The Babies of Baphumelele Part 2

Ok so I have a new baby that is part of my more advanced group!  Her name is Chisom, and she too already calls me mom.  The kids are starting to get a little rowdy, Annalisewe is pinching and biting and so is Ignako!  They punch each other, close line one another, throw things and Annalisewe has become a bit of a bully!  She takes all the kids toys!  I had to put her in time out three times last week.  Now you know I would add a little fire to that butt if she came home with me!!!!!!  Time out just doesn't cut it all the time.  I kiss on them all the time and now the youngest babies are completely spoiled!  They cry until I pick them up...Melane and Somaya are cute as little buttons!

So here is my what My day looks like:

It takes about 1 1/2 hr for me to get to the orphanage because we pick up other volunteers and drop them off in different townships.  I'm the first one to be picked up and the last to be dropped off!  I normally arrive around 8:30 and as soon as I walk in the door they run and crawl my way.  I hug and kiss each of them.  They are my babies too.  I then find each of their socks and shoes and put them on their feet and new sweaters if they need them.  Next is reading time....  I get each of them a book and even-though they can't read at such a young age it get's them into the habit of picking up a book.  They actually will sit most of the time individually and flip through the pages.  I walk around and read snippets from each book.  I push for 15 min!!!!!  Sometimes it works.  Next we prepare for a walk outside, in the gated area of course.  In between time I'm singing Barney, Good morning, The itsy bitsy spider, and every song I can think of to keep their minds occupied.  We head outside for about an hour and play and try to get exercise, have a snack and sing some more.  Noon is lunch time where I have to set up and lead the children in a version of Thank you father! Most of them eat on their own.....not too bad for babies under the age of three.  In the mean time I'm feeding my smaller babies porridge and bottles.  After lunch, to the toilet they go and then I put each one to bed for a nap.  They typically sleep from 12:45 to 3:00 pm in which I wash dishes, scrub the floor, re organize, fold clothing and etc.  The smaller babies awake first and I feed them then wake up the older babies and give them love.  Then it's counting in English and Xhosa and learning Body parts in English and Xhosa!  Singing and Marching until I leave around 4pm and back to my flat by 5pm exhausted!

Chisom

Othelembe

Oneika

Melane

Soyama