Baby House

As we were driving from our dumpy apartment for our first visit at the baby house, John commented that the houses/apartments were becoming really nice. Just at that moment, the driver turned into the baby house! We laughed and said that Alina had a nicer place to stay than we did!

The orphanage, or "baby house" as it's called in Kaz, is very nice! It's not how we imagined it would be. The name of it translates to "little camel's eyes." Apparently, camels eyes are considered beautiful, so it's sweet that they've named the baby house after this animal (that I recall spitting at me as I mounted it for my ride around a parking lot near the Giza Pyramids-the anticipated highlight of my Egyptian vacation years ago!) But I digress, the B.H. is bright, colorful, and clean. You often hear children merrily singing when you enter the front door (or is that perhaps recorded? Just kidding-it's live!)

There are a number of different areas in the BH. The area we go to is for babies around 10-12 months old. There's a crib room, with about 16 cribs. Outside the crib room is a larger room where there are a couple large cribs for 6 or more babies to hang out together.Much to their dismay, this is where they have their "potty time"-tied to a crib railing, sitting across from each other, on a plastic toilet for quite some time. This situation must have been where the saying "shit or get off the pot" comes from. It's also in this room, where the children can semi-walk around in their walkers and where they get fed. You might say it's the "all purpose" room. Off that room is the changing room. Only one child can be changed at a time, so the other parents we're with take turns using it. We then proceed downstairs to the play room where lots of toys are available to entertain the kids. At Alina's age, it doesn't take much to be amused. A simple ring, ball, or musical toy will do! The time with her just flies by. Before we know it, it's time to go:-(