All by myself!

Weather: Sort of grey, a little sun trying to poke through

Yesterday I had to take Keenan for his 9 month well baby check-up. Luckily, the embassy has a pediatrician unfortunately the medical unit is at the other building associated with the American embassy. This building is a quite a ways further, it’s within walking distance but with a stroller it's at least a 20-30 minute walk. I debated whether I should ditch the stroller and take the bus (not stroller friendly) or get my exercise and walk. Hmmmm... quite a quandary. I loaded up the stroller and head out… got all the way to the parking lot and it started to sprinkle. Hmmm… now what? Grrrr… turn around and head back upstairs, ditch the stroller, unload half of the diaper bag and try again on foot. The bus stop is pretty close, I got on the first bus that stopped and had the appropriate numbers on it. Last time I rode with my neighbor it was 50 kopecks and a lady came to us to sell us the ticket, this time there was just a bowl with money in it next to the driver. What? How am I supposed to get the ticket that I’m supposed to punch so that in case they check I don’t get fined? What ever I threw my money in the bowl too. Yeah! I made it to my destination! I know I know, doesn’t sound like a very big feat but considering I have never used buses (I’ve always had a car) and I can’t speak Russian, yesterday it was a proud moment for me. On the bus an older lady next to me kept pointing at keeping and kept trying to tell me something. Finally she pointed at her large jacket and then back at him. Oh please! Almost every time I take Keenan out some lady stops me and we go through this charade. They think I’m trying to freeze both myself and Keenan out! The other day it was actually quite warm, I went out without a jacket, every one else that I passed on the street still had their large winter coats on. When I mentioned this to another American they laughed as they too had experienced this, apparently Ukrainians dress according to the time of the year and not the temperature. Hmph… how foreign! At the other building where the medical unit is located they also happened to have an arts and craft fair going on. I got there right at the end but still managed to spend on the grivnas I had on me. I bought a stacking nativity set. I thought it was simple yet pretty. Keenan’s well baby check up went well. Yeah no shots this time for him! What a relief to me! He is a little over 19 pounds and 28 ½ inches tall. Since he started crawling 2 months ago he hasn’t gained any weight.

Spring is arriving! Everywhere I look there are buds on the trees and bushes. Flower stands are popping up everywhere. Eric brought home a pretty pink Gerber daisy for me the other day.