First Word - Fawawa (flower)

I try to teach Elizabeth something different every day. This week we practiced smelling various things in the house. I put my nose up to something and then say, "mmmm....smells good," or "mmmm....pee yew." Then I put her nose up to it and she sniffs it and then she usually smiles while I repeat the words, smells good or pee yew.

We've also been practicing words from a picture book and flower is in all of them. Also, she hears the word flower frequently, because there is an orchid plant right next to her playpen and I always point at it and say, "FE-LA-WER."

Well today, I picked her up to practice smelling again and brought her to the orchid and out of her mouth came the word, "FA-WA-WA."

Elizabeth already knows, Umma, Appa, and Mama and can use them all in the correct place. However, she learned those words through repetition and we don't actually consider them her first word. Fa-wa-wa is something she said, at the right time, without being prompted, so this word will go down in history as her first. -S

Breakfast Park at Cherry Creek Mall

At Cherry Creek Mall, they have this foam park for small children. Breakfast items of all kinds can be found sticking out of the ground for kids to jump on and play around. They have strawberries, eggs, sausage links, bacon, bananas, waffles, and a bowl of cereal. Even the carpet is padded with high density foam and each step produces a small bounce.

Today, we met Maggie and her daughter at the breakfast park. We played there for over an hour and then walked the mall until the kids got tired and fell asleep in the strollers. Elizabeth really enjoyed seeing so many kids and practiced her walk on the nice padded carpet. -S

Watching Daddy Play Basketball

I started playing in the intramural basketball league at work with some of my co-workers. We started back in December but we're already halfway through, so it's not too long of a league. Anyway, Elizabeth and Sana came to the third game to watch me play. This was after we had gone to the Nuggets game, so naturally, Elizabeth wore her jersey. Sana said that at the beginning, Elizabeth seemed excited to be there. But I guess I really wasn't that good because she seemed more interested in a chair that was nearby than actually watching the game. Oh well. We lost that game, but it was a great time with the family and I was happy that they were there to kind of watch me play. -T

A family day out

Today, we went to the mall and then out to dinner. Elizabeth is now 10 months old and it is an entire activity to go out for dinner. She's so active, it's rare to get her to stay still for more than a moment. Here is Elizabeth sitting in the reading chair at Jack and Janie and then getting ready to eat sushi (not really) at Sonoda's. -S

I am now a rabbit!

What's up, doc?! I now have my biting teeth!

Today, Elizabeth cut her fourth tooth. It was a hard week of drooling and painful eating. She also had a small fever for two days this week due to the pain. Thankfully, Tylenol took take of the fever. We were told by the doctor that most of the pain and symptoms disappear as soon as the tooth makes it through the surface.

We sure hope that she will be back to her normal eating schedule. We bought some ice cream to cool down her gums, but she doesn't want to eat that either. Thankfully, she is still drinking her formula. -S

First Steps

A month after she started standing on her own, Elizabeth took her first steps. Here she is pushing her favorite new Christmas toy, her shopping cart.



Ever since she got that shopping cart, she's been pushing it all over the house. It must have aided her ability to walk and with some encouragement, she started walking today. -S

Colorado Nuggets Game

Elizabeth went to a Rockies games back in October and last night, she went to her first Nuggets' game. When we first got there, she was very focused on watching the players in the court. That lasted about 15 minutes. Then she ate some food, had some milk and then it was time to wave to all the neighbors. One by one, she started saying "baba" (bye bye) to all of them and waving her little hands up in the air.

At halftime, Tim bought Elizabeth and me Carmelo Anthony jerseys. So, now we have matching jerseys for future games.

The baby lasted through 3rd quarter and then fell asleep in her carrier while we walked around the corridor. Good game. -S

NEW TOOTH!

After all the teething pains, the top left tooth cut through the gums overnight! Hooray! -S

Happy New Year!

First night apart

For the first time since the baby was born, we spent the night away at Glenwood Springs. Elizabeth stayed with her grandparents at home and did very well, sleeping through the night, and eating well. We missed you very much, probably more than you missed us. Thank goodness, it was only for one night.

We hope to take you to Glenwood Springs this summer, when the weather is warmer. It's one of our favorite places to go swimming. -Mom and Dad