Merry Christmas!

We are in Texas and it actually snowed here yesterday. Jeans and scarves and coats and gloves are our new wardrobe. I broke out the flat iron and have the silkiest straight hair right now. The best Christmas gift ever - dry air (except for the chapped lips).

We've also been amused by speedy service, big-box stores bursting with every imaginable consumer good and driving on the right side of the road. I've wondered on several occasions while driving in the neighborhood, why is that car coming straight for me? Oops!

The grandparents are eating up time with Liam. Since we've been here he's started to pull himself to a standing position and babble.

At candle-light service yesterday the message was one of peace, joy and love. We are so lucky to have just that. Wishing everyone a happy holiday.

Baby's first Christmas

Paparazzi loves me!

Fast and loose

Finally, the longest semester has come to an end. C.J.'s last final was Friday. After so much anticipation, it is hard to believe our Christmas holiday is finally here.

The weekend after a round of tests is always anticlimactic. There are such high expectations for fun-filled, carefree time, but the reality is actually more like shell shock.

We are both emotionally worn out from the marathon of studying that happened the week prior, and C.J. needs some time to decompress. We have to learn to live together again outside the shadow of med school.

There is the tendency to waste away the hours holed up in our apartment watching Liam crawl around and sneaking peaks at the Internet or taking turns napping. We've been getting in bed around 8 p.m. and watching movies. C.J.'s read about five murder mysteries in the past four days. But we've forced ourselves to get out of the house here and there for some adventure.

On Saturday we went to our local beach, a short walk away. I don't often think of going there because it is not as pretty as Grand Anse Beach. How quickly I've turned into a beach snob, since our local beach is about 200 times more beautiful than anything we have in Texas.

Daddy finally enjoying island life

Paradise in the 'hood

Nap time

If I eat this will it protect me from the sun?

Beach bum

We've been to a barbecue and breakfast with friends and run some errands to get our car insurance renewed and our Internet hooked up for next semester. We've had some casual gatherings with the neighbors. We stopped in at the grocery store, and I found yet another local thing to try - sorrel.

It is a flower that blooms around Christmas. Grenadians make a drink out of it by boiling the flowers with ginger, cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon. It tastes kind of like mulled cider, but you drink it cold over ice. And of course, it can be mixed with rum.

Sorrel flowers

Yesterday we took Liam to school and then were undecided about what to do next. We walked down Grand Anse Beach to a craft market we've never been to. If you couldn't tell already, I am a sucker for all local crafts and food.

I bought some carved Calabash shells that can be displayed as wall hangings, some earrings made out of driftwood, a hot sauce we've never tried and a coconut turnover. I almost bought a painting but ran out of money. I probably should stay away from the craft market for awhile.

After our (my) shopping frenzy which also included some interesting conversation with eclectic Grenadians, we sauntered down the beach until we found a restaurant we've never tried. We decided to have a cocktail and enjoy the view.

Not a bad spot for a Wednesday afternoon

While gazing lazily at the ocean and watching the European tourists who were on a day trip from the cruise ship at port, we again marveled at the fact that...we....live...here. It is almost too much to wrap my mind around.

As I write this C.J. is watching Pirates of the Caribbean (again!??) in his boxers on the couch. Liam is napping. I am neglecting a pile of dishes in favor of jotting down what will probably be my last blog before we leave for America.

We've got some packing to do but we'll leave that for tomorrow. There was an opening at GAP this afternoon so we're going to take Liam to school and then possibly go kayaking at the University Club. Not that I'm committing. We'll just see how we feel.

We leave Saturday for Texas where we'll spend two weeks, mostly with the grandparents. We can't wait to show off our little baby to all the family. We think he's going to be a hit.

I've gotten over the longing for American food and American conveniences (not that I won't enjoy them while I'm there). What I'm mainly looking forward to is weather that requires scarves and close-toed shoes. And I can't wait to wear a pair of jeans. It's been 16 months (not counting maternity jeans)!

Playing it fast and loose makes the days fly by. I'm having some anxiety that our first week of break is almost over. I'm trying to live in the moment and enjoy being together. We are lucky to have so much time to relax over the holidays. I want it to last forever.

Tis the season

At the beach yesterday, a man came by selling coconuts. It was funny because just last week I was looking through my old photos and found some pictures of this man from almost exactly a year ago.

He was also selling coconuts then, at a different beach spot, and I bought one from him (and snapped the below photos).

Now that I'm in my second year I can recognize patterns to life here. Mangoes and avocados are in abundance in August, and coconuts start to show up around Christmas. Got it.

This is one of those cultural nuances that make Grenada different from home. Fresh fruit is to be enjoyed in season. It's the kind of thing that annoyed me when I first got here.

But on further reflection, it is actually strange how we hyper-consuming Americans have altered the natural state of things so that we have no concept of local, seasonal fruit.

I'm not going to lie, I am disappointed the mangoes and avocados are over. If they were shipped in from some other part of the world I would probably buy them. But watching the fruit come and go makes me appreciate nature's cycles and is a healthy exercise in patience.

We are not always entitled to everything, all the time, just when we want it. Sometimes a tough lesson for an American girl to learn. I better enjoy the coconuts while I can.

Coconuts for sale

One expert flick of the wrist..
Viola! A fresh beach snack

Seven months and growing

In the last month Liam has made some huge developments. It is amazing how rapidly he is growing. He is gobbling up cereal and blazing through fruits and vegetables (Sweet potatoes, yes. Papaya, no!).

He shakes anything that rattles, he sits up by himself and he crawls. Well, he gets on his hands and knees, moves an arm and leg forward, goes into something like a downward dog yoga pose, lays on his stomach and then repeats. So it isn't exactly a fluid crawl but it gets him across the floor.

And his two middle bottom teeth broke through. They are hard to see since he is usually chomping on his pacifier or a finger, but oh they are so cute.

He just started clapping and even has a little wave that he is working on. He is quick to smile and has the cutest laugh if you can work it out of him, which takes some effort. He can be serious sometimes but he can't resist a game of peek-a-boo or some tickling from Daddy.

We are more in love with him everyday and can't wait to get back to Texas and show him off to our friends and family.

Solid foods - what a mess

Who are you calling prune face?
A little play time after our nightly bath


Mom, am I cute?

What about now?

The party never ends

Last month went by so quickly I didn't share many stories with my dear readers in the land up North. Here is a summary of some of the highlights from November.

At the beginning of the month C.J. completed the last of his midterms and a Microbiology final. He had one afternoon off to celebrate. It was a Monday so Liam went to school, and we had a rare and much needed date.

We headed off to Le Phare Bleu, a marina, resort and restaurant in a cove up the coast from us. After a delicious lunch we walked along the dock admiring all the gorgeous sailboats and then swam out to a floating dock and laid in a hammock. I think C.J. said something like, "wow, you can do this every day." And I said, "yep."

The perfect lunch spot

Hard to see but there is a hammock built for two out there

And that is where the fun ended for C.J. because the next day he was back at class and lab and starting a short course in nutrition that lasted two weeks. Mid-November he had a nutrition final and he has been studying for his pathology and clinical skills finals ever since.

Meanwhile I have been doing what every good housewife and mother does - planning parties. I hosted an impromptu sea moss punch tasting at the Flats one Saturday afternoon. I mentioned in an earlier post that I bought some sea moss in the market.

After narrowing in on a recipe I found online that sounded something like the instructions I got in the market, I attempted to make this Caribbean beverage.

Soak the sea moss for a few hours, boil it until it turns into a jelly-like substance, strain it and blend it. When it cools it solidifies into something like gelatin. Scoop some into the blender with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, vanilla and rum and bitters if you like, and you have a little punch.

It mainly just tasted like sweetened, flavored milk. The little chunks of sea moss didn't add much and weren't that palatable, but all the neighbors were gracious and went along.

After the soak, ready to boil with a bay leaf and Cinnamon

The finished product - in it's gel form on the left, blended in the center and the ingredient that gives it the "punch" on the right

Brigit is getting married soon so a bachelorette party was in order. She is a classy lady so no inappropriate decor or late-night naughtiness, just a beautiful afternoon at the pool with cocktails, a few games and a cake. It was the perfect celebration for her upcoming nuptials, which will be in Philadelphia just before Christmas.

All the ladies at the Port Louis pool

Soon to be Mrs. Capaldi with her Italian cream cake

The only male stripper Brigit would allow

And another good friend, Adrea, is expecting a baby in mid-December. She is having a little boy, so Liam is getting a new playmate. I've passed on a lot of baby things to Adrea already so we pooled our money and got her a pile of diapers and wipes to get her through, well, at least a few weeks.

Shower guests

Some of those diapers doubled as decoration
The guest of honor with cookie favors - A is for Anderson

Besides these events there were lunches and dinners and walks and play dates, a birthday party, a going-away party and Thanksgiving.

I discovered fresh ginger and have made ginger tea and ginger cookies. I'm taking a cooking class where I have so far learned how to use a knife properly, make my own stock, cut up a whole chicken and make a rue.

I've been enriching my mind by reading the biography John Adams by Ben McCullough. And I just finished reading Story Telling, Tori Spelling's autobiography. (Yes, you read that right. Don't judge, Tori's book was a lot faster read than the 600-page Adams, which I hope to finish by the time I leave the island, or at least before I die.)

Last month went by fast for me and now here we are in December. There are nine days of the semester left. Pathology final Monday, clinical skills test Wednesday and clinical written final on Friday.

C.J. is in super-study mode now, which is always a drag for both of us (o.k., him especially), but the end is in sight. We have a great Christmas break ahead of us which we are both looking forward to. But first I have pool day tomorrow, salsa dancing tomorrow night, cooking class Friday, a cookie party Friday night, a Christmas party Monday... you get the idea.

Liam takes the stage

I am such a proud momma - Liam had his first recital! I have officially joined the ranks of all the obnoxious, tunnel-vision parents tape recording their children at a school function.

There I was, straining my neck and raising out of my chair to look over heads as I scanned the crowd for my own child. And then I saw him and my heart melted and I thought he was the cutest little angel in the room. And my hand shot up with my camera, and I started snapping pictures rapid fire.

And even though the songs were barely coherent over the shrill chorus of crying children and the room was uncomfortably crowded and there really was no stage so it was impossible to see, it was as if Liam was a starring soloist at Carnegie Hall giving the performance of his life.

I want to laugh at how ridiculous it is, but seriously, that is how I felt. My sweet baby, in the spotlight forthe first time!! Parents, are you with me??

The GAP just had their 10 year anniversary and hosted this little recital to celebrate. The older children have been practicing songs and corresponding hand movements and dances for the last few weeks.

The program lasted only about 30 minutes, with the oldest kids performing first and then younger and younger kids joining until finally the infants were brought in by their teachers for the last two songs.

Of course, Liam did not shed one tear and was the perfect baby the whole time. He's a natural.

All the GAP kids and teachers singing

Liam's grand entrance

Liam, totally composed in the midst of chaos

Faith and Karen are with me

At the very end all the kids and teachers sang the song, "Coconut Water," which I especially enjoyed since I am still on my authentic Caribbean kick (not to mention I recently blogged about this popular drink). Here is a little video and the words below, if you want to sing along.

Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout

Get your coconut water, COCONUT
It's good for your daughter, COCONUT
Coco got a lotta iron, COCONUT
Make you strong like a lion, COCONUT

A lady tell me de other day
No one can take her sweet child away
I ask her what was d’remedy
She say coconut water and rice curry

You can cook it in a pot, COCONUT
You can serve it very hot, COCONUT
Coco got a lotta iron, COCONUT
Make you strong like a lion, COCONUT

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the second year in a row we were away from our families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Grenadians don't celebrate American Thanksgiving, so it is just another week around here. And the weather is tropical as always so it is hard to remember that it is the holiday season.

But we didn't let the day pass without festivities. We organized a potluck with over 20 friends, two delicious turkeys (you wouldn't believe how much those cost here), stuffing, a variety of side dishes and yummy desserts including pumpkin pie. The evening was complete with a gorgeous sunset and cool ocean breezes.

Although we missed our families our list of things to be grateful for has no end, and we were happy to enjoy an evening with good food and dear friends.

Thanksgiving, Caribbean style

Liam's first Thanksgiving (and he is now seven months!)

Party planners

See, we really do have husbands
All the ladies