Wii and Great Grandma

Uncle Tom sent a Wii for the Farthing household and we got grandma into the mix by invading her small study and forcing her to play Wii bowling. She was extremely acomadating and even got a strike. Much fun was had by all .. including Elizabeth.

Static!

Hey! This is a new feeling.

What's so funny?

What you taking a picture of?

Suddenly this does not seem so funny anymore.

Elizabeth and Trains

First Snow

Advent Calendar Blues

Baby Testing

Bye Bye

Water Cooler

Don't Say Banana

Baby! Banger!

Into things, hat, and hair

Lately you've been climbing into things...sometimes you fit and sometimes you don't...sometimes what you want it is empty sometimes not. Either way, big or small, empty or full, you don't seem to mind!

This fabulous hat came from Grandpa Farthing...

Your hair must be growing! Milon fashioned a very nice sprig coming out of the top of your head and added some flowers for that extra touch. Guess it's time to get some clips and bows!

Elizabeth post to herself

g y ,mtrjjb78b 4.0s

Halloween 2009

E ... on your 2nd Halloween you had much more fun. We carved a pumpkin, went to the Halloween carnival at school, and then went trick or treating. This involves driving around in a bus and visiting teachers apartments to get treats. This year your dad was in charge of organizing the route. It turned out to be a fun night and you got lots of candy for yourself (well we ate most of it). Then we ended with a party on road 84 house 4 ... super fun!

Thailand Review

E ... Here are a few more tidbits from the Thailand trip. You had a great time playing in the room, shopping, and playing with the less exotic animals of Thailand.

Elephant Camps and Orchids

In Chiang Mai we also visited elephant camp and an orchid farm. E had a great time but preferred to eat the bananas rather than feeding them to the elephants. We also visited an orchid farm with an old car collection (??) and some giant coy.

Chiang Mai Temples

After landing in Chiang Mai that afternoon, we immediately went on a 'free' temple tour. The city and traffic is much calmer. We had a driver and guide. They both were very helpful. The tour guide was very good with E. I think there might be a tour guide class she took in college that deals with how to work with kids but more likely she was being genuinely kind. It was impossible to understand most of what she she though. Wash up was worship but then she talked about the washing the temple and that was something else. She did give us lots of useful dates bout the temples and artistic information about the different eras of temple design. These are some of the oldest temples (700 years) and some of the relics were up to 2000 years old. E ran around but was generally a super trooper.

October Thailand

So the plane left Dhaka at about 2pm, which we thought was nice to not to have that late night traveling. You got up about 9am so we figured you'd be ready for a nap. NOPE! You wiggled all 2.5 hours to Bangkok and then fell asleep just as we touched down. On the plane mom and dad tried some new things. Like trying to eat at the same time while you played on the bulkhead floor ... it took talent to keep you contained and eat ginger chicken with rice.

So with 5 minutes of rest we headed out of the airport and into a public taxi for the 40 minute trip to the Centura Grand. It took longer to get to the hotel then it did to reach Bangkok by plane. Apparently, Friday traffic jams are the norm here (more like gridlock or Dhaka Ramadan traffic). After two and a half hours we pulled into the hotel (longer then the plane ride). Elizabeth held up well despite this set back and watched through the window all the lights and life walking pass us.

This morning we had a great buffet experience in which you wolfed down kidney bean and corn yogurt. Actually had them in it. You really enjoyed the chocolate muffin (more like chocolate cake).

Then we went to Samitivej Hospital which is a gorgeous hospital that overly employs hundreds friendly smiling and helpful staff. It really is a five star hospital. We saw your brother or sister again. You actually watched the ultrasound with dad on a 42 inch plasma.

We messed up your schedule and walked you all over the city. You were such a trooper. You just napped when you could but mostly you had a great time watching all the life go by. Mom and Dad learned knew things about transporting strollers up stairs, riding on the Skytrain with shopping and baby, and how much Thai's LOVE babies (you were a hit).

We then went up to Chiang Mia to get out of Bangkok.

At the hospital you have a great time playing in the playhouse. This was after the shots too ... such a brave girl!

Dinner at the Ginger House .. mmm thai food!

In the crib ... go to sleep!

That does not count!

You love the shower ...

Both square and circular showers!

Lounging in the mod furniture

Climbing Stools

E ... more recordable talents! Climbing is a new past time and usually dad or mom helps you to be safer but this time I had to grab the camera. Other times you have stacked the two stools on top of each other thinking that you could get higher. They have also fallen on you as well.

EZ: Elizabeth and Zach

Zach came over to the place for a bit of babysitting with Justin, Elizabeth, and Dad. Apparently he did not get the memo which said that this was super cool and kind of pitched a fit the entire time. E you were great. You tried to console him but mostly you were just puzzled by the whole experience. You showed you maturity. And no you can't borrow the car. (adult joke there).

Dinner time

E, we've been eating at the table and frequently you entertain mom and I so much that I decided to tape a sitting. You did not disappoint.

Big things happen when you are 16 months old!

Elizabeth,

You just turned 16 months old! 16 is an exciting age...even if right now it is in months! There have been a some firsts to mark the occasion.
- you went to baby group and helped your friend Luka celebrate his 2nd birthday and you got your very first party bag! Woo! Raisins, plastic fish, and chocolate. Daddy loved the chocolate that you shared with him!
- we spent the first night away from you. This weekend Dad and I went to a party and spent the night at the hotel. We had a great time swimming with you and had a good lunch at the hotel before Milon came to take you home. Apparently you went to sleep really early and woke up early in the morning. We were excited to come home to see you!

Jamming on the Piano

Live from the computer room .... EEEEEEE.

HI and Bye

Elizabeth,

You have just begun to use language. The all important "hi" and "bye" are the first true words that you are using correctly. Mainly when we are using them but more often on your own when you see people coming or going. You understand much more of what we say and it's nice to say "take this to dadd?" or "you want a banana?" or "where's you blanket?" and you understand. Your babbling is taking on new meaning everyday. It's a fun time for us as a family.

E Being E - Baskethead

Uncle Jonathan would be proud ...

E ... you are picking up new skills so quickly. This morning you brushed your teeth .... mmm .. berry flavored toothpaste .... no flouride though. Ok maybe you just gummed the tasty treat off the bristles but I like to think you are a baby genius and blowing that standard 'toothbrushing' growth chart percentile out of the water. mmm why don't they make berry flavored toothpaste for adults anymore?

Climbing up ... but not yet down

E ... this is slightly scary. You are starting to climb and the bars on our balcony make a good testing ground. Unfortunately, going up is easy and your dad would rather film you than help you. Soo cute.

Bed-Time Faces...time with Dad

You have started posing for the camera...here are some of your latest looks....
In a side note you are also dancing more and started giving high fives! You are also starting to follow directions we give you. It's an exciting time.

Carrying

E E E E E .... training ...

and on celtic fulte .... EEEEEEEEEE

Some more jamming with dad.

Toliet Training

Elizabeth you have the greatest interest for putting things in the toilet. Your hands, blocks, toys, and even my Celtic flute have all went for a swim. Mom even caught you in the bathroom with one hand in the toilet and the other holding the new remote for the stereo, luckily we still don't have to get off the couch to change the volume. Yesterday you helped my set of keys with my flash drive on them to a little dip. Mom gave an "uh oh" and "Elizabeth's got your keys!" and "those don't go in there!". We are still waiting for the final verdict on the the drive.

E learns a new game

Wrestling moves and sounds! New games to play! This one involves jumping on pillows, a game that was a favorite of your dad's as well. This went on for a while and cracked mom and dad up before dad finally grabbed the camera to record it. Next up: jumping off of things and onto the pillow.

E vs Swinging Door

E, you are starting to explore more and more and you are watching more and more what we do. Since your hands are reaching up to the edges of the kitchen counters (which is a whole new degree of freedom to make a mess), we have been closing doors to contain you with in the living room. Unfortunately, the kitchen door is a two way swinging door and you have been learned to interact with it. It really is not a very nice door. Here is some of that learning experience.

Cake Plate

E ... Even with that being said about Twixs (previous post) it really does not matter that she had a little bit of candy bar ... the problem is that Milan gave you it .... not us. So if there's any sweets to be given, we just want to make sure it's mom and dad with the handouts .. or at least grandparents or Justin and Kelly. So not to be outdone or anything ....

What a Nice Ayah

E,

This morning daddy got up, got ready for school and then woke you up to have some E-time. We watched a little news, looked out the window, and had a banana. When Milan got to the apartment, I went to brush my teeth. When I came back, I noticed that you were eating something in a wrapper and looking pretty pleased with yourself. Apparently, Milan had decided to give you a Twix bar for a 6:45am pick me up (after the banana). I literally had to wrestle it away from you and (in the name of parental sacrifice) eat it myself. Don't worry though because you got your fill of chocolate (all over your mouth) ... it was the caramel that was giving you trouble. Come on! So I had to have a conversation about candy bars vs fruit with Milan. It scares me to think what she does when we are not there. Funny thing is you went right back in the kitchen looking for another one.

Sitting and Standing in Things

Elizabeth,

You have discovered the joy of sitting in and on things. Find an empty basket (or candle)...sit in it!

Hong Kong Layover (Aug. 1st 2009)

We spent a 12 hour layover in Hong Kong and took the opportunity to ride the train into the city. We were going to ride the "world's longest escalator" to the top of the peak to take in the view but apparently they were going down when we were going up (commuters). So we climb the stairs any way but discovered, after we were tired adn drenched in sweat, that they don't go to the peak .. only a little of the way. So we took a cab ... the driver told us it was an hour hike to the top. Wheewwww! After that we relaxed and took in that amazing view. Right click video and 'watch on youtube' for FULL video.

Houston Summer Review

Look at all the things you learned over your Houston visit. New games, new musical instruments, new love for your blanket, and new swinging.

Summer Friends Review

Catching up on footage and blogs from the summer .... here's to all the friends that made E's Houston visit so special. (End of July 2009)

Static!

You don't have much hair, but your blanket does a fabulous job of making it stick up!

Doll House

One of the families that laft Dhaka last year gave you their old doll house, table and stools. You have really been enjoying playing with the doll house, rearranging furniture, and making sure the people are in the right places. You take your doll house duties very seriously!

TUTU

Who was the first to give you a tutu handmade from the finest pompoms in the world? That would be Aunt Janet and you just love it!! As you can see it goes with whatever you are wearing. You are still working on your twirls and jumps and pirouettes (had to look the spelling up).

Uncle Dr. Jonathan and Uncle Matt's Place

Day Trip to Galveston

Outting to the Park

The weather in Rochester was beautiful...perfect park weather. Cousin Meghan and I took you to the park and animal farm. At the park, you had a great time on the swings, slides, and playing in the sand.

You loved the horses, Emu, ducks, and the big cows! The sheep, on the other hand, was not a favorite. We had to leave the barn because you were not excited at all to be around them. When you are older and have a strange fear of sheep, we'll know it all started with the scary sheep at the animal farm.

The Best Thing About Helping Grandma Bake is...

...Licking the bowl!!

Lucky you! This was you first time with the cake batter bowl and you loved it. We made sure to put the full coverage bib on and mom grabbed the camera!

Grandma's finger works really well!

It was a little hard to figure out the beaters

The spatula was great!