"only God can restore"

I like this Taylor Mali guy who Mom discovered this year.  Check out his poem from the last Easter weekend:

Disaster Restoration

There is a sign outside this morning's window
that reads "Disaster Restoration," and I have no idea
what that means but love it anyway, like a poem,
or the red leaves dispersed among the green, decoration
only God can restore, because it is Sunday and Easter
and raining here in Portland, Oregon, and although that might seem redundant—the part about the rain—last night
was mild in the backyard of The Pointy House where I read
for 90 minutes to a crowd so grateful for the sun I felt I was
preaching the word of God, maybe calling forth the rain, beseeching that sweet wetness for restoration from disaster, or maybe calling it down upon us, as night gently rose on the only day that Jesus never lived.

And on another note, as of 26 April, I have a new cousin 

Welcome to Cedar Harrow Carlson!

My First Year in Numbers

I was born:

• 16 April 2010 at 6:15 A.M.
• 8 pounds, 11 ounces
• 21 inches

One year later:

• 20 pounds (or 9 kilograms here in Bangladesh)
• 30 inches

A Few Firsts:

• Smiles: 2 months

• Laughs: 2 1/2 months
• Rolling over: 2 1/2 months (or so claims Mishi Angie)
• Teeth: 6 months

• Big boy food: 6 months

• Crawling: 7 months
• Pulling up: 8 1/2 months
• Steps: 1 year (20 April, which was after my official birthday but before my birthday bash, so I'm including it here)

The Numbers

• Planes I've flown on: 5
• Days until I get to see my friends and family in America: 49
• Backpacking trips I've been on: 3

• Cousins: 1
• Days until I have my second cousin: Uncle Candy and Aunt Lisa, any news?
• Teeth I have: 6
• Stamps in my passport: 15
• Power outages on my birthday: 4, plus however many I slept through
• Words I can say clearly: 2 ("go" and "no")

Bowman's Top Five (Strangest) Diaper Changes: The First Year

I'm sure every kid has a few of these stories to tell.  (Actually, it would be fun if those of you who want to share yours send them to my Mom at tlccarlson@gmail.com.  I can have her read them to me and post some of the funniest later on!)  Here are five from this year that stood out for me.

1. The One in the Smallest Room 

The first lunch stop of our trek in Darjeeling was at a tea hut, as were all of the subsequent lunch stops.  I hadn't had any experience in tea huts yet, and learned here that they are the homes of enterprising village dwellers who have decided to sell tea and food like vegetable fried rice and chow mien and to serve it in their dining rooms, which are often their bedrooms as well.  At this first stop we ate noodle soup (think Ramen with some chopped up carrots) sitting on two single beds with our knees pushed up against a small board table.  I, of course, had to go after lunch, and therefore was changed right there.  Mom also had to go, and was told when she inquired about an outhouse, "Yes, anywhere."  She found a rock with only a few chickens pecking about. 

2. The One with the Most Observers

I must preface this by saying that many, many Bangladeshis have watched me get my diaper changed in many places.  This one stands out, though.

When we went to Nepal for Christmas, we flew a Bangladeshi airline.  Most of the people from Bangladesh who get to travel outside the country are men, and most are Muslim, at least culturally.  On our return to Dhaka from Kathmandu, Mom was the only woman and I was the only baby.  We sat one row back from bulkhead.  I needed a change, of course, and that walk all the way back to the bathrooms was the two minutes where I have been most stared at in my one year of life.

3. The One with the Scariest Company

I knew when we first landed in Dhaka at midnight last July that Mom and Dad needed to hurry to get through customs.  I just couldn't help filling my diaper right away.  Mom found the first bathroom she could when we got off the plane.  There was soap, but a cockroach was crawling on it.

This picture is from Mormor, who took it in her bathroom in China about 20 years ago.  It looks just like the setting of my first Bangladeshi diaper change. 

4. The One with the Worst Result

I prefer cloth diapers, FuzziBunz or BumGenius.  Still, when we're traveling, I know they're too hard to lug around and wash, so I settle for disposables on the road.  We had an eight hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Nepal, which meant I needed a couple of changes along the way.  Dad was taking care of me at one stop and Mom found a box of trash where she put my diaper.  As we ate our peanut butter sandwiches after that, I watched a stray dog run off with my diaper in his jaws.  Oops!

5. The One with the Best Aroma

All of my best changes have been outdoors.  The best was in the balsam scented forests between Quartz and Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park.  Come on, you knew my best one would be in Glacier, right?

Bowman and Dad's Top Five Flying Moments: The First Year

1. Shangri-la, Montana (even better than James Hilton's version)

 2. Siyeh Pass, Montana

3. Summit of Sandakphu, India

4. Looking toward Annapurna, Nepal

5. On Poon Hill, Nepal

Bowman's Top Five Adventures: The First Year

1. First Roadtrip

I went to St. Michael's, Maryland with Couzle Nate, Mormor, Grandpa, Mom and Dad.  We saw the ocean and I played games with Mormor while everyone else played boring adult bocce ball.

2. First Time Crossing a State Border

I went with Nana, Gramps, Mom and Dad to three states in one day at Harper's Ferry. (You get five Carlson points if you can tell me what all three of them are.)  I was thrilled, as you can see.

3. First Backpacking Trip

Mishi Angie, Grandpa, Mormor, Mom and I went to Quartz Lake in Glacier National Park.  I made them take lots of diaper and milk breaks, but that made the hiking even more fun, I think! 

4. First Christmas

It was in Nepal!

5. First Time Hiking Across International Borders

We walked across the border from Bangladesh to India.  (Well, I was carried.  Mom and Dad walked.)  Then, we spent five days doing a trek that crossed the India and Nepal border at least fifteen times.

Bowman's Top Five Toys: The First Year

Today is my first birthday.  I was so excited about this day coming that I gave myself a fever of 103 degrees Farenheit yesterday.  Fortunately, the Bengladeshi doctor's prescriptions seem to be helping and I have a bit of my own personality back today.  Because of some other events and my sickness, Mom and Dad have decided that we'll mostly celebrate next weekend.  Still, I want to start sharing my first year's ruminations and reflections with you.  I've made a few lists about this year, and here is the one of my favorite toys from the last twelve months.

1. Billy Bowman - I take him everywhere so I can share a little bit of Glacier National Park with the rest of the world.

2. Socks, especially SmartWool ones

3. Mom's cell phone

4. Clothespins, which become even more fun with a laundry basket

5. Raggedy Andy and Gilbert the Giraffe, because at the end of the day they just understand best

*I did not include balls in this list because in this house they are actually considered serious athletic equipment, not toys.  However, I do enjoy them quite a lot.

One Year Ago Today

on the way to the hospital, just before a Chipotle stop for Dad

Happy New Year, 1418!

Today is Benglali New Year (Nobo Bochor).  On the Bangla calendar, April 14, 2011 (two days before my own new year starts) is the first day of the year 1418.  The Bengalis use this solar-based calendar because one of their emperors was having trouble collecting taxes on time from farmers whose crops just didn't grow based on the Muslim lunar calendar that used to be in place.  He changed things to make sure he got his money.  At least, that's what Mom's Bangla teacher said.

To celebrate Dad's day off, we had a lovely brunch with some new American friends today.

However, we did celebrate Bengali style just a couple of days ago.  I wore the new outfit given to me by the wonderful technology expert at Dad's school.  It's traditional to wear red, white and orange for the new year.  Mom was given her very first sari (pronounced shari here) by the cooks in the class she coordinates on Tuesdays.  I thought she looked pretty strange, but she said it felt quite elegant to wear.  We also got to eat the traditional ilish macsh (salty, bony fish) with rice, curries and chutney.  What a treat!  Mom sure had to be careful since she ate Bengali style (with her right hand) and was in a sari for her first time.

Shubo nobo bochor, everyone!     

Cricket and Its Side Effects

What do Dhaka parks and village tea shops have in common in Bangladesh for just a couple more days? They all have TVs tuned to World Cup Cricket, which is being hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.

Don't worry.  I haven't gotten into cricket at all.  I don't really even know what a wicket is or why the pitchers do that strange long-jump style hop before they throw the ball.  I won't be writing about the game itself.

I have, however, observed a few things about how hosting a world-viewed event can affect a developing country like Bangladesh.  The most optimistic people point to the cleaner city streets, new sculptures of giant cricket bats, and crowds wearing green and red jerseys and claim that hosting this event has  "really brought Bangladesh together."  The most pessimistic point to the cleaner streets and ask whether the beggars who have been cleared out of the city(1) are actually getting the living allowance they were promised for staying out of sight.  The most paranoid foreigners hunker down behind hat brims any time Bangladesh loses a game, fearing a riot.  

I'm just happy to see so many other kids laughing as they emulate their favorite players.  Hockey still looks more fun, but that requires ice!

(1) Mom read this article after I linked it and scoffed that it mentions 300 disabled beggars.  What about the thousands of others, she wonders?  And where have the all been carted to?

Is this right, Mom?

Zach let me borrow his walker.  It's great fun!

New Skills

I've been working on a few new things.

1) Climbing stairs.  Easy. Don't ask me how to get down.

2) Using a landline.  Pick up, please, all of you relatives in America.