Shapes - The Africa Edition

Resume bragging.

My friend, Katie, made the above painting of Africa for LB soon after we received our referral. I love it! It hung in LB's room at our old house and is in the new house as well. (The photo is of his room in the old house. The bumbo is long gone. Tear.) When LB was around 15 months old, I started telling him that the painting was of Africa and that he was born there. After telling him that several times, he would point to the painting when I mentioned Africa. Then when he started saying more words he would point and say, "Akaka." My mom was here about a month ago and brought LB an Elmo on Safari coloring book. One of the pages had an outline of Africa. On a whim my mom pointed to the page and asked LB if he knew what it was. Without hesitation he said, "Akaka." I thought that was pretty good. It was a totally different context but he still knew the shape. To make sure it wasn't a fluke, yesterday I showed LB a new t-shirt I got for him that has Africa on it. (If you are interested in the shirt, you can order them HERE. Part of the proceeds go to Ethiopian Orphan Relief and the Mudula Water Project.) Again, LB right away said, "Akaka." It makes my heart happy that he knows that shape so well.

On our first full day in Ethiopia, we took a day trip north of Addis to a famous monastery called Debre Libanos. There were some really amazing views on the way there and so several times we got out of the car to get a better look. One of those times we were all of a sudden swarmed by children who were trying to sell us their handmade goods. We bought this little container and it lives on LB's dresser. It's right next to the lion in the photo.

LB likes to put stuff inside of it and close it and then open it again. It's a good game. One day he was looking inside the container and started pointing to the center part and then pointing to his belly button. He is a tad obsessed with his belly button or "bebo." I realized that he thought the center of the container was a belly button. It does in fact resemble a belly button. He does it every time we play with that container. I love the way his brain works!

End bragging. At least, shape related bragging.