Sniffle...Sniffle... Cough...Cough

Elizabeth,
I have to say that you are a very healthy girl. You've avoided the cough and sniffles that have gone around your friends in baby group until now. Yesterday though, you had a runny nose and the sniffles...the beginnings of a cold. By bedtime you were really congested, but still tired and fell asleep. It was a rough night for all 3 of us...its hard to breath when your nose is all stuffed up and you want your pacifier. You woke up a lot during the night and got to sleep in our bed. You were feeling much better in the morning and your Dad and I felt better after a long nap!

Advent Calendar

When we lived in Damascus, we bought a beautiful Advent calendar from our favorite Palestinian shop. We've had it now for 5 years and haven't opened the gift bags until this year with you. The calendar came with toys already and you are too little to play with some. At 6 months, the army men, stealth bomber, pencil sharpener, and superballs are choking hazards. Your favorites have been the noise makers of course and Dad is working on writing a song for you using the flutes! So we will buy 24 more things for next year and for now you don't have to share with any brothers
or sisters.

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Elizabeth,

We couldn't pass up the chance for you to meet Santa for the first time! Luckily he was at the American Club this weekend for the holiday party. You weren't so sure about Santa's beard and kept turning around to check it out. A few times gave it a good tug to see if it was real (it was). The parents sat around and giggled as we all snapped photos. In all, it was a good photo op and you reacted as you should with your first meeting of Saint Nick ... puzzlement and curiosity then uncertainty and mild terror but don't worry, soon you'll be singing the praises of Claus. Next year you can get your face painted and maybe decorate a cookie!

"What?" That's attitude for you!

Tongue's Away

E! Lately you've been going around with your tongue sticking out, which is both funny and cute at the same time. We are a little worried because you are also panting and drooling. Part schnauzer? NOOOOO .... It's just because you are learning to control your tongue and are experimenting with all the new sounds you can make. arghagrhmmmmmam

Boing Boing Boing

Elizabeth ... Zach lent you his bouncy chair, well at least until he's old enough to use it. You love it! The freedom, the new sounds, the bouncing, the spinning!

6 months

E ... A whole half a year under your belt already! Your mom and dad decided that they'd do a 1/2 year in review and spent a couple days sorting through pictures and music to make a movie. That's why it's almost 10 minutes long and 4 days late. In the end, we piled the photos on from the first minutes of your life till your 6 month B-day and enjoyed looking at how much you have grown. love love love mom and dad

A note for the purists: For the best quality viewing follow this link to youtube and then click "watch in high quality" near the bottom right of the video. The photos are much clearer. This is true of all the videos posted on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsU6Gt5dzzE&feature=channel_page

X-mas Party

E, you went to your first holiday party and you decided you would shun the traditional red and green for a pink cupcake sweater and jeans skirt. That's right! You show'em girl! Keep them guessing what you are going to do next. Anyhoo ... here's you with your Magnum look:

Here's a shot with you in a more jolly party mood.

eerrrrrrrrmmrrrrrmmmmemmmemmamm

That's the sound you make when you are straining the number 2 ... yes E ... we all knew this post was coming and you have been delivering. Face all scrunched up with all the wonderment of new experiences. What's better is that your ayah Milon (the nanny) has access to the camera. Before you get all weirded out I have to say that she really does a fabulous job. She thinks just like your dad ... get the camera. But there's more .... the Dutch couple that sold us their stash of baby furniture (crib, playpen, bouncing chair, stroller, playmat, and car seat) also had a training toliet. Dad remembers carrying it to the car months before you were born and the realization that you were coming really sunk in. And..you were going to poo too. So ... Milon heard you making the dookie ... quick grab the tolilet and the camera (so DAD) and there you go! Enjoy!

Well ... You and Milon must have been MIGHTY proud becuase you felt the urge to record the actually pooh (and I'm not talking "Winne the") ... click to enlarge if you dare!

Change in Sleep Patterns

Bubbles, after nearly 4 months of sleeping soundly at around 8pm and through the night you've been lately (at least the last 4 nights) been staying up late and testing the limits of your parents patience. Screaming with your face planted into your mattress until we pick you up and plant you in our bed where you lay down and smile up at us. You ARE tired but just refuse to stay down. Still we are enjoying the extra time with you and other than the freaking out in your crib ... you are a super happy late night baby!

Ouch!

Elizabeth,
After school today we took you for the second round of immunizations. This time, along with the oral vaccination and two other combination shots, you got a 3rd jab. The extra jab was called BCG...an immunization for TB. Apparently, this shot leaves a scar. You can thank Dad later...he told the nurse to give it to you on your leg, not your arm. You were so brave and only cried for a little bit. When you're older we'll treat you to McDonald's or ice cream for being so good.

Squeak squeak squeak

Little sweet sweet with a little squeak squeak.




(at this point there is a blogging backlog which should be remedied soon ... thank you for your patience -the management)

e reads

htebazile ... i wanted to see what your name looked like backwards ... htebazile ... interesting. Here are some reading pics that your ayah milon took. You have your concepts of print in the bag: turning pages, front to back, book right side up, eating pages (it's a new alternative reading instruction .... comes from the steinburg schools i think)

First Bananas!!

Elizabeth,

The very next night you tried your first bananas to the enjoyment of all present. Seems you need to learn a few more eating techniques such as keeping the food in the mouth, tongue control, and swallowing. So you have a bit to learn but I promise we'll enjoy the facial expressions until then. This one still makes mom and dad laugh laugh laugh ... with you.

Mmmm ... Soggy Rice Krispies

ZZ ... Here's the first time we gave you something other then milk. Mushy rice cereal! Ohh soo tasty .. ohh soo yummy. it's another first for all of us to share with family and friends .. set to Will Smith for epic impactnessitude

Belated Blogging History

Elizabeth ... in all the excitement I missed the 100th blog entry completely. No such a huge and momentous day there should have been a celebration ... with cake! Yeah ... I know ... exhaustion! I guess we can celebrate the 122nd then. So happy 122nd blog entry! Take a long rest ... you deserve it for all the cool things you've been doing for me to blog about. Mom and I discussed what you would think about this blog when you get old enough ... we'll get back to that on the 200th or 1000th blog. Maybe you'll take it over! For now keep up the cuteness! mucho love, your mom and dad

Me and My Pink Elephant

E ... it's not that you are collecting pink elephants or that anyone thinks that you are collecting pink elephants for a collection or even elephants for that matter. In fact you whispered to me that you don't want to collect elephants and that the three you have are a nice rounded set but that you wouldn't mind other odd and eclectic stuffed animals. Anyways .. you are semi-cuddling with this one here and at times the pink pig blanket thing. Very cute!

Hat Choices

Elizabeth ... you took a leisurely afternoon watching tennis at the club sporting your Syrian cap. You sucked on your finger(s) and entertained other spectators.

Impromtu Concert

BUBBLES ... you've been singing along (or gumming along) with Pa for a bit now but Ma caught this one on video ... at five months we are pretty impressed. Do you think we can get you your own Disney special? no pressure though

Racing and Hollering

ZZ ... you hang out well with almost anyone but you've been kickin' it with the guys with grace. Here you give your best advice on Burn Out Revenge by voicing your opinion on driving techniques. Justin, David and Evan were in attendance and everyone took their turn entertaining you ... or you entertaining them.

Wind-Up E (with a roll on the side)

E, you are ready to crawl but for a few key muscle movements and here's the proof. Justin and Kelly were over when you were trying some of your best attempts ... keep it up and it won't be long. At the moment you can backup and turn rather haphazardly.

Happy 5 Months!!

five months and still smiling!

More "Baby Group"

Elizabeth you are a consummate host for baby group. Below you arrange games, make sure everyone has their own toy and show Luca how your excersaucer works.

You served cucumber and carrot sticks which were a definite hit and everyone who had teeth chomped down and those who didn't gummed till their heart's content. Look how excited Charlotte is double fisting carrots! mmmmm

The whole party hung out in your nursery and on your balcony with your keen eye on everything to make sure everyone had a fabulous time.

Brown and the Blue

E .. I definitely see a little brown creeping into the middle of your eyes. Seems the chances of you having blue eyes with our genes is growing narrower with time. Anyways, the students in my class are writing poetry so I thought I'd give the topic a whirl with a little Haiku.

like crystals shine through,
smiles with laughs and bright rays too
water now earth rests

actually never mind ... I'll stick to poems about the sunshine, happiness and ice cream.

guitar lessons

elizabeth, I am really glad that you enjoy listening and singing along with me. Your gumming technique is coming along nicely.

Halloween

Eeeeeeelizabath,

Halloween is always a huge celebration at international schools around the world and yesterday all the teacher kids got to go trick or treating apartment to apartment with all the parents tagging along. And even though we dodged rickshaws, received an increased amount of attention from the hundreds of pedestrians, and road a bus to various apartments, it was a fairly normal all-American Halloween. Well almost. We went as a viking family thanks to Aunt Dori's knitting skillz. YAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!

There were about 20 kids which were organized into two buses (biguns and littleuns) which touted the young candy seekers to about 15 apartments around the area. As we drove around we sang Halloween songs and you danced for the enjoyment of the the other kids. You are quite adapt at dancing on the walls and smiling. We stuck through the entire ritual but other parents used the "it's your year" method.

At several of the stops we were offered treats as well: Bailey's, spooky spiky punch, and (my favorite) a shot of vodka with oranges and Russian sausage. The art teacher actually served water out of "that" bottle ... which is a completely reasonable use for recycled glass bottles in Dhaka.

You can see the candy fever has hit you ... you are holding the bag all by yourself. We'll do our best to save it until you are eating solid foods.

Well with the staff Halloween party tonight and the school Halloween carnival tomorrow so there is still plenty of Halloween fun to go around!

mmmmm donuts

Bubbles ... your hand-eye coordination increases daily and we are training you to have one hell of a sweet tooth. Glad they are knit ... I just can't believe that they are one of your baby toys ... remember the knit donuts always.

Suitcases

Elizabeth ... where will the Velveeta and Frito's go? at least you are growing and we are beginning to shrink . . .
Yours

Ours

What I Did On My October Break!

You picked up a new nickname on the vacation: "ZZ" and you can see why ... here you are sprawled out at the beach . . .

by the pool after a swim . . .

in the stroller on the beach .... during dinner

after a few mojitos

at breakfast ...

with a towel imprint to boot . . .

with a great view ...

"Hey wait! I'm up!"

Actually not ...

Halfway There ....

E ... We made it to Singapore airport and if you are going to have a layover anywhere then this is the country to have it. We actually had so much fun we went to the other terminals to check out their stores. You had your first Hard Rock Cafe experience complete with buttons and balloons (I think the waiter was just bored at 6am) and helped us pick out some dark chocolate and liquor. Oh and you helped do a cool Year of the Rat rubbing (we (dad and you) are both rats!) Bali here we come ...