From the Beginning

So we 1st went to Siem Reap, Cambodia where Mom & Dad D live. We actually had just planned to meet them in Thailand for a break before our 2 wks of meetings in Bangkok but the Indo immigration guys went on vacation & we couldn't process our visa in time to stay in Indo 'til meeting up w/ the Sr Drummonds in Thailand. So...we left Indo a few days earlier than anticipated (which was stressful) but were really thankful for the extra time for Lij's 1st time meeting his Grandma & Paw Paw!
Elijah was tuckered from our travels to Siem Reap and slept like...well, a baby.
Here he is hanging out in his chair in Grandma & Paw Paw's kitchen first thing in the morning.
This next pix is from a special treat we found in SR - Swenson's! 'Lij tried a strawberry there & loved it...such a treat for us to have Swenson's :)

These power lines are about 100 meters from Mom & Dad D's place...pretty unbelievable.
Here we are waving goodbye to Mom & Dad D as they leave on a bus for the capital. We met them in Bangkok the next day. With our initial tickets (before knowing we'd have to leave Indo a couple days early) it was cheaper for us to fly out of SR than the capital city so we hung out in SR one day just as our fam.
We ate Mexican that night - here's Elissa holding little E while he gnaws away @ his pacifier - we think he's starting to teeth...

We had a little mishap w/ 'Jah's pacifier, gross...

The morning we left SR we were awaken super early w/ what turned out to be wedding preparation - the video's dark towards the end as Elissa goes outside in the wee hrs of the AM.

Hua Hin Mall

Well, this post is completely out of order with what's been going on but it was easy to post so here's to ease...in the last few weeks we've visited Mom & Dad D at their home in Cambodia, come to Bangkok together to vacation in a beach town called Hua Hin & now are back in Bangkok for a couple wks of conferences. Here's a snapshot of a bit of our time together in Hua Hin - oh yea, Happy St. Patty's everyone ;)

We totally had fun trying shoes on Jah...too bad they were like $40 - what in the world?!
"Herb powder to stop bad smell from feet & body" hmmm...
Elijah's beginning to reach his feet up to his face these days so Mom D had the great idea to buy a "foot toy" for him - which he loves, thx Mom & Dad D!

We happened to see this store on our way out of the mall - w/ decor from scenes in Mongolia...as well as the Mongolian symbol on J's wedding ring...very fun.

Catching Up

OK, so here's little E on the plane ride back into Aceh last month...we've traveled so much he's learning to buckle his own seat belts these days ;) We're actually in Thailand right now but are trying to catch up on our pix from last month so bear w/ us!




When we got back to Aceh we decided to try a few things we'd be saving for when Elijah's older...a portable highchair & a Johnny Jump Up (video below) both of which are still a little big for him.

Nights Out in Jakarta

Luke, we're thinking of you w/ this pix of Thomas the Tank Engine :)
We were thoroughly shocked & thrilled to have a Cold Stone Creamery close to where we were staying in Jakarta. J & Jah both had their hands on the glass in anticipation...
And the following night...a close 2nd...Cold Rock - well, maybe not a close 2nd. Notice the stroller we could borrow from the information desk...haven't seen that yet in the good 'ole US of A...but we're not big mall folks either.

Look at these funny rides they have for kids...someday Elijah may like 'em too ;)

At this mall there was a slide where folks could ride from the top floor to the entrance...what they won't think of next.

There was a sweet water show to the song "New York" - we were amazed at this "mall meets Disney World" experience.

Retiring Drummond Duo

Well, folks have been telling us for a while that we're no longer a "duo," so we decided to upgrade our blog title. We are now a...crew.

Heading Back up in to the Hills

Traveling conditions are still pretty rough as infrastructure continues to be improved. Here's a couple videos from Jos and my recent trip up to the village:



Here's a ferry crossing. You can see the new bridge going in to the right.



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Bekasi

We enjoyed staying in Bekasi (part of Jakarta) with J's former dorm parents during our time on Java. Here's Aunt April with Elijah looking at one of their beautiful pet birds.Here we are at a meal out together before we took off for our 2nd set of meetings...
Check out this gurame!
And boiling sewer grass to boot :)

Back Out Again

We had meetings back in Java a couple weeks after being back in Aceh - our national partners (Jos & Yuli) came for some of them too & we did official stuff like signing contracts, meeting with our foundation, etc., lots of fun. Here we are ready to fly out of Aceh...

Here's 'Jah dreamin' his way to Bandung on a bus.
Our final meeting, back down in Jakarta...whew!

During the evenings we had fun going out in the big capital city of Jakarta...we enjoyed staying with J's former dorm parents, John & April. They watched 'Jah the 1st nite & we made a run to the local Carrefour (supermarket) & found some Valentine's chocolate (kitkats!) & great laughs...

This little restaurant advertises "Chicken & Joy" - now that's a sidedish!

And while Elissa was looking for a brush to clean out Elijah's bottles, she came across a baby carrier brand, "Lusty Bunny" - what in the world?!

A Conglomeration of Things...

So here's a set of random photos & a video w/ no relation really.

So here's E in her jammies enjoying the world's largest ziplocs - Jeff, you da man!
These last 2 pix were taken off our front porch. This guy's an electrician w/ mad climbing skills! Notice our ever improving office in the background :)

Valentine's!

Well, we're in Medan again which is why we can post so easily...but before we talk about that, I (Elissa) have to brag on J's awesome efforts for Valentine's this year.
I should start off by saying J is most definitely not a morning person but I totally am & love breakfast at that. J got up special for me & made an amazing breakfast for us :)
Check out this spread....freshly cut pears, eggs & french toast & bajigur (fav Indo drink of ours)
J cut out little hearts from my french toast & put an egg in the middle - my 2 favorite bfast foods, I could hardly believe it.

For lunch I'd made sugar cookies w/ a message for him...& finally got to use our red food coloring, in water of course ;)

Dinner was green curry, J's fav & he surprised me with an ice cream cake he'd made...
Check this thing out...oreo mixed w/ chocolate sweetened condensed milk layer, vanilla ice cream, repeat again & a melted chocolate bar & peanut butter for the topping. I crave the sweet things in life & often can't find 'em in Indo so J made this for me, what a guy.

Final surprise was that while J made the cake he stuck (plastic covered) notes throughout it w/ sweet words for me, what an amazing Valentine's, thank you J!

Posyandu "Health Center"

Pretty soon after we got back to Aceh we found out that once a month in our neighborhood women & children are invited to come to the local health center to be weighed & given vitamins. This was an interesting experience for Elissa & little E as our some of our neighbors were seeing him for the 1st time...evidently before we got there they had a health lesson (notice the material in front of the lady holding 'Jah)

And here he is getting weighed Indo style:

We're pretty sure he's the only white baby in Calang which makes him a star anywhere he goes..

Hanging Out

This is a typical scene about twice a day (sometimes more, sometimes less) when Elijah gets a bath Indo style. This means he sits in his chair & we shower him off & use a little Johnson & Johnson (yes, it's made it here). We're just finishing up getting our bathroom done, complete w/ tile & paint (still had touchups to do when this pix was taken)...a far cry from the grey cement room it was when we 1st arrived :)

Here's Jah & J hanging out while J works on the computer in the room that serves as Jah's nursery & our work area @ home.

These 2 videos show what typical cafes look like where folks hang out & eat mostly rice or noodles, fish or chicken & fresh fruit juices!

Fun Sleeping Poses...

Not sure how this is comfortable but it doesn't seem to bother little E!

Here he is holding the blanket Grandma J made for him..perfect lightweight fabric for the tropics!

We found him the other night like this:

And here he's fallen asleep holding his first book (thanks Grandma D!) - we didn't stage these pix we promise!

Here he's fallen asleep while E cleans the house...

Last but not least, this is his own doing...he falls asleep easier when he's pulled his diaper cloth, blanket or whatever over his face....reminds us of Grandpa J (Kakek) :)

"Ular" aka Snake!

Shortly after we arrived E had quite the surprise while in the kitchen...a snake had somehow gotten in. Here's a series of video clips from the time she was waiting for J to get home to help (top) 'til he caught it (below) - here's to life in Indo!

J put together a homemade snake catcher from PVC pipe & rope. E got to learn something new about him, he was in a "Snake Club" @ his int'l school growing up...who would've known?!

Felt a little Steve Irwinish when J was able to catch it...

And finally taking it out to let it loose (far!) away from our home! Of course our neighbor kids thought this rocked ;)

First Days Back

Here's little E hanging out in his new chair in a friend's car @ the airport right after we arrived...

We fly into Aceh via a town named Meulaboh. We stopped for lunch before heading home - here's a clip:

This is Pak Hamit (& fam below), J's closest friend from here in Calang. His Mom was well known as an excellent midwife before she was taken by the tsunami. Her influence lives on in her son who loves to tell stories of women giving birth & who also loves to hold babies!


Here's a couple video clips from their visit. Even though we were in the midst of unpacking, culturally it's important for them to stop by soon after we got back to greet us, meet Elijah, etc. They're so fabulous! :)

In this 2nd clip the discussion's about how Elijah doesn't have any hair. Evidently it's important (or @ least valued) for babies to be born with hair as we've gotten all kinds of advice on how to make his hair grow more quickly. Problem with Elijah is his genes, Elissa didn't really have any hair 'til she was 2!

Here's another friend named Hengki working here from another island in Indonesia...
And last but certainly not least, our beloved teammates Jos & Yuli!