Hellooooooo Neema!!

Born on March 10th at 8:20 pm.
Weighing in at 2.75 kg (6.6 lbs)
At a length of 46 cm (18.1 in)
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Neema being wheeled from the theater to the nursery.
Clearly shocked into the world, poor baby!
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Neema in Nyanya Lizzie's arms (my mother)
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Calmer hours later on March 11th, Neema getting the snoozing-thing down!
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Proud parents...boy were we on cloud nine!!
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It felt so good to hold her...after so many months talking to her through my belly!
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Debbie, Andy's sister, checking out the newest arrival, Neema.
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Aunt Eva (mom's sister), holding Neema as Anne (my sister-in-law) looks on.
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Victor (my brother) and his girlfriend, Pearl, enjoying a moment with Neema long after visiting hours!
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Sylvia (my sister) smiling down on Neema.
Sylvia was my birth coach...she totally rocked!!
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Nyanya Lizzie teaching me, her daughter, to breast feed.
A bonding moment for all three gals!
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Nyanya Naomi (Andy's mother), gingerly carrying Neema.
She traveled hours from Karachuonyo (Nyanza) to catch a glimpse of Neema. She was off the next morning, a long journey back home!
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Neema Sada Amadi
Just too cute!!

~ with light, love and joy,
Tindi & Andy Amadi

Facebooking in the face of pain...

It's official, giving birth can be barbaric.
For those lucky gals that don't get "complications", God bless you!
I had 13 hours of induced labor...followed by a scare that Neema was caught in her own umbilacal cord and the realization that my cervix was not budging more than 5 cm! This was all followed by an emergency C-Section.
Not fun!
Believe it or not, Facebooking kept me calm.
The excitement, fear, anxiety that flooded through when I least expected it, was suppressed as I typed out my status on Facebook using my handy mobile phone.

Here is what was on my mind...and the minds of others reading my posts.
(click pictures to see them bigger)

~ with light, love and joy,
Tindi & Andy Amadi

Tracking the belly

Andy's and my journey was a short one...but very sweet!



On my bed, after a good cup of joe...

I only learned that I was pregnant at 16 weeks...missing the JOY of morning sickness, crankiness, etc....ha ha...don't hate the player, hate the game!

Here I am, unknowing my destiny, at 12 weeks.




In our living room with a gift from the Nairobi Central SDA Church (Andy's parent's Church home).

I am at 15 weeks. A week from now, I get nauseated for the first and ONLY time and get tested (both at home and then at the doctors).

That smile almost hints at what 's in store!



At Nairobi National Park with my hubby, family and friends.

Clearly in a very good space, 21 weeks into my journey...

or

maybe it was the yummy food I ate...good picnic food, care of my sister, Sylvia!

Gotta feed the little one!




My first official Thanksgiving with my husband, family and friends at our apartment.

At 24 weeks I truly enjoyed the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy...yum! All for the baby...the sacrifices I make...




At Sylvia's...reading a wedding invite...

26 weeks and not bothered...




At Rondo Retreat... a quiet place with lots of foliage.

Belly sighting...

Huge at 28 weeks...That's God smiling down at me... ha ha!




A lovely day to celebrate Pearl's birthday at the Nairobi National Park. We love this Park...can you tell?!

As for me, I seem to be never short of a good laugh, even at 32 weeks! It is good for the soul!




Had to take a pose with the shadowy Maasai.

At 38 weeks I was still all smiles...

nearing the end of the road...and it helped that I was at Olepolos for "nyama choma"...yum yum!




At 38 weeks...in the hospital for induction (WHICH I STRONGLY DO NOT RECOMMEND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES)...

I'm all smiles cause I have NO idea what is ahead...oh, the pain...but it was ALL worth it...no doubt!



~ with light, love and joy,
Tindi & Andy Amadi