Recent September Highlights

Hi loved ones, we're back! Here are some recent highlights and photos:

1. Jonny is already going to start his 4th week at his new job and it has been going very well. Though there is still a lot to learn, he started doing some lab work last week which he enjoyed. We have all adjusted very well to the new schedule, thank God.

2. Daniel had his 18th month check-up this past week. For the first time, he showed that he remembered the doctor's office because he started crying as soon as we walked in. He calmed down quickly but cried each time the nurse entered the room or the doctor. Thankfully he recovered quickly after getting 3 shots and did not experience any side effects. His latest stats are: Height: 35 inches (95th percentile); Weight: 29 pounds (80th percentile); and Head Circumference: 19 inches (70th percentile). In the doctors own words: "You've got a giant!" He grew 2 inches in the last 3 months (though I think they may have measured him wrong, he's more like 34 1/2 inches); no wonder he has been eating sooo much recently!

3. I was so excited recently to discover that one of our neighbors, who lives on our street, not only went to college with but is best friends with a very close friend of mine from when I lived in Sri-Lanka! What a small world! We are planning to get together soon to share photos and memories of this dear friend!

4. Our church has started serving us in a most wonderful way! The singles ministry have started to babysit for us married couples with small children twice a month in our homes so that we can go out and meet together with the other couples. So this past Friday, we had our first outing together as a couple and had so much fun! Jonny and I hadn't been out together at night since Jonny's mother visited us when Daniel was 7 months old, so you can imagine how excited we were. And the babysitting worked really well - we just put Daniel to bed before we left and he had no idea we were even gone! We feel so blessed by this, thank You Lord for Your church!

5. Daniel is currently obsessed with watching videos of himself on the computer. As soon as he sees our laptop he says over and over again: "Baba? Baba?" (That's how he calls himself, "baby"). He likes to sit on one of the dinning room chairs and focuses intently, smiling and clapping his hands with excitement! The funny thing is that I didn't realize that the person to enjoy the videos of Daniel the most would actually be him! So it's wonderful to see that all our efforts to document his development has been bringing him so much joy.

And here are some photos showing more highlights:

Dinner with the Simms - we hadn't seen them in a while so it was so nice catching up!

Matthew and Daniel played really well together even though Matthew is 2 years older. Daniel loved wearing the fireman's hat!

Matthew and Daniel


Morning run!




Devesh and Daniel having fun running! Devesh is the son of my neighbor who is the best college friend of my close friend from Sri-Lanka. Who would have thought that one day, these two little guys would meet? Small world!



It is so cute to see them holding hands together; they love each other!



Devesh hugging Daniel - Daniel loves it but doesn't know what to do so just stays still! :-)


Snack time during another recent walk...


Daniel watching videos of himself on our laptop. Did I say obsessed? And look at him sitting so well on our dinning room chair! Such a big boy now!

The boys playing at a recent cook out with friends

We're very thankful for this group of friends that we are getting to know more and more from our church. The amazing thing is that most of us have boys around the same age! So much fun for Daniel too!

So until next time loved ones! In the meantime, wishing each of you a wonderful week ahead!

August Memories

Sometimes I just don't have much to blog about and at other times, I have too much! This past August was definitely the latter; we had so many special moments that I would have loved to blog individually about but just didn't have the time... So instead, I've decided to post a slide show of some "August memories" that we would like to remember and share. Enjoy! (To see larger or download, click on the slide show.)

The Words Are Coming Out!

Hi loved ones, have you been missing us? :-) It hasn't been that long really, but I haven't blogged as much this week because either Jonny or I have been sick (me first, this past weekend, and now Jonny - thankfully he is getting better and Daniel does not seem to have caught it so far...), but mostly, because I just finished reading one of my favorite novels ever! It's called "The Help" By Kathryn Stockett and it was just wonderful; I highly recommend it! I was so sad it ended and I'm missing those characters so much - that's how good it is! Peter and Jenny sent this novel as a birthday gift for Jonny but since he was reading something else, I just decided to read it first and couldn't stop! Thanks so much Peter and Jenny! Jonny is now going to read it and I can't wait to talk to him about it...

Anyway, I thought I would update you today on Daniel's language development because just in the last couple of weeks, the words have started to come out! Most of the time he just says one syllable of a particular word but he is starting to put two syllables together for a few words and these are:

1. Mama - His favorite word for sure, he says it all the time (and of course I love hearing it! :-)). The cutest thing now is that when he wakes up in the morning or after his nap, he calls out "Mama? Mama?" And now before asking me a question or for something he will say: "Mama? Papa?" (Meaning, Mamae, where is Papai?")

2. Papa - He has started using Papa with other words, referring to what his Papai is doing. So for example, if he sees Jonny in the car, he will say: "Papa, Ka!" Meaning, Papai is in the car!"

3. Bubble - This is probably his first full "word" (other that mama and papa). The funny thing is that no matter how many times I say "bolha" to him (bubble in Portuguese) he keeps saying "bubble!"

4. Teddy - This sounds more like "Deddy". He just loves his Teddy, it's the cutest thing seeing his smile when they reunite before nap or bedtime!

5. Baby/Bebe: This one he still says "Baba". And he still uses "Baba" for balls.

6. Buffy (our cat): It sounds like "Buppy" and he just loves her. Poor Buffy, she has to often run away from a very excited toddler who just loves to pull her paws and tail! We're working on the concept of "gentle" and being affectionate with Buffy but Daniel hasn't grasped that yet!:-)

7. Abri (Open, in Portuguese): This sounds like "Abi" and he uses it when he wants us to open a door, a box, bottle, etc.

8. Agua (Water): This sounds like "Wawa" and he will say it when he wants a drink or whenever he sees water, including the rain.

Here is a list of words that he is trying to say but is only using one syllable for:

Carro (Car) or Caminhao (Truck): Ka
Deck: De
Pao (Bread): Pa
Garfo (Fork): Ga
Uva (Grape): U
Escada (Stairs): Ca

He has also been imitating our words a lot more. Tonight, for example, when we said "Kiwi" he said something that sounded like it!

So as you can see, Daniel is now really trying to talk! And not just in his own language which he has been doing for a while, but in our languages! This is so exciting because we are finally able to understand a little bit more about what he is thinking and/or wanting. At the same time though, it's another reminder of how fast he is growing up...

Here are some recent photos of the boy wonder:

Daniel LOVES when we let him play in the front car seat!

This is how I found him the other day when I was not looking!

We've had some cooler days recently...but he doesn't seem to mind!


He is now really good at this game...

This will always keep him entertained on the deck...

Daniel loved sitting in these different cars at the mall!

Till next time!

Jonny's First Week At His New Job

Jonny started his new job this past week and despite getting lost the first few times during the commute, it all went very well, praise God! It's a big change for us all, but we continue to be thankful and excited about this new opportunity.

Jonny's boss was actually away in Germany this week, but he got to talk to different people in the lab and started the steep learning curve of learning a completely new area of research. He's now studying, in his own words "how all the different proteins of various bacteria interact with one another; the aim of this work is to get a better understanding of how bacteria work." He said it feels strange to not know much both in terms of the area of research as well as his new environment, but is trusting that with time this will get better.

The actual Institute feels a lot more like a company than an University and Jonny is excited about the nice perks that come with the job like the free wonderful coffee. It's also very "chique" compared to Hopkins and Jonny said: "Ana, you've got to see the bathrooms!" :-) Jonny has been assigned a very nice cubicle next to a window with a great view. He's got lots of storage space so hopefully, this will help him keep organized and neat (well, at least that's my hope! :-)) It's a lot more formal than Hopkins was, he can't wear shorts to work anymore (though jeans and a T-shirt are fine, still the typical scientific community in that sense) and has to wear a lab coat when he is doing experiments. He says he feels a lot more grown up now!

Jonny's been leaving home at around 6:30 am so it is very strange for Daniel and I not to have him with us in the morning when we wake up. Every time I walk in to pick Daniel up from his crib, he immediately says "Pa-pa?" and continues to do so several times during our morning routine. And I have to say, "Papai has gone to work, but you will see him later today." The first 2 days were the hardest for me not having him there but by the end of the week, I was already a lot more used to it. But, I'm just so thankful that it's a holiday weekend here and we have Papai at home for 3 whole days in a row (it's Labor Day here in the US on Monday for those of you who don't live here)!

Anyway, Jonny took some photos of his new work environment so you can know exactly where he is when he is at work. Doesn't it look really nice?

Side of Building

Front of Building
Entrance/Foyer

Jonny's cubicle with his own personal phone line.

(He wanted to take photos of the actual lab too but he hasn't started experiments there yet... right now, mainly reading and planning)

View from window next to cubicle

View of shops and restaurants closeby - our friend Marlon is a manager at the Panera there and Jonny got a free lunch on Wednesday (thanks Marlon!)

Despite the nice environment and perks, our greatest desire is that Jonny will glorify God in all that he does and experiences in his new job.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this new opportunity! Please guide Jonny and give him the knowledge and wisdom that he needs to succeed in this new job for Your glory. And please help our family adjust quickly to this big change. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Daniel Peter Is 1 And 1/2 Today!

Our boy wonder turned 1 and a half today - exactly 18 months old! What a joy he is to us and how amazing to see that he is already such a big little boy! Thank you Lord for the huge blessing You have given us! This afternoon we videoed him for you to see him playing in one of his favorite spots in our neighborhood... We don't want to forget what he was like at this age and this video captures it very well. Enjoy!

We love you so much Daniel Peter! Happy First and a Half Birthday!

Liverpool Fans!

Jonny is a serious Liverpool fan; he has supported them since he was a young boy. His lab's good-bye gift also included a Liverpool outfit for Daniel! Even though it's still too big, Jonny couldn't wait to put it on him and take lots of photos. It was the cutest thing ever seeing Daniel wearing the Liverpool gear next to his very proud Papai wearing the same shirt! And Daniel had fun playing next to the goal and seeing Jonny kick the ball. Now Jonny's just waiting for Daniel to learn how to kick himself and hopefully, become a Liverpool fan too...

Reason #3 For This Being A Special Week: Getting Ready To Walk Through The Open Door...

So Jonny had his last day at work this past Thursday and said his final good-byes to his boss and colleagues in the lab. On Thursday, Yu brought in her famous cake to celebrate Jonny's birthday too. Jonny also brought in Champagne and chocolates for the lab as a good-bye gift. He also received: the current Liverpool football shirt (his favorite football team, that was such a thoughtful gift! I think he now has 4 different colors of the official shirts!), a Hopkins print and a lovely good-bye card signed by everyone with a similar message written by all - that it was great having him in the lab and that he will be missed...nice words to hear!

Jonny came home after his last day very happy because he felt that he had finished well. The past 6 years in this lab were not easy; there were many more downs than ups since his research project just kept producing technical problems followed by negative results. Jonny really had to keep persevering, it wasn't easy... But, he always knew that God had a purpose for him being there and that with His help, he would be able to leave well.

God is faithful and would you believe it that just in the last few weeks his project finally produced some concrete results?! He was able to leave the lab with a draft of a paper to be published and the bulk of his project finalized! Why only in the last few weeks? It is so clear to us that it was all in God's timing...

Jonny was also encouraged because his boss said to him: "You did a great job, you had a very hard project but you succeeded in the end!" Thank you Lord for bringing him through and the encouragement he received!

Here are the pictures that were taken on Thursday:

Jonny with Yu and her famous cake that she made for him!

Jonny wearing one of his Liverpool shirts...He wears them now all the time, he says it's to bring Liverpool luck at the beginning of the season! :-)

The whole lab enjoying the Champagne!


With his boss and the Hopkins print they gave him


And as a bonus photo: Jonny with Daniel later that evening. Our neighbor Heather brought him some cupcakes to celebrate his birthday! Daniel was intrigued by the candles (2 for 32)!

So now that the good-byes have been said, we are thinking more about what is next. And I was reminded of this blog I wrote back in June, about how God had finally opened a clear door for our family: Jonny's new job that he will start next Tuesday, September 1st. We are now getting ready to "walk through that open door"...

And as with any big change, we are excited as well as a little nervous. We are excited for Jonny working on a different and more applied area of research, which he finds very interesting and will provide him with the opportunity to learn new and exciting things.

But, we are also preparing ourselves for some adjustments, the main one being: 1) Jonny will be going to work a lot earlier and will have to leave home before Daniel gets up. So during the week, he will only see Daniel in the evenings. This also means that I will be alone with Daniel in the morning and will have to get us both ready on my own; 2) We will be spending less time together since I will not be commuting with him or having lunch with him on my work days. So our evening and weekends together will be a lot more precious; and of course 3) a new area of research in a new organization with a new boss and new colleagues!

But as we get ready to "walk through the open door", we again turn to God, the leader and meaning of our lives. He reminds us that we do not need to fear, that He is with us:

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

And so we walk through the open door with faith, excited to see what our good and loving Lord, who is with us at all times, has in store for us next. May we be faithful to Him and may He be glorified in all that we experience on the other side of the open door...

Reason #2 For This Being A Special Week: Jonny Turns 32!

Yay, I'm no longer a cradle snatcher! Every year after my birthday, for exactly 2 months and 4 days, Jonny loves to tease me that I'm a cradle snatcher. And on his birthday, every year, I like to remind him that I no longer am (of course, I know too well that him becoming the same age doesn't change the fact that I'm still older)! :-)

Jonny said he has really enjoyed his birthday today. The highlights have been: two special cards from us as soon as he got up, lunch with two of his colleagues overlooking the bay in Baltimore, playing with Daniel in the evening, a special dinner cooked by our family friend Maria Helena, phone calls from loved ones and of course, the wonderful blog comments! Thank you, they meant a lot to him!

Here are some photos of Jonny today and the different fun things he enjoyed:

Lunch with special colleagues

View from our table

Jonny talking to his brother Peter all the way in Belgium

Playing with Daniel on the deck

Daniel loved playing with the water, bowl and spoons!

Maria Helena is always participating in our special days

We had to take off his shorts after playing with the water - he was a happy boy!

Now this is for the birthday boy:

My dear husband and wonderful Papai,

Happy Birthday! We are so thankful for you, we praise God for creating you and choosing us to be in your family; we know we are so blessed! We love you more than words could ever describe! We are so excited about what God has planned for you in this next year of your life and feel honored to be at your side always.

With all our love now and forever,

Your wife and precious sons, JD and DP

Reason #1 For This Being A Special Week: Time To Say Good-Bye...

This is a very special week for our family for many reasons and in today's post, I will focus on reason # 1: It is Jonny's last week at Johns Hopkins after working there for 6 years.

It is a week where Jonny will be saying many good-byes... Good-bye to colleagues and friends, to the lab environment, to cell signalling and Dictyostelium as a main area of research (oh, dear project, why was the relationship so difficult?!), to the Hopkins campus, to the cafe and local market, and in some ways too, good-bye to Baltimore (we are less likely to visit the city from now on)...

His last day will be this Thursday and tomorrow, he will have an official good-bye party with his lab (they are planning to take him to his favorite restaurant in town, the Brazilian restaurant Fogo de Chao; how nice!).

I too will be saying good-bye this week. Good-bye to: commutes to and from work with my dear husband, frequent lunch dates, yummy lunch foods from the local market, working from the Medical library where I have had all sorts of privileges like being able to print documents, and even some friends that I have made along the way (like Sharon, the guard - we will miss you!).

Good-byes are hard; even when there is excitement for what is next. We've just been feeling very nostalgic today but also feeling grateful for the past 6 years at Hopkins - even though there were lots of ups and down (both research wise for Jonny and in our personal lives during this time).

Today, we took photos in different places that we would like to remember. These places have lots of meaning, lots of memories... We now share them with you too and keep a record for the future...

Spinning Away At 17 Months!

Every so often we get home from work and discover that Daniel has started to do something new. Just the other day, we found Daniel spinning away! I was able to catch him doing it on video - see below. He loves spinning and doesn't seem bothered about getting dizzy or falling over repeatedly. What fun! I clearly remember loving to spin too!