Happy Easter!

Counting down, counting up

About 7 months pregnant here

I'm big and getting bigger, and I get a little rush when I tell someone I'm due in less than a month. Meanwhile, darling Elizabeth is turning into a little girl so fast I can hardly stand it. She reminds me of this in new ways every day. While driving around she was babbling and singing Happy Birthday to herself, then I overheard her count to 20 clear as a bell! What?! Who is this kid?

Other things she said today that I want to remember:

no preblem
mommy do it
come play Legos
down please
broccoli then pasta
I'm cold
teeth hurt
more olives please
oh man!
nice!

Last week the weather was abnormally cold, and I loved it. We wore long pants and sweatshirts outside and socks to bed, and I can't tell you how nice it was for me to have a taste of fall weather in a climate where that season doesn't exist. I also made the most of dressing Elizabeth in tights every chance I got, (we have quite the collection of Lily's hand-me-downs thanks to Kerry), little girls in tights are just cute.

Me (and baby boy), Elizabeth 18 months, Richard

Elizabeth got her first hair cut... I just couldn't take the below the ear mullet any more! So, I went for it. It was just a trim in the back really. It doesn't exactly look great, but I think it's better. :)

December 2011

Sunny days at the park and beach

Seeing the Burj Khalifa and fountain show at night

Playing in the sand

Cutting out paper snowflakes

All dressed up for a party

Close up of our 4 foot Christmas tree :)

Hand-stitched Arabian tapestry that I'm using as a tree skirt

A little hallway glam

Christmas morning - playing with the new train

Our Christmas tree - Photo by Richard

Christmas day pizza party with friends

Liam and Elizabeth (both 18 months)

Shoni and Catherine (32 weeks pregnant)

Catherine and Richard - Christmas 2011

UAE decorated in lights to celebrate National Day

Having a blast with good friends Julianne and Weston while they visited

17 months

Is this cute or what?! Just look at those matching cheesy grins. :)

Elizabeth is very vocal and very active. I have a few friends here with toddlers the same age and it's always a blast to have them play together but also interesting to see the differences in development.

Right now I am loving her sense of humor. She is full of silly faces and mischievous looks. We giggle and tease each other a lot and she also does this low chortle laugh that is so contagious.

She says the ABC's with me. I say one and she repeats it. Also, she loves it when we sing the song. Dang cute. She is kind of obsessed with the letter f and has to say that one at least 7 times before moving on. She is also trying to count to 10. When she thinks I'm not listening I've heard her say it by herself, but she gets stage fright when I ask her to do it.

She is tall and slender, but deceptively strong and loves to climb everything. The other day she did a pull up, seriously. She is one of those active kids that will always have a bump or a bruise from being so active.

Right now she's getting her molars and this round of teething is making her so moody. Poor little thing must be really hurting. What's hurting me are the tantrums that have arrived with the teething. I think it's a combination of the teething and the age, but we're talking "rolling on the floor, scream it out" episodes. Yeesh.

She hasn't been the best eater these days, which also might have to do with her age and teething.  Her favorite thing right now is green apples. When she is about to eat something she's excited about she gives out a low oooooh laugh. 

She has learned new things that keep me on my toes like opening doors, twisting a cap off of a bottle, putting random things in the garbage - fun stuff like that. 

She loves to dance to anything that resembles music by bouncing her knees, swaying, clapping, picking up the sides of her skirt and twirling. She does a fast feet dance when she's happy and ready to go outside.

She is very clingy and needs lots of cuddles, but I like the cuddles because she's never really been that into snuggling up.

She is friendly and likes to wave to strangers. Walking down the street or riding an escalator, she loves the get someone's attention and make a quick connection with a smile. 

We love this cheeky little monkey!

26 weeks pregnant with baby boy!

too cool for school in these shades

Oakley with the Ethingtons

Cuddles with Grandma

Richard, DeAnn, and Harold mowing the Thorntons lawn

ice cream face

Richard rappelling

loving on my only hours old nephew, Georgie

learning how to smile on cue