Happy Holidays from Mozambique

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope you like this collage of photos from events this past year, as well as some photos of Maputo. I am sure they are easy to spot. 

This year was an amazing year for the van Herksen family. We got to know our wonderful son and he got to know us...being parents has totally changed our lives. Okay, we might miss the sleeping in and general FREEDOM...but nothing compares to seeing Luka grow up and how he interacts with the world. Seriously, he learns something new everyday and in turn we learn something as well. Just yesterday Luka learned how to say Obama properly, sounding out every syllable and I learned how to properly put him down for a nap. It only took me 13 months to learn! Not bad for a day's work...humor me please.

Be sure to click on our Photo Album link (on the right) and see more pictures from this past year. 

Happy Adoption Day

One year ago today we brought Luka home. We can't hardly believe 365 days have gone by so quickly. Luka has grown so much and our hearts have grown even more with him. I read an article this past weekend about a couple that had adopted...the mother said, "When I had my daughter she grew in my belly...but when I adopted my son he grew in my heart. They are both part of me." That sums up how we feel about Luka. From the moment that little boy went home with us our heart was his. Life has been such an adventure with Luka and everyday is a new discovery. He certainly has come along way from being 8 months and 8 pounds. He is now 20 months and a VERY BIG BOY. He loves to dance, play and talk up a storm. But I think he prefers singing to talking.

Luka, we are so blessed to have you in our lives and today is a very special day for our family. Every year we will celebrate this day and give thanks for being a family! 

Our Postcards from Maputo

We hope you can make it to Opening Night @ 8 pm in Maputo's very unique Nucleo do Arte. You can read more about the venue by clicking here.

Melissa, Obama & Uncle Sam Spotted in Maputo

And I thought I was going to miss out on Election Night excitement because I was all the way in Mozambique...I was in luck. Obama and Uncle Sam stopped by the Election Party sponsored by the US Embassy. McCain was also there, but he didn't like my shirt so he opted not to take the photo with us.

Congratulations America

Mark your calendars and remember this day! Don't forget what you were doing at this moment. It is such an important day in the history of our country. Just think...40 years from now when people are talking about this day you will want to remember what you were doing on the day Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America.

I just heard Obama's speech from Chicago and it just assured me that he is absolutely the right person to lead our country at this moment in time. If you didn't listen to his speech, I urge you to get on youtube and take a moment to watch it in its entirety.

JJ, Luka and I were watching from our living room in Mozambique and we were all moved. Looking at all the faces in the crowd you could see how much it meant to those people and everything that was at stake. Even Luka was excited. I know that at 19 months he can't really understand the importance of this occasion, but he was pointing at Obama...saying "bababa" clapping and giving the Obama kisses. He must at least like him right!

As we were watching the festivities Elizabeth arrived to our house. She is our "empregada." She works at our home and watches over Luka. She rushed in and asked....DID HE WIN? It is amazing to see how the entire world was watching this election and Obama's journey. Realistically Obama's victory won't affect her day to day life here in Maputo, but somehow she was filled with hope and happiness. I explained to her how black people in America weren't even able to vote a few decades ago and she was shocked. Actually, I don't think she believed me. 

And for those of my friends that are reading this and not sharing in my happiness...being a Cuban-American from Miami I have many of those...I ask you to be patient and give Obama a chance. Our country has changed and we need a leader that understands the challenges that face this country and will motivate everyone to work together and create solutions.

Congratulations Obama! Congratulations America!

Election Day

Get up...go out and vote! I woke up today with the excitement I used to feel when working on a campaign back in Miami. I have been biting my nails all day and I can't concentrate. I don't know if it is because I am all the way in Maputo, Mozambique, but I am so excited and I can't wait to see the results.

Okay, so you know that I am a big Obama fan! So if you are not voting for Obama then stay home...just kidding. No, seriously everyone needs to get out and VOTE. We need to show the world that Americans care about their government!

Luka's First Halloween

Halloween in Maputo was a little hotter this year than usual. It was about 95 degrees and I really didn't think about that when I was planning Luka's 1st Halloween. I was a good mommy and ordered his Halloween costume early to make sure it would get here on time. But little did I know that his costume would make him sweat off all his baby fat. So in the photos from Halloween you will see that Luka has three different costumes:

1. Dragon - my favorite, but too hot to wear outside of the house where we had every air conditioner set to "eskimo."

2. Halloween PJ with Afro Animal - Not sure what that was, but it was damn cute and it was orange and black...perfect for Halloween.

3. Mouseketeer - I must admit this was pretty creative...I had to come up with something that wouldn't make him pass out from a heat stroke. This costume was actually worn on November 1st, when many of the American families in town got together for Trick-or-Treating and other Halloween traditions.

Maputo was full of activities for Luka to celebrate his first Halloween. First he hosted a Baby/Toddler Costume Party at home. He invited all his friends to show-off thier costumes and play some lego. Then it was off to the American School for Oktoberfest, where the PTA merged Beer, Sausages, Candy Hunts, Costume Parades, a Haunted House and a Mummy Wrap all into one event. Then on Saturday Luka and I went to an "American" neighborhood in Maputo to Trick-or-Treat and eat lots of yummy candies that you can't find anywhere in town like Resees Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers and Twix...okay, so Luka doesn't eat that stuff yet, but JJ and I really enjoyed it.

Make sure to click here to see ALL of the Halloween Photos of Luka and his friends.

PS Feliz Cumpleanos Paty!

Who is going to make the difference on Nov. 4th?

AARP 08 Video

Enter your name to see who can bring real change to Washington. First Name: Last Name:

Obamonos!

Even if are not planning to vote for Obama on election day, if you are Latin you have to watch this video. The song is really catchy and pretty honest. As most of you know I am 200% behind Obama and I am trying to rally as many absentee votes as I can for him here...all the way in Maputo! Luka has even helped his mommy spread the Obama fever. He has learned how to chant: "OBAMA, OBAMA!" and he proudly wears his Obama shirt.

PS My Republican mama is also voting for Obama...you will only get it if you watch the video.

Click on my Wordle...

I just "wordled" my blog and this is what I got. So basically it captures the words on my blog and creates this image. Funny how Luka, photos and musical pop out! You should try to wordle your blog or any group of words. Try it at http://www.wordle.net/.

Luka @ 18 Months

And the grammy goes to....LUKA

I think Luka might win a Grammy or a Tony award some day. Our son is very musical. JJ and I have never played any musical instruments or actually have any musical talent, but JJ does love music. His one trillion songs on his iTunes is proof of that. And although I am not blessed with any real musical abilities, I have been singing to Luka since the first day he was home. My repertoire consists of church songs (in Spanish), some country songs, the complete soundtrack from RENT and The Little Mermaid and when I am absolutely in need of it....Barney. I never said I was cool, but I can belt out a mean lullaby.

Over the last couple of months Luka's love of music has manifested itself many ways...first there was the humming along to all his favorite songs...now he mimics every song we sing to him. He also loves to play his piano, xylophone and tambourine. He knows all the instruments by name and loves to put on concerts. But by far the most entertaining showcase of his musical abilities is his singing and dancing...as you can see from the photos above.

I think he actually knows he is performing. There is one song in particular...it is in Spanish about a little boat that gets lost at sea for seven weeks...quite silly, but Luka LOVES it. He cracks up and starts singing and dancing every time he hears it...every SINGLE time! Gracias Mami y Papi por enseñarle esta canción. Es la mejor manera de ver la sonrisa de Luka!

Our Not-so-New Home

Mom, this one is for you. For months (since August when we moved in) my mom has been asking me to post photos of our new home. I kept waiting for the house to be all picked-up, pictures hung, boxes put away...but the more I waited, the more I realized that this would never happen. So here it is...our house on a Sunday...with mess and all. To take the complete photo tour and get a sneak peek into our crazy life click here.

Luka Says Bye Bye

The actual date of this video is September 9, 2008. Since the video was taken Luka has added some new words to his vocabulary: ball, car, Max, Benthe, Barney, Ninjte and some others that I am still trying to figure out. But this video was taken when he started to say his favorite phrase: BYE BYE. He says it all the time. When JJ and I get home and grab him to give him a kiss...he looks over to the nanny and says Bye Bye...it is just priceless. He does the same thing when he is with one of us and wants us to leave the room. He is getting quite independent these days...much more so than what I want him to be...why do they have to grow up so fast.

I am trying to catch on all my photos and blog entries, but as you can see I am a little behind. Click here to see recent photos of Luka.

PS For some reason the video is NOT working. I will get back to you on that.

Better late than never...

If you have visited this blog before you know that Luka sometimes receives letters from his cousin - Maxwell. The letter below actually arrived before we left on holiday a couple of weeks ago, but between getting ready for the trip, finishing projects at work and running around after Luka I never got around to posting the letter. Now that things are back to "normal" and I found a few minutes to dedicate to the blog I thought I would add this letter. Max's letters are ALWAYS very entertaining and Luka really likes them. Here it goes:

Dear Luka:

I'm really happy you are coming to stay with us for 3 weeks. I understand , being older and wiser, you will be the flavor of the week for 3 weeks. I don't mind, you are a great kid and all that, but there are subjects I want to avoid during your visit.
 
First, do not talk about your teeth. You are almost a year younger than I am and you have more than double the number of teeth that I have. Everybody in Miami is always my mommy that maybe I have a problem. I don't chew hard stuff, or anything in chunks, but I still have more real teeth than Grandpa...I have four.

 
Also, don't mention your family portraits. I live in the country with the most photo studios in the world and you live in freaking Maputo and already have great professional family pictures. I think Mom and Daddy are waiting for me to get more teeth...just in case I smile at the freaking photographer.
 
I also know you are an international traveler like myself, but your Mom is telling people that you will speak five languages: English, Dutch,Spanish, Portugese and the native language of the people in Mozambique. Give me a freaking break!!!  Maybe you will speak those languages in the FUTURE...because you have so many teeth.

But let me tell you I have a problem with the Spanish, Yoruba and the freaking English with cuban accent everyone speaks here. After Grandpa's stroke I started going to a Day Care at an English speaking Baptist church to learn proper english. But I was surprised to see  all the freaking kids and all the freaking teachers are either cuban, nicaraguan or colombian. The only english word I have heard is "Pamper" and with a colombian accent. So I warn you, I think we will get along better if we use baby talk to communicate.  My baby gibberish doesn't have a cuban accent...I think.

I love you and hope to see you soon!

Your cousin,
 
Maxwell 

Luka Takes Off

Luka's First Steps

After 6 flights and 5 planes Luka didn't seem to be too jetlagged to take his first steps today. They were taken at about 6:30 pm today - Sunday, August 3rd. I think he was just waiting to get home and see daddy to show off his new skills. We are so proud of him!

Happy Birthday Mami

Happy 55th Birthday. Luka and I were very happy to spend this special day with you. We love you!!

Finally...Luka Says Mama

Finallly, yesterday Luka started saying Mama. He loves to repeat it over and over again. He will now switch from papa to mama...but he says it when he looks at me. I am so happy and proud of my little man. I will post a video soon.

Both Luka and I say hello from Miami. We will be heading back to Maputo next week. We both miss Daddy very much.

Papa & No Mama

At 10 months Luka started saying pa and the occasional ma...but never twice in a row and never in the context of calling either JJ or myself. But recently during our holidays in Holland Luka started saying Papa loud and clear and there I was left broken hearted as the syllable "ma" has seemed to disappear from his vocabulary. People tell me that the "m" sound is much harder for a baby to pronounce than the "p" sound...but so what...you still want to hear them say "mama." For now JJ will be the PROUD Papa and I will be the very proud (but a little jealous) ba, which is what Luka likes to call me.

Here is the video of the moment Luka first entertained us with his "papa" speaking ability...you can also hear him meow like a cat and throw some delicious kisses. Enjoy.