2012

Not much new to report here. As you can see this little monster is up - and VERY mobile. Oh lordy, when people say, you have to put everything up, they mean UP UP and AWAY. She is into everything. We're mostly just watching her like a hawk, following her and getting her out of messes. This is very challenging. Tomorrow will be my weekly trip to Target and will include locks for the kitchen cabinets. Already got the baby gates!

She loves her toys.

She does well in the walker, but will only go backwards?

I think she looks older than 10.5 months here, don't you? And is this my child? I don't see any resemblance whatsoever, do you??

We don't like sippy cups, but LOVE this kiddie freezer mug with the built in straw.

We finally had a snow day last weekend. Sumaya loved it.

First, she's too big for this seat! I'm on the lookout for a high chair on Craig's List. Second, now that she has chompers, 4 to be exact, this is what we do with our spoon at feeding time. The high chair is really urgent. She makes a big mess here and we can't even use the bumbo tray because she pulls it off!

She gets excited every time she spots Charlie (enjoying a cozy spot on Sumaya's froggy blanket) but the feeling is not mutual. Here she tried to pet him and he, well, smacked her hand. She looked at me, then Charlie, then me and then got upset. I wish he liked her. I'm working on it..

Thank goodness there is a kiddie play room at the honda dealership - and kiddies too. Sumaya loves kids. (Bad hair day, sister. It looked cute but had to put a hat on her cuz it was 15* outside).

Hard to believe she is almost a year old. Where has the time gone?? My sister just reminded me the other day about when my water broke and I called her at 4am...."The baby's coming." I'm thankful she was/is healthy. She's walking along furniture no problem. I'm trying to get her to hold my hand and walk, but she's not too sure about that yet. She likes to immitate me when I sneeze..it's very funny. She says mama, dada and baby - not sure where she got that one from.

Still looking for a car for Emad. Some VERY strange people on Craig's List, but we'll find something. Any suggestions/ideas are appreciated. Just need something to get him to work and back. Work is only about 3 miles each way.

We are also looking for part-time drop in day care - for a couple reasons. I'd like Sumaya to have some interaction with other kids, Emad has an occasional opportunity to work during the day, and I'd like to be more flexible with my work schedule and be able to stay later, if needed.

Hanaa, Noman, Hana & Sumaya  

xo

And lastly, we are working on having big Sumaya come visit us. First, is a visit for her to the US Embassy in Cairo. We'd like to go to Egypt soon. Not sure if it will be this year, but it would be nice to maybe bring her back with us. She is a wonderfully sweet, kind and generous woman and we miss her A LOT - along with the rest of our family in Egypt.  

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Many many thanks to my Aunt Jan for the "old" pictures. I was so excited when I received her special package with the cd of pictures and family tree in the mail a few months back. What a treasure.

My grandparents were very special to me, so having these pictures really means a lot.

(handsome) Gramps

Gramps as a boy

 Great grama and grama

 Gramps and Aunt Jan

Aunt Jan and mom

 Mom

Gramps and Grama on their wedding day! Love this one.

Another favorite of Grama and Gramps

Uncle Rodney

Manning family (gramps with blonde hair)

 Linker family (grama on far right) 

xoxo

Holidays

Yes, it's been too long since my last post. Sorry to all my peeps, but it's been a little hectic here. Sumaya and I went to California for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time but both came home a little sick. It took her a while to get back to her normal schedule, so we were all a little sleep deprived. She's also been very clingy, so I don't have time to do everything I would like - like my blog!

I was very anxious about flying with Sumaya - and by myself - but was fortunate to sit in first class on the way there. Wow, a lot different than 'the back of the plane'. Everyone was very nice and helpful and made the trip very smooth for us.

Savana was very happy to see her cousin and they shared babies and held hands on the way home in the car. It was very cute.

As soon as we got home Savana wanted to hold cousin Sumaya.

Thanksgiving morning. Time for beauty shop...no one does hair as well as Auntie Leslie!

Time to hold cousin Sumaya again.

 Grama got the girls matching outfits and pjs.

I really want to hold cousin Sumaya while walking, but she weighs almost as much as I do, so mommy will help.

Sumaya, Uncle D and Savana

Laurie & Sumaya

Breakfast!

Having fun in cousin Savana's swing in the back yard

Ready to go have breakfast with Kelly then go visit Mary, Izzy and Robert

 

 At grampa and grammy b's on Saturday. Got to meet Sam and Penny.

Fun with grampa

On the big dog

 Had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner and a fun visit.

We're thankful we got to go to California again to visit family and that Daren and Brenda got to meet Sumaya. We had a lot of fun and laughs. Hopefully we'll get to do it again this year...yes, it's already next year!

 

After liking cousin Savana's, I got Sumaya her own puppy and she loves it.

Daddy was being silly..

Blew up some balloons for Emad's birthday. She was NOT going to part with this one!

Ready for the party. Wanted to wear the red sparkly shoes but they didn't fit. : (

 Went for a yummy dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and then came home for candy cane pie.

In my new coveralls from grama. Came with a cute little gingy in the front pocket.

Ready to go for a walk with mom. Got my new boots from Grammy B on. It's a little cold outside but no snow. We've only had a handful of days that it's snowed this winter but the snow is always gone within a day because the temperature goes up.

At the mall last weeend.

 Sumaya is crazy when we go out. She loves being out and around people.

She stands holding on to furniture. I think she'll be walking soon.

All went well at her 9 month check up 2 weeks ago. She's 24.7 lbs and 30.5 in tall. Her doctor said she is very healthy. She's a very good eater - likes anything we give her - but her favorite is sweet potatoes and also yogurt. She can wave hi and bye and can say mama, dada and understands a few words. We're teaching her both English and Arabic. When you ask her where the cat is in Arabic, she will look for Charlie. We think she's going to be very smart.

We're looking for a car for Emad...something reliable but not very expensive, just to get him to work and back. We are also looking for part-time daycare. Emad occasionally has the opportunity to work during the day and I sometimes need to stay a little later at work.

Overall, everything is going well and we're all happy and healthy. I will try to be more regular on the blogging!

xo