Thursday, February 24, 2011

Too Many Details...

Details - so many details... Although I complain none that we are getting to travel all over, even with a toddler - my brain stays up at night spinning through the details and trying to work them out. What paperwork do I need to ship our car, which car seat should I take where, will our passports get back from the Embassy of Myanmar in time, how can we have our computers in Kona but not take them to SE Asia when we will not be returning to Kona, what stuff should we leave where, how will I get to the airport when I drop off the car, what has been paid for and what has not, where will we be each night and how are we getting there, will the new noise that the mechanic can't figure out in the car we are shipping on Sunday please go away, when are we going to have time to do our taxes . . .

We will be living out of 2 rolling suitcases and a diaper bag for 45 days. I'm so ready for the warmth and adventure and I'm also ready to have my brain take a break from so many details. We have 17 more days here in Pullman, 9 more days working at the nursing home. I'm ready to only have Autumn and my part time job of planning life - not my full time job and the other 2. I'm maybe getting a bit tired and cranky (-:

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Haiti

This is a blog on Haiti that I follow - here is a powerful post on children who are thriving!
http://brittanyinhaiti.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-year-later.html

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Take Offs and Touch Downs


This is evidence of the craziness that is about to begin! We will be traveling partly for business and mostly for pleasure starting here soon. Oahu to Bangkok is on Frequent Flier miles. Starting Feb 28 Autumn and I drive to Tacoma and then fly back from Seattle to Pullman. In Mid-March we start our tour of Hawaii and Asia from 'Pullman to Maui via Seattle,' 'Maui to Kona,' 'Kona to Bangkok via Oahu, Tokyo and Beijing,' 'Bangkok to Krabi,' 'Krabi to Yangon via Bangkok,' 'Yangon to N. Myanmar and back to Yangon,' 'Yangon to Bangkok,' 'Bangkok to Oahu via Tokyo,' Oahu to Molokai for a day and then on to Maui,' 'Maui to Pullman via Seattle'. In Late April we drive to Colorado and then go visit family in Baltimore in Mid May.

Opps... I had said 23 but it is only 22 take offs and landings!

Friday, February 4, 2011

17 Months



Baby girl - you are looking more like a little girl everyday! This has been a fun month full of physical growth and huge gains in your vocabulary and other skills! Everyday we are amazed by what you understand and the things you can do.

A typical week - you spend 2-3 days a week with Aunty Kaitlin and Mara, Mommy has you Wednesdays and weekends and Daddy plays with you 1-2 days a week. Mommy and Daddy are working a lot right now.

The first half of the month we were living with the Watson's and now we are staying with a nice family on a farm outside of town for 4 weeks. You really enjoy all of them - including their puppy Buddy and Kitty! You are still a champ when it comes to transitions - you really enjoy yourself and exploring where ever you are.


This month your language exploded - you repeat everything and are able to tell us many things. I can't even begin to list your new words because there are too many. You really love us reading to you and you have more patience to let us read the pages before you need to turn them. Your over all patience and ability to wait has improved as well. When we ask you to - you can say "help please" "good night" "thank you" and many other 2 word phrases. Your other new interest is puzzles. About a month ago you did your first set in puzzle totally independently and so I bought you a 26 piece alphabet puzzle thinking it would be challenge for months. Today you put in about 10 of the letters by yourself and totally amazed me! You can have so much fun entertaining yourself. After you were done with dinner tonight, you went into the living room and played with your toys until we were done as well. After diner you brought all the letters from the puzzle and slid them through a tiny crack in the doors one at a time - and then sent them all back into the living room under the door! You do have an agenda!

You have a new love as well - although babies are still a hot item - your love for Elmo grows! So funny of all the characters - why Elmo? Uncle Phil got you a Elmo video and you enjoy the occasional treat of getting to watching it! In addition to watching Elmo, you love to Skype with your grandparents and watch the videos I made of your first year. The computer just became even more appealing - you run up to it thinking someone might be there to talk back to you!



That growth spurt we were hoping for happened! Your shirts are getting to short and you now weight 21 1/2 pounds! Favorite foods - berries, pasta, rice, organic mac and cheese, juice (whole milk/juice), avocado, yogurt, cheese, pizza, cheese straws, peanut butter, peanut butter crackers, kiwi, oranges, apple sauce, olives



Sleeping - you have become a power napper! One Sunday you even took a 3 hour nap! We love it! At night you do okay - but still occasionally wake up 1x needing cuddles before falling back asleep. Since we hop around so much right now I always go check on you if you are crying at night and let you know we are here. About once a week you really fight going to bed with screaming, but eventually fall asleep. Sometimes a pep talk after a few minutes of crying will settle you down to fall asleep peacefully. Lately when it is time for bed you stall by asking to 'eat, eat, eat.' I will take you down for yogurt or avocado before your bedtime story and song. I really don't think you are hungry and just stalling bedtime - but it is more calories!


Time out - we started implementing time outs this month. Although you are a very well behaved little girl, you do occasionally take thing from Mara or disobey and short time outs seem to work to let you know what behavior is not okay.

About a week ago your 5th grade friend was playing with you and came in saying you need to go potty? Then you came in too and said 'potty' - so I took you in and you peed on the potty! So far it has been a one time occurrence, but maybe a glimpse into the near future I hope. I'm also trying to teach you to pinch your nose when you poop to let us know that we need to change you, as right now you don't let us know and don't stink - which is not so good on your skin )-:

Baby Girl - we are so so so proud of you and love you so so so so much! You are so much fun, full of spunk and energy! One more month and you will be a one and a half year old! Totally crazy!

Hugs and Kisses -
Momma and Daddy

And a special thank you to my Iphone photographer! (-: