A Few Firsts

November already. It's hard to believe that it's really November. Fall is really my favorite time of year. The heat of summer is past and the chill of winter not yet here. There's a slight nip in the air that feels so refreshing. Wherever you walk, you can smell a hint of smoke in the air. In New Mexico, this meant wood fires and roasted chiles; here that means the sweet potato vendors are out. The sweet potato people have half of a rusty metal drum welded to a cart. The top has a square cut out and the inside is then filled with wood (I assume). Scrubbed sweet potatoes and corn in the husk are placed among the embers and left to roast. The sweet potato vendors usually come out around noon to peddle their wares. They arrange cooked potatoes and corn on top of the barrel and wait for customers. You simply point to which potato you want and they will bag it and weigh it for you. An average sized potato costs about 2-3 RMB (30-40 cents); a big one about 4 RMB. I love them. I take mine home and scoop out the soft flesh. It doesn't need butter or any adornment, really. Many people immediately break open the potato and eat the insides right there standing on the sidewalk. They're so good I wish I could feed some to Lincoln.

He's almost ready for solids. Almost. I just bought him a booster chair with a tray in preparation for the big day when he starts solids. I expect it to be within the next few weeks.



Here he is giving it a trial run. I can't believe he is already 5 months old. Time really gets away from you.

Lincoln also enjoyed his first Halloween. Another mother here was giving away a few baby costumes and I managed to get the pumpkin. It's sized for 3-6 months and Lincoln just fit into the suit.



Here he is with his friend Mila. We didn't do anything special for Halloween other than dress Lincoln in a pumpkin suit and go to baby yoga. We did go out for lunch with Eric. At Hooters. The Hooters girls serenaded little baby pumpkin with 'I'm a Little Teapot', which was a bit surreal. I suppose it never occurred to me that would be a song they'd know or know to sing to children. Perhaps that's in the Hooters employees guide. Who knows.

Now we're preparing for first election, first Thanksgiving, and first Christmas. We'll be joining a bunch of other Americans (mostly women) to watch the election results unfold tomorrow morning. Thanksgiving will be spent with a group of friends at a hotel buffet. One of my girlfriend's husband works as a chef at the hotel so it'll be some good food. I can't wait for the fixings and the pie. Christmas will hopefully be in Malaysia, someplace warm and beachy. Can't wait.