12 Step Program [Reposted from 12/2/08]

I realize that I haven't been talking about the babies nearly enough. This may very well be because my days have become routine (up until now, that is, with my recent illness):

I wake up at 6:15am, have breakfast, leave for the orphanage (the matatu rides take about an hour collectively), and arrive at Imani at 8am. From there, I feed the babies, change diapers and clothing, straighten up the room. If the weather is nice, which it usually is, we'll take the babies outside into the courtyard, where the older ones in my group (usually around 4-6 months old) sit in basins to practice sitting up. At 10am, the kids get water. The younger ones lie sideways on cots. Then, we feed them lunch at around noon (porridge for the older ones, formula for the younger), change them again, and have lunch ourselves at around 1pm. At 1:30, we start cleaning up outside, and start bringing the babies back in. Then, around 2:30, it gets hectic: we have to bathe and change 12 newborn-to-three-month babies in just over an hour. It's quite the challenge.

The volunteers are split up amongst the age groups, and the auntie in charge of the youngest group specifically requested me on the first day of work: "Get me that American girl." From that point on, it's just been me and the littlest ones, and they are so beautiful and sweet, it's impossible not to fall in love with them. Here are the twelve:

1. Yuri: I have yet to take a photo of him, but he is the most precious thing. He's one of the "oldest" of the young babies, he smiles uncontrollably, and really has trouble keeping the drool in his mouth. He has many ladies at the orphanage, including my auntie and another of the volunteers. As such, I've given him up to them(though I do plan on stealing him when no one's looking). Edit: new photo of him. He is beautiful, no?

2. Jimmy [pictured]: this guy is my little fatty. You know those rolls of fat that are just so unbelievably cute on babies? He's got them in spades. He's a handsome one, completely adorable, prone to smiles, and the favorite of many.

3. Marco: the oldest of the babies. He's the tiniest, most volatile, most curious of the bunch. He's ready to break into tears at any second, but he's doing very well developmentally. He loves to grab things, is entranced by new colors and sounds, and his curiosity is infectious.

4. Lydia [pictured]: this is my girl. She's the only girl in the "older" group, and I think she's taken as much of a liking to me as I have to her. She's got these beautiful eyes, and every time I sing to her, I can make her smile. She is so beautiful and so precious, I can't stand it.

5. Moses [pictured with me]: the last of the older babies. He is a grouch, usually the sole crying baby. He gets quite greedy at mealtimes, constantly craves attention, and has a respiratory illness (so he sounds like a little froggy. The aunties thought it was hilarious that I called him Little Froggy.). When he smiles, though, watch out.

6. Benny [pictured]: Oh, Benny! Quite difficult to feed him, as he's prone to squirming. He looks like a little muppet, what with his perfect sideways "D" smile, his button nose, and his wide eyes.

7. Jessica: Jessica, Precious, and Michelle are sometimes difficult to tell apart. I've found some distinguishing characteristics between them, though. Jessica has got some beautiful eyes. She's relatively tame, neither smiling nor crying excessively, and she's quite lovely. Edit: they are no longer difficult to tell apart. Jessica has quickly become one of my favorites, as she's learned how to smile, not just with her mouth but with her entire face and body. It's exciting to see her smile, completely electric and having her so wholeheartedly trusting in you. She has beautiful eyes still.

8. Precious: Precious is a handful. She tends to get sick and vomit pretty easily, cries a lot, and, of the little ones, is the one most often found wailing. When she's sweet, though, she is wonderfully so, and cuddles up to you when you hold her.

9. Michelle: Michelle is the most prone to smiles. She's almost laughing now, and her little chuckle is adorable. She's frequently placed next to Obama because the two are "married."

10. Obama [pictured]: this is my little precious, my little President. He is frequently seen with a look of profound concern on his face, brows furrowed, eyes intense. When I first got there, he was the youngest, and his only activities were sleeping and crying. He was crying when he wasn't sleeping and vice versa. Now, though, he's gotten older and relatively tame. He almost smiles. He's somewhere around four weeks old. I will take him home with me.

11. Anton [pictured]: the youngest of our group. When he came, he was only 2 days old. He's getting stronger by the day, and I find that one of the most rewarding things I can do is to pick him up. He has this way of making you feel so special, so loved. As soon as you pick him up, he stops crying, he smacks his lips a couple times, and curls up to you. His body stops shaking. He is so beautiful and so lovely.

12. Edith: Edith is right between the oldest and youngest of our group. She's a happy girl, mostly calm, and enamored of sleeping for long, comatose stretches at a time.

I will edit this further as I get more information and inspiration. My current state of illnes is keeping me from writing as well and as much as I'd like to, so I'll hopefully keep this an open entry, adding to it as I see fit.

P.S. Photos aren't allowed, so...you didn't see these from me. These are clearly stock photos of babies.