Crib

Eli got a crib today! My mom sent some Christmas money so we were able to get this for him. Cribs are very hard to find here. Because most people live in very small houses, it's rare for anyone to sleep in their own bed (adults and kids alike). It's not uncommon for there to be three to four people to a bed. Babies sleep with their mom and then sleep with their siblings when they are older. We found a crib in a store that cost more than $450! Yikes! There is no way we could afford that.

Fortunately, in Africa, they have fundis. A fundi is a carpenter or handyman. They are all over and can build anything. Fundis are very talented. George's sister in Kisumu has a neighbor from the US whose house is full of furniture build by a fundi. Her house is so cute and looks like a Pottery Barn. She just gave him photos and he built replicas, again at a fraction of the cost of the furniture in stores. George found a fundi to make Eli's crib for a fraction of the cost of the one in the store. Today it was ready so George went down to his shop and picked it up. There was no Jerome's delivery truck available, so a nice man put it on a cart and wheeled it to our house with George.

We are VERY excited for Eli to have a crib and now want to start sleep training him. Then perhaps, we can join the land of the rested once again.

Thanks Grandma!