Shamila, Shamila

The beauty in this picture is Shamila, Teddy’s daughter, taken just hours after she was born.  While everyone at home is celebrating the birth of beautiful America, we in Tanzania – and by we I mean I – are celebrating the birth of this little one, as she is officially four months old today! 

Mtoto mdogo (litte baby) Shamila, like her mother and the rest of her family, has been such a gem in my life already in her first few months of life.  Shamila was born in the evening of March 4^th, a mere six hours before my birthday on the 5^th.  I told Teddy back during one of the first few days of March, when Shamila was already three weeks past her scheduled date of arrival, that since she had carried Shamila for so long already, she now had to wait until my birthday to deliver her – so that we could forever be birthday twins.  What was a few more days after nine and a half months? Spoken like a true not–yet–mother.  Although I really wanted us to share the same birthday, Shamila had other plans.  We missed out on the chance to be bonded by birthdays, but fortunately for me, an even more special bond was forged instead.

As soon as Shamila was born, I started spending all of the waking moments that I could spare at Teddy’s house – once my obligations at school and the hotel were completed.  Some of my happiest and most cherished moments in Tanzania have been when Teddy, Inno, Teddy’s girls and I have been sitting in Teddy’s living room, talking, laughing, dancing – with Shamila permanently glued to my arms, of course.  It got to the point that as soon as I walked in the house and finished greeting everyone, whomever was holding Shamila at the time would get up and pass her over to me.  Just like that.  Holding that baby in my arms, and watching her grow, has truly been one of my greatest joys over the past few months.

Happy four months to this angel!

So, I earned the title mama mdogo, which means little mother in Swahili.  And, it became the running joke both at the hotel and in Teddy's neighborhood that Teddy was Shamila’s black mother and I was her white mother.  The comedy, I tell you. :)  And then, about a month after Shamila was born, Teddy did me the greatest, most unexpected, but most treasured honor of asking me to be Shamila’s godmother. 

Being here for her first few months of life has been such a blessing!

Let me tell you: there are not many things that I feel more proud of in this world, or that I hold closer to my heart for that matter.  This beautiful, sweet, best baby ever – she NEVER cries, healthy angel is my godchild?! I think I was on a natural high for weeks after Teddy asked me.  Teddy and I have grown so close during the time that I have been here, and her decision to include me in Shamila’s life forever in such a meaningful way has strengthened our relationship even more. 

So today, on the Fourth of July, my fellow wazungu (white people) friends, who have become my support system and my ‘fix’ of American culture over the last half year, and I definitely will be celebrating the good old U.S. of A all the way from Tanzania.  As we decorate our faces with patriotic tattoos and dedicate all of tonight’s fun to our recognition of the privilege that comes with being American citizen in today’s world,  I will also be profusely thanking God for the blessing of my most precious goddaughter. 

Happy Fourth from Tanzania!