Introducing Alia Marie Zavaleta Henning

Alia (Ah lee ah) Marie Zavaleta Henning joined our family at 2:20 PM on June 28, 2010.

Alia weighed in at 7 pounds 4 oz. (3.3 kilos) and 19.29 inches.

She was born at Clinica Isabel in Tacna, Peru by cesearean section.

coming home from hospital

1 week old photo for her Peru ID card

I have not written for several months. I have managed to keep up on emails and facebook, but the blog has been neglected. Alia is now 10 weeks and 4 days as I write this email and she is asleep on my chest in the sleep wrap. Her sleep habits are part of the reason I haven't written, that and I can barely manage to drink enough and eat enough to breastfeed let alone the million other chores, so like most mother's communication with the outside world takes a hit.

However, I decided to put her in the wrap (she sleeps best and longest when she's with me) and take advantage of my mother in law being here helping with cooking, cleaning and watching Alia so I can take a shower. So, I thought I'd post a photo from each of the past weeks and a brief update in the hopes that I can get back to it. I hope to write her birth story and some other thoughts. We'll see how adept at juggling all this I can become.

first bath

She is doing well. She was born with brown eyes but quickly the brown faded and revealed steel blue rim with lighter underneath with brown in the center. They are very captivating. Of course everyone loves to play the genetic guessing game "who does she take after". Feel free to play along and add your two cents. I know for sure she has a big dimple in her chin that came from Richard. Other than that it's a toss up. I know her hair, skin, eyes will all keep changing as will her fun personality. She got in a lot of great naptime with her Dad. Even though he was really sick. He was able to be home almost a whole week after she was born.

We have had some health challenges. We both are currently battling thrush and have been for the past month. She also has had problems with the skin on her face. It's getting much better thankfully and the worst seems past for now. I'm mostly recovered from the trauma of the birth and trying to get out and walk more and get in better shape. My legs have really suffered from the lack of activity.

2wks alert as can be

However, as you can see she is delightful. She is a very sweet girl. She has a calm demeanor and is quick to smile and slow to cry. She really only cries if she's really hungry or really tired and both of those are easily remedied. Richard is enamored with her of course and they have lots of fun making noises together. He loves make her smile and it brings out the best in him, which I love. 

We were blessed beyond measure with my parents for 3 weeks and that really saved us. Richard was sick with pharengitis when she was born and I had challenges with the birth, the incision and just being a new mom. They were fantastic. Then I was alone for 2 weeks and that was a challenge like none other I'll tell you, but we all survived. Then we had a great visit from Carol Erickson for 5 days and that was fantastic. Then my MIL has been here off and on for the past few weeks and that has been heavenly. We eat. The house is clean. I can take a shower and keep up on the laundry. So we have been richly blessed on all accounts and enjoy getting to know the person that Alia is and trying to savor each moment as they come.

  

our baby carrot "her "poo poo making" face

She has already made a trip to Arica, Chile and to Ilo. We went to Arica when she was 6 weeks old to pick up our friend Carol Erickson who was in Bolivia leading a mission trip. Richard also wanted to follow a family custom from his mother's side of the family who are from Puno and have a "cutting of the hairs" called rutuchi. Carol is now Alia's godmother and gave her first haircut. I'll write more about that on another posting.

Then two weeks ago we went to Ilo for 24 hours. A friend's dad died suddenly the week before and so we went for his funeral and to visit the family and to share Richard's "home" with Alia. He was so proud and it was nice for us to be back. We walked along the boardwalk and ate picarones twice (Richard loves them). We went to Mass at our home parish. I made a few purchases of things I haven't found in Tacna and visited a few of my caseras (women who I regularly buy fruit/veg from). It was a quick trip, but went grew. We stayed at Tia Glady's houses and Alia did great. (One of the benefits of co-sleeping-can sleep anywhere without trouble).

holding strong at 10 weeks.

Anyway, it's been eventful to say the least. Richard continues to have his business courses 2 weekends a month. He only has 4 left and will be done in mid November so I am anxiously awaiting for us to be able to have more time together. We are also planning a trip to Lima in October (on Richard's birthday the 25th). We need to go to the US Embassy to do the paperwork for her Social Security Card and Passport and to declare her birth so she will be able to easily travel to the USA when we want and will have her US citizenship secured without problem.

We are also making plans to start our own business. I will start with it first to see if we can make it work and then hopefully be able to do enough for him to quit his job. It is really demanding here in Peru. 6 days a week. long hours and lots of pressure in his banking sector to produce, produce! He has been there 7 years and he gets more miserable each year.

So, we are hoping to start a mission travel service. For individuals, groups, couples who want to come and visit Peru. We will do  personalized travels arrangements but really want to focus on groups/individuals who may want to come for service/cultural immersion experiences for weeks/months etc. We are still working out the details, but I think it has promise. We'd do all the organization, in-country hosting etc and be available as personal tour guides for those who want/need it. We are hoping to start by next May for the high tourist season. So, if you know anyone who would be intrested please pass it along to us!

All smiles at 8 wks. She crinkles her nose and smiles with her eyes.