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.