Toddler in the Terminal

Elizabeth 14 months, Chicago airport

This is what we came up with to save my back from the hours and hours walking through airports. Cute right? Easy, fast, made strangers stop and smile, and E loved it.

After 8 wonderful weeks in SLC, coming back to the UAE was difficult. Even with the comforts of my own bed and space, it felt strange. I had become so comfortable being with family every day, popping over to see a friend, eating American food, and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Elizabeth didn't remember our apartment at first (except for her crib which she got very excited about). The kitchen and bathrooms have a small step in the doorway that she kept tripping over. For two days we kept hearing the SMACK onto the tile floor, ouch.  We showed her to be careful of them and she's starting to remember.

The flight is the first thing people ask about. It went as well as can be expected. Keeping in mind that I have traveled across the world with her 4 times now, my perspective may be a little... different. So, it was hard, very hard. But it always is and she did well. She slept off and on for about 6 hours on the long flight, and never had any meltdowns. Honestly, I think the journey was harder on me. Within 24 hours we went through 3 airports, 3 times through security, with 8 bags and a stroller, a 5 hour layover, 21 hours of flight time, a toddler, and I'm 4 months pregnant! After lifting bags and a baby, and walking, standing, sitting for that long, my body was shutting down. That night I was blissfully giggling to myself when I got to lay down in my bed that night. Thank goodness Richard was with us, it would have been impossible without that stud of a man.

So, did you catch that little news drop? I am 17 weeks pregnant, we are expecting baby # 2 in February! 

Darling Elizabeth is very vocal these days. She is trying to talk and often screams too. She also tries to repeat things we say, even if it's a funny sound like a yelp. She is communicating a lot more.

She says: no, yes, up, down, please, uh oh, book, shoe, nose, baby, cheese, chicken, Mama, Dada, Papa, Gma, help, toes, ni ni (night), eh hoo (thank you).

She loves: babies, baby dolls, olives, turkey, Starburst candy, animals, and Dada.

She eats: Her new love is tomatoes, but eggs, oatmeal, cheese, broccoli, peas, beans, crackers, and raisins are all still favorites. She loves using a fork to eat and it still surprises me she does with it, and she prefers an adult size fork, if you please.

Music is a big deal for her. It calms her or makes her happy and she sings along. She especially loves it when we sing to her. She is so cute whenever any kind of music comes on because she stops whatever she's doing and starts dancing, which looks like bouncing from the knees, fast feet, and twirling.

It's still quite hot here, so we like to go on walks through the cool halls of the huge malls. For Elizabeth, it's more like sprinting the entire time. She laughs and laughs as she cruises farther ahead, she's getting fast too!

She is good at folding her arms as soon as we say, "Let's say a prayer." She keeps them folded to the end, and then sometimes wispers, "Ahmeh," for Amen. I usually start laughing from the cuteness.

The UAE keeps me busy in different ways than America. I am falling back into my roles here, getting back to church callings, getting in touch with friends, and making doctor appointments. Fighting for a parking spot, and feeling at home.