Bathtime Baby!

This is my favorite picture of a child here!  Some may think a bath on the street would be humiliating - I think it is endearing to see the love and care most children are provided in the form of a bath morning and evening.  The only spot without bubbles are the eyes - talk about squeaky clean!  After the bath, a heavenly smelling cream is applied.  Surprisingly, people here have very dry skin. 

What do you think the water displacement is here?  I don't think my foot would even fit in this bucket!

This size of tub makes you want to play long enough to get "raisin" fingers!

This older sibling is doing her chores by "bathing" her younger brother and sister.  I think that would be a water fight in the making for some! 

I think this guy is big enough to draw his own water.  

You see many children with painted eyebrows.  This little girl also has white makeup on her forehead and eyes to make her "beautiful".  This brother is very proud of his little sister and brings her over to see us frequently when he is babysitting her.

From the time a baby is born, it is carried on the back of its mother with a "wrap".  Above the breast, it is secured like you would a bath towel around your waist.  Below the breast, it is secured by twisting the ends like a propeller and tucking them under.  It is worn very tightly and over time, it actually dents the rib cage of the mother. 

 

At first no arms or legs are allowed out of the bundle.  As the baby grows, first one arm is left out, then the other and finally both.  Often young babies are shaded with an umbrella or hat.  You just want to pat their little bulge of a bottom.  They are so adorable - either sleeping or craning around to see where they are going.  It's amazing how they can sleep through anything!  Once we were at Stephen's house and Jarred was tired and cranky so he brought a wrap to his mother so she could carry him.  Another time I saw an older brother scolding a younger sibling, the little girl started to cry so he bent down to let her climb on his back; instantly she stopped crying.  It is a comforting place for them!  It's interesting to see how quickly mothers can manuver the baby on and off by themselves so easily - I'd probably drop it! 

Every little girl wants to be a little mother.  This little pack is almost as big as her pony!

 This is the little brother that just got a bucket bath - he's still wet!