Almost everything is sorted now

There's this amazing thing that happens when I complain - the problem goes away! It's like when I'm having trouble with my computer for hours (or more often days) and then I finally give in and call IT, and the minute their car rolls in, the problem resolves itself. I should complain more often. Why haven't I figured this out before?

So yesterday I finally got a response from the man in Kenya who issues the airline tickets. We got the ticket numbers and had the Kenya Airways office here print us out the confirmation. Unfortunately all the bulkhead seats (with the bassinets for babies) are taken now, so it means we'll probably be crammed into some middle seats with a 20-pound child squeezed on top of us for the whole flight. What's really aggravating is that it's always some healthy, 30-something man sitting in the bulkhead seats. Yes, they might be tall, but I have an extra person. Who do you think needs the room more?

Jorge's visa came back quickly - just one week processing time - so perhaps my UK passport isn't useless after all.

Now we just need our passports.

Oh, did I not mention that we don't have our passports? My Malawian residency permit was finally approved a week ago, so I took our passports to the office so they could be processed at Immigration. However, our administrator has yet to travel to Blantyre to do this. But since everything else has worked out OK so far, I am just going to assume that, oh, a few hours before we depart Malawi, I'll finally have everything together for the trip. No use worrying, right?

In other news, Milo is officially crawling. His break-dancing days are over for now, sadly. He also stands up in his crib and screams to be taken out. Not a cute development. And this morning he decided to get up at 4:30. When we finally brought him to our bed at 5:30 out of exhaustion, he peed on our sheets. Jorge as been calling him "turd blossom" ever since.

Today is also our staff Christmas party. I offered to host it at my house. There will be about 30 people, and we already have 120 soft drinks and 50 chairs. That's a Malawian party for you. But I think it will be really fun; I'm sure I'll have stories for you next week.

How can it be so much?

How is it that my belongings magically multiply right before I leave for a new destination? I alwaus start packing early. The bags get half-full. I think "hey, it's all going to fit just fine!"

And then, suddenly, just when it's getting late in the game, it's like little elves sneak in and fill up all my bags with things I didn't realize I need.

It's always stressful every time I switch continents, but the baby has made it so much more complicated. So far we have packed 4 bags almost to 50 pounds each. Then we get an extra bag of 20 pounds for Milo. And then, of course, there is our carry-on bag. Add to that Milo's diaper bag, and two "personal carry-on items" (a backpack and purse). Oh, and a stroller and carseat.

We are not sure it will all fit into the car on Saturday morning, and we're dreading picking it up on the other end, when we won't have helpful family members to help drag, push, or carry our various personal effects.

But, this time next week, I'll be back in the land of cheap avocadoes, cryptic bumper stickers, lazy chameleons, and miles and miles of corn!