move (back) to New York City, because she says it's the best city to live in. Everybody is "theoretically" equal because they all take the subway. Also, everyone can speak their own language and not feel foreign..because it's a multi-cultural city. The parks are so wide and exciting, there are plenty of Africans. My mum wants those Senegalese to baby sit me so that I can learn Wolof and French (you know she was once engaged to a Senegalese, shhhh!!).. I understand, Senegalese are such wonderful people..she just had her issues --thus cutting off that engagement.

4) I hope to go visit my family in Uganda by the end of the year. Maama tells me Jjajja (my grandma) is the best person in the entire world. All my cousins are longing for me, and so are my aunties and uncles. They cannot imagine a baby not at home. But you know what, whoever said,"like mother like son" was definitely thinking about my maama and I. My maama was the only child of her mother born outside the family home (oh! long story) and she grew up with her grandmother. So, when she was five and ready to start kindergarten, she joined her siblings in Kampala (Uganda). I understand her siblings used to call her, "Guest" because they didn't know she was one of them. Can you imagine I am the only one of my jjajja (grandma)'s grandkids to be born outside Uganda and away from home? Now I know they will all call me "Guest" or Mugenyi. I have already met my paternal family in Bartonsville, PA. Now, I need to visit my jjajja.Well, I guess I should wish for good health, good feelings, good friends, good finances, good weather and good lifestyle. I also wish for a good inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama, as the first black President of the United States.

I am thankful for the people, for the gifts, for the smile, for the attention, for those friends and family and those who care for me. people say I look like my mother, but I found a look-a-like who aint my mother..ha!

Even I Fall Sick

I am experiencing my first bout of sickness, down with a fever and flu. I also had a rash (heat rash) which I brought back from traveling too much over thanksgiving. But you know, I am a tough boy, just like my maama, and I will get through with this. I guess I couldn't avoid sniffing around. You know, my maama also had a cold from the trip. She keeps her nose around mine, so I couldn't avoid the contagious flu. Then maama took me to daycare for a day when she had to run around, and I guess the babysitter couldn't keep the other older kids around. So, it's been a tough week. But then again, life is tough and I am tougher. I can still play and giggle amidst the high temperature and sneezing. I am doing well, maama says and she is so proud of me.

Jaaja (my maternal grandma) says, I am growing up, that's why I caught a flu. It also shows that I am active and will help strengthen my immunity. Oh! I am sniffing right now (ma says, "Bless You" and again, "Bless You"). Oh! I look forward to getting through with this but I know my ma is more worried that mysel. You know, she loves me so very much..

Overall, I've been a great boy to date, and I hope Santa picks up on that and brings huge huge bounty when he comes down. It's been a while since I've been here but things have happened..I witnessed the election of our first black President as 44th President of the United States, celebrated Halloween (ma had wanted me to be Cornell West but didn't happen), enjoyed thanksgiving with my (paternal) family in Bartonsville, PA, and I have been immunized twice, now that was not enjoyable but I guess it's part of growing up. In less than two months, I'll return for my next immunizations. By then, I hope to be able to sit perfectly and completely rolly from place to place

Becoming Independent: My Mum is Paranoid

My Maama is so funny. She is now paranoid that I am too independent because I can play by myself, lie down by myself, ask her to put me down and go to bed by myself, all without crying. She's now getting worried that I am too independent.

You know, there is a time I used to cry more and sought my maama's attention and assistance each time I wanted to sleep or to nap or to play. I complained all the time and wanted her to pick me up. I also slept a lot on her lap, and in fact that was my favorite position, especially when she was working. I went to bed in her arms and wanted to wake up in her arms as well. I, as she said, made my sleep time a community affair. I cried to sleep and cried to wake up. I also cried if I didn't see or feel or hear my maama. I wanted her to be there all the time.

But now I am all growing up and I can do well all by myself. Now my maama has to wake up or get me out of bed to feed or take a bath or just play with me. She complains that I am too independent, that I sleep and rest alone too much that I don't need her soothing songs anymore. Oh! maama. She now misses those times when she used to sing those bedtime lullabies to me. She still reads to me before I go to bed. She also sits me on her lap so that I can fall asleep in her arms. She lies down besides me while I converse with her before I sleep or when I wake up. She loves all those memories.

But I don't wake up so much as I used to. Nowadays she checks on me to see if I have woken up or if I am ready for the breast or if I just want to talk. Sometimes she tells me, "Biko, let me know if you want to wake up or if you are hungry. I am here." Not that I am ignoring her, but I am trying to show her that I am all grown up now, she can now concentrate on her work. But mothers! they are never content without their children. they love their babies too much. My maama says I am the love of her life. I am the joy of her life. I am everything she is because I love her.

I love my maama very much. I smile and squirl when I look in her eyes. I enjoy the smell of her. I love to reach out my hand and touch her. I love to set my head near her Bre....I love everything about my maama. She's my daily comforter, consoler. She has given me plenty of love. She does not let me cry for long before she soothes me, and tells me that, "I need to grow strong like a man." The she puts me down to relax. But nowadays, all that is gone: there's no more crying.

MY MILESTONES

Here is what you should know about me

1. At 4 weeks old, I could lift my head, and at 5 weeks, I could hold it up firm

2. Kim Thompson, one of my mentors said, I was the most handsome boy he saw in a room full of kids when we went to apply for my birth certificate.

3. I used to wake up and cry after a bad dream. Dianne (Thompson), our family friend said, 'I had dreamt that my maama's breast had disappeared'.

4. I smiled as early as 2 weeks. I would smile in my sleep. Maama said, she thought I was smiling with my guardian angel or my late sis (dad's first daughter), Kyla Amira (RIP).


5. I loved lying in the sling. Maama had to work with me in the sling on her lap

6. Maama said I made my sleep a community affair. When I was little, I slept loudly and woke up crying loudly.

7. I used to sleep with one eye open

8. Held the "Satisfier" at three weeks

Here is what friends and family said about me or called me:

1. More Breast - Maama
2. Acapulco pause - Auntie Tega
3. Mr. Bear -Auntie Kim Thompson
4. All You can Eat Buffett (Breast)-Maama
5. Mr. Beek, Big Deal -Popsy
6. Beek -Abram

Here are my mothers Joyous Moments of Me:

1. Lying in bed together and waking up to my face (she didn't put me in my crib when I was little)
2. My poop (especially early days)
3. My smile
4. My eye lashes
5. My hair

Here is what Maama tells me:
1. "Sometimes I look like Kim Jong Yun II" (I have been told that i look Chinese)
2. "Omululu gwa jjaja wo Daudi" (when I choke on the breast)
3. I am indeed Jjaja Getu's grandson because when i cry, tears immediately drop
4. I sing to maama
5. "Hold that Thought" (when I start crying while maama is preparing dinner)
6. "One Second" (when maama is changing my diaper).


Here is what I do:
1. I love playing with and pulling the "B" in my mouth
2. During my first week, Auntie Tega would dive me onto maama's B to feed
3. I laugh when maama blows under my chin
4. I listen tentatively when maama is speaking to me or reading to me


Here are things I say:
1. NGA -while crying: Nga (tonsitula), Nga (Njagala kwebaka), Nga (Tonfako)
2. Agh -When conversing
3. Ma (or thereof) -Saturday 20th September 2008

MY BIRTH STORY

This is what Maama and Auntie Kembe wrote about my birth with additional information from auntie Tega who came all the way from NYC to be at my birth and share my first week in this world.

LOVE OF MY LIFE: Biko Kafrika Henderson

July 18th
I went to the doctor for a routine visit. I told her I hadn't felt him move. We scheduled another visit for Monday.

July 21st

Tega, my sister, Damalie and I went for the visit. Everything seemed to be going well. He had the hiccups. The nurse did a sonogram, shook my belly and he moaned. Out of nowhere the midwife said "I am going to admit you". We didn't believe it. We grumbled all way home. We went to Kroger to get water, we went home, ate and I took a shower. When we got to Kennestone hospital I asked if they could check the heart-rate and another non-stress test but the nurses advised me to take my midwife's advice. So, I agreed to check-in, and make sure everything was normal because the ultra-sound said everything was normal.

Since my cervix was not dilated yet (!!), my OB recommended inducing me to ripen it. They began inducing at about 11:15pm on July 21st. I started feeling the contractions but they were still milder than my period cramps. My friend Tega stayed overnight with me at the hospital. At about 3am, I woke her up to help me to the bathroom because I was feeling sore all over.


July 22nd

I woke up at about 6:30am for breakfast but could not eat, for I was feeling more pain. At around 9:20am, the nurse and my midwife, Vivian came in to check my cervix; I was only 1cm dilated. I asked the nurse if the pain I felt from the contractions would continue the whole day, and she told me it gets worse, much worse. She also told me there was a possibility of a c-section. Shortly after Vivian and the nurse left, I felt a gush of water –MY WATER BROKE!! Oh! It felt orgasmic. It's one of the most memorable feelings I've ever had. I enjoyed it very much. I immediately paged the nurse and broke the news. Tega came back into the room and when I broke the news to her, she immediately text messaged my sister, Damalie and my Bradley coach Kembe. Both had just said prayers separately, 3 minutes ago.

The nurse gave me Pitocin to make the contractions regular, they started at 6ml then, 12ml and 18ml. I quickly realized I didn't want to hear how much they were giving me. I didn't even want to hear anyone talk nor did I want to talk. My sister Dorothy (in Uganda) had cautioned me not to talk because I wouldn't have energy to push. I used the thumbs up and thumbs down (just as the lie detector man) to communicate. My sister came in (from an interview that morning) and I told her, “I cannot continue natural, I am going to take the epidural.” She said, “This is what you wanted” (no epidural).

Shortly after, Kembe came in and the first thing I said was "I am sorry but I am going to take the epidural. This is hard." She said, "Now let us practice the relaxation and positive affirmations". She immediately began administering the breathing technique, the Bradley Way, and massaging my feet, while my sister held my hand. I thought of all those people who said, I could not go natural, and wanted to prove them wrong. I thought of all the time I put in preparing for natural childbirth, walking, squatting, pelvic rock, tailor sitting, butterfly, perinea massage, every morning and night. So, I resolved to accept the pain. Kembe asked me if we could practice some affirmations, visualization and relaxation. I said "strong contractions are good contractions". We also changed the position I was laboring in. It made such a big difference. A nurse came in and asked if I was given any drugs because I was able to focus and concentrate on resting mentally. I was at 1cm after my water broke.

At 2pm, I was at 3cm. A second nurse came in and asked if I was given any medication because I was doing very well. At one point, some amniotic fluid came out and I asked if they could change the sheets, she was surprised to hear that I didn't have a catheter. My midwife Vivian reminded me that epidurals don't take pain away they only soothe it. I listening to everyone encouraging me and thought, I can't do this.

By 2:25, I was in late first stage. My emotional sign post was "Do Not Disturb". My contractions were following a regular pattern, there was pressure in my pelvis. The room was nice and dim, we had the calm music playing and the environment was peaceful. 3:45pm I had my bloody show and I had a fever, the room was hot. I felt Tega's massage missing but when she came in to ask reassure me, I told her to get off of me. 5:55pm I was 7cm and I was changing positions to get comfortable. I would accept a c-section.” 8:01pm 9cm no effacement he wasn't coming down. 8:20pm 9 ½ cm, I was squatting. When I felt like pushing, it was a lot of pressure. I was in so much pain; I was abdominal breathing and could not hold my face any longer. The contractions were a killer; it was gruesome!! I thought this is worse than running a marathon. And I have run three marathons! I was able to change positions and I rested mentally.

Then the battle began. I wanted to rest on the right side and he (baby) wanted to rest on the left. Then, I hit transition. I felt like I couldn't go on. I wanted to have a C-section but I didn't verbalize the thought. I felt ashamed, because I was planning for so long. With every contraction getting harder, I could not relax my face anymore. Kembe told me, “Your eyebrows look nice. Just relax your face. Your hair looks good.” I didn't even care how my face or eye brows looked. I didn't want any clothes on. I wanted to bite my sister's hand because the contraction was so hard. Instead I squeezed so hard. I told her to remove the blanket from my back but there was none. It just felt so hot.

Then the baby started pushing and I could hold it any longer. I told Damalie to call the nurse that the baby was coming. Damalie exclaimed, “I can see his hair”. Then Victoria the nurse said "it was time to push” I bore down and tried to sit up". Then, I felt an enormous amount of pressure to push. Then, Victoria said don't push. She was holding him in. I yelled at her, “What are you doing?” She didn't want me to tear. Then she said push, but I didn't feel the urge. Tega said she was on the verge of crying. He started crowning and I bore down and felt his head coming out and his shoulders. Then I felt him released completely, the second orgasmic moment. Damalie cut the cord. He was cleaned and his vital signs were normal and he wasn't crying. Victoria said he wasn't crying because he was tired. Everyone was surprised at how big he was all 8lbs 9oz. He came out peeing. His toes were big, his nose was big and even his equipment was big. He had lots of hair (they (Abaganda) say if a constant heartburn during pregnancy is sign of lots of baby hair).



In my birth plan I wanted to give birth while squatting or on my fours I also wanted to walk around during labor, but the baby wasn't going to have it like that. Still, my midwife followed most of my birth plan and granted me most of my wishes. She put the baby on my tummy for a while as Damalie cut the cord, gave him to me to nurse after cleaning, and did not give me much medication except for Hepatitis B and eye medicine. I was so overwhelmed that this is my child. I already know he is very brilliant. He began nursing and observing his new world. I'm already planning for his first spelling bee. Biko Kafrika Henderson arrived at 8:48pm, Tuesday July 22 at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA. He was surrounded by the love of his neat, organized and professional Bradley Coach, Kembe Nakiina Sullivan, his loving Auntie from New York by way of The Fletcher School, Tega Shivute and Family representative and Auntie, Damalie Lwanga. Dad and (maternal) auntie were informed shortly thereafter.