Another trip to California

We woke up early Thursday December 18th and got in the car to go to the airport. It was snowing all the way to the airport. Our flight was almost half empty because a lot of people had problems getting to the airport.

Baba worked for a few days even though his normal office in Seattle was closed due to snow. We went to my cousins house and spent a lot of time playing and watching my new favorite movie, Wall-E. I also had time for a brief visit with my friend Emmy.

I got a little sick on vacation. My tummy was not being nice on the way to Grammy's house. Luckily it was a rented van, rented car seat, and mama had extra clothes with us.

Gibo's first tooth appeared on Christmas Eve Day (bottom right.)

Christmas Day we spent at Grammy and Papa's house. It was the first time in 5 years that the family had been together for Christmas. I helped pass out the presents to everyone.

Everyone got something they needed and something fun.
My favorite present was markers from grammy. I opened it and said "WOW!! WOW!!" I also really liked the fruit and veggies Grammy got for Gibo from Under the Nile and my new bear back pack.

I can

I can now spell my last name. Mama and I were walking down the stairs and I said my last name and then spelled it. Mama had me repeat it a few times because she wasn't sure if she heard me right.

Mama suspects I picked it up from all the calls to the doctor that she and baba made over the last week.

Diaper Box

I love to play in boxes. Today mama put Gibo in with me. I was having fun, but Gibo is not sure about boxes yet.

I think he was trying to get out.

Gibo has something he would like to say.....

"ba-ba."

He has been saying mama for about a month, he does it when he wants mama's attention. Last night after he said "ba-ba" twice after Baba decided to use his power of suggestion. Now he just needs to learn "Zu-zu" but that is pretty tough so we will give him a few more months :)

Chicken Pox

Last week Gibo got a really bad diaper rash. It started to spread to other areas and he got a fever on Wednesday. Mama took him to the doctor and they said it must be chicken pox. They it took 2 doctors and a lab test to confirm it. Then we went back to the doctor on Friday because Gibo still wasn't feeling very well. He had a temperature ranging from 102 (with Tylenol) to 105 and threw up a few times.


Mama and Baba were both really worried about him. Thursday night I was the only one that got any sleep. On Friday baba started finding chicken pox on me. I felt really itchy on Saturday and took an Oatmeal bath with Gibo. On Saturday night mama and baba gave me another oatmeal bath and I sceamed because it was so yucky and dirty.

Today Gibo and I are both starting to feel better. Our tempuratures are down and we are playing more again. Baba went back to work and we are all praying the worst is over and life can get back to normal.

I went to the dentist

Today I went to the dentist for the first time. I watched an episode of Sid the Science kid about going to the dentist before I went so I was prepared and excited. When I saw the dentist chair I was a little scared.

I got to pick out a new tooth brush. Then Gibo sat in the dentist chair and he went up and down in the chair. Mama finally pulled me up on chair with her and Gibo. Then I got some cool sunglasses to wear. Then I took turns brushing my teeth with the dental assistant and then she showed me this cool brush they have and "Cinderella Sparkles" that go on your teeth. They call it "Cinderalla Sparkles," I call it tooth paste.

Then the dentist came to look at my teeth. She said my back molars were 3/4 of the way down. My teeth and gums look healthy and I have plenty of room for bigger teeth when I am older. She said I have nice spaces on the top of my teeth. Since they are wide and deep I should drink water after meals to wash away the food that sometimes collects there.

When it was time to go I got a goody bag. It had 2 stickers, a small bath toy, a pamplet for mama and baba, my new tooth brush, and a pair of gloves like the dentist uses. I love my new gloves.

Something I forgot to add to yesterday's post. Last night baba took the trash out and I locked the door behind him. Mama was home so she let him back in. Mama and baba should learn to take keys with them anytime they leave the apartment. :D

Milestones

My brother (who is wearing my clothes from this time last year) has been working hard on learning how to sit-up on his own and now lets me know he is upset if I take something away from him that he was playing with.

I am now up to 29 pounds. I am starting to learn my lower case English letters and starting to work on my phonetics skills. I can identify my Arabic letters. I know my right from my left, hands and feet, in Arabic. I can almost count to 25 too. I just get a little confused around 17, 18, 19 sometimes.

Pictures

This is why mama yells at baba.....he always plays with his phone when he should be driving.

I am ready for winter. Modeling my rain jacket and snow boots.

Gibo relaxing in his swing.

Busy times...

I am still doing music and swimming classes and now there is talk of adding a foreign language class next year. Mama and baba would like me to learn French next.

The Luffreds also made a trip out to Washington to spend time with us. We all had a great time together. We took a trip to the space needle. I also rode on a carousel. We have pictures....baba has pictures, so those might not ever get posted here.

Gibo went for his check-up today. He was 19 lbs 5oz and 29". We aren't sure about the 29" though because they measured him all crooked ad scrunched up. (He was 29" last month when mama measured him.) Gibo is quickly out growing his 6-12 month clothes and wears mostly 12-18 month clothes.

I stopped wearing pull-ups to bed last Wednesday or Thursday. So I am offically a big girl. I still have accidents once in a while when mama forgets to remind me to go potty.

Fall is here

Just in the last two weeks the leaves have started to change.













So my brother and I dressed ourselves in the latest fall fashions.













Or maybe it is me dressing both of us.


Swimming is going well. Lots of jumping and crawling.











When there is nothing left to do G and I just talk about milk and diaper spills.

"Ahhh! Haaa! Haaaa! You remember when mama.........."

"A little privacy please..."

Zuzu the Violinist...

I really like the two brothers that play the violin on Jack's Big Music show and America's Got Talent. They are inspiring....






Yes I figured this out by myself with no one helping me, just like the "Zuzu Robot" pan lids as shoes.

Swimming achievements

I can get rings off the bottom of the pool (4 feet deep) and climb out of the pool all by myself now.
On Sunday I felt I could swim without help. I was feeling extra confident.

Bonding and Playing

Gibo sits up with help now. Yesterday he started sitting at the table with us for short periods of time. I think he likes my booster seat.



Gibo and I also like to sit together. I love to hold my brother so much I try to pick him up all by myself.



Yesterday afternoon we went out to a kids museum and played for a couple of hours. I played with gears, water, trains, and my favorite was jumping into a bowl of cushions. I had a lot of fun exploring and Gibo had fun watching me.

I must be funny

This weekend Gibo started laughing with me. I like to sit in front of him and start laughing and then he starts laughing with me. I love playing with my brother we have so much fun together.



I finished my first round of swimming lessons last week and yesterday started a new class with a new teacher. I love to jump in the pool to baba and I am getting good at diving underwater with baba's help. Yesterday baba was helping me dive 3-4 feet deep and get a ring off of his foot.



I started music last week too. I like my teacher. She likes to dance and sing just like me.

Gibriel is 3 months old

My brother was "so cute" today.
He was laying on mama and baba's bed. About 14" from the edge and he rolled off of their bed into his bed. He kind of twisted his arm and cried a little but he was okay. Mama has to be really careful now that he doesn't roll off of my bed or the couch.

Swimming and South 47 Farm

Last Saturday I went swimming with baba. There were no swimming lessons because of the holiday weekend. It was nice having the pool to ourselves. Mama and Gibo just watched.
















I also started some serious potty training over the weekend. Mama got me a potty so we don't have to run up stairs every time. Yesterday I only had one accident.

Yesterday mama took Gibo and I to a local farm for a toddler day. I saw goats, alpacas, ducks and a chicken.













Then I got to ride in a trailer pulled by a tractor, named Oliva. It was a bumpy ride around the corn field and I wasn't sure what to think about it.
(Sorry mama didn't get a picture of me in it. She had her hands full with Gibo.)










Then I got to pick 2 flowers to take home with me. I love smelling pretty flowers.



I picked a white one and a bright red and yellow one.

My week

Last Friday I went to a beach in Redmond. I wasn't sure about sand. It has been over a year since I have played on a beach. I warmed up to the idea and did some digging.



Gibriel just relaxed next to mama and enjoyed watching the waves. He also spent some time in his gymini.



On Saturday I helped baba make pancakes.










Then I spent some time talking to Gibo about important stuff.


Today I made my own music and then tried walking with the pot lids.

Swimming and playing

We got to try using a life jacket in swimming class. I really like playing with the life jacket on.


Mama then took Gibo and I too a cool place to play and explore near our house during the week.

Little Brother.

Mama and I took Gibo to his doctor's appointment today. He had to get his first shots. He cried and was really sad because it hurt a lot.

We also found out that he is 15lbs 14oz and 25.5". He is off the charts for his age. Mama and Baba have been very happy with how well he has been sleeping too.

Well I got to go play now....

Washington to California and back.....

The first week in August I went to a really cool local park. I went down a big slide by myself and had a lot of fun on a see-saw.





























Sunday morning (August 3rd) we all got on a plane to California.

I enjoyed drawing with markers at my cousins' house.


I spent a day at Grammy & Papa's house. My cousins came with me and we all went swimming.





























Everyone that is except Mama and Gibo.











Gibo got in a good nap.



On Friday we went to a park in Concord.





















Saturday night we were back home. Mama figures I have traveled by plane 10 times in the last 20 months and Gibo has traveled 2 times.
I am happy to be home, but I just miss my cousins.