Aliza, Age 2

Aliza turned 2 a couple of weeks ago, and my goodness does it show! She loves to mimic everything everyone does, but I am not quite sure where she learned to throw things when she doesn't get her way.

She loves going to nursery and seeing her little friends. She loves to make things work, and will spend lots of time buckling things up (and then screaming when she wants them un-buckled). She also loves clothes, and wearing as many clothes as possible. Her current record is 4 swimsuits at once.

She is still working on her words, but she has learned the important ones for being a younger sister, like "stop", "don't", "no". She has also learned words like "bubble", "wow", "thank you" and "bless you". Her favorite words are "shoes" and "let's go!" She has a very sweet personality, but no hesitation in telling us when she doesn't agree with what we are doing.

She has also started using the potty, which is very exciting! Here she is enjoying her treat after a successful attempt!

We love you Aliza!

Happiness Is Trying to Catch You!

Aliza loves to go outside. Anytime she thinks that someone is going to go outside, she is ready to go. She usually goes toddling out the door, and then starts to run in the opposite direction of you. So, she takes off, and we follow trying to catch her.

Well, the other night we went out for Chinese food because we had a coupon (probably the last time we will take Aliza out to eat for a while!!). I started to laugh when I opened her fortune cookie for her and it read: "Look around, happiness is trying to catch you." And yes, while I was reading it, Jason was chasing after her...

Aliza Kneewalker

We have a young jedi in training, we call her Aliza Kneewalker. She can't quite handle a light saber yet, but she walks on her knees with great speed. She even has a hyper-drive speed (which includes a giggle).

She also has amazing jedi skills when taking whip cream shots from a can.

I guess those jedi mind tricks really do work ("You will let me have whip cream straight from the can...").

Today was the first day where she seemed to prefer walking on her feet to walking on her knees, but her knees definitely have callouses from her "kneewalking".

Christmas Came a Little Early

Christmas has started a little early this year. Gigi ordered a present for Aliza, and since she was in desperate need of something to do,

we (i.e., Jason) busted it out of the box and put it together.

Aliza loves it,

and so does Amelia.

But this picture reminded me, of this one...I guess Amelia has always had the same use for exersaucers!

I personally cannot wait for Christmas this year!!! I have three big papers due over the next two weeks, and I have started a countdown. I don't know how much my family will see me over the next two weeks, but after that, I have 5 weeks without school!

Our Little Sweet Pea

It is hard to believe that Aliza is more than 5 months old. She continues to be a delightful little baby. She is so pleasant during the day that it almost makes up for the 3 a.m. feedings!

So, what has she been up to this last month? Riding in laundry baskets, of course!

Helping me study in the evenings. No, really, she does. Jason takes Amelia out to play at the playground, and Aliza hangs out with me. Okay, so I am not sure how much studying I get done during that time, but she sure is good company.

And, of course, she loves her big sister. She is thoroughly entertained by Amelia, and smiles at her all the time.

Aliza also loves bath time, and I think that she looks super cute in her bunny rabbit bathrobe.

Today, we also took a big step and introduced rice cereal. Here are the before and after photos:

We have delayed giving her rice cereal because she has such a sensitive stomach. (Note to self, Indian food is a bad idea, unless you like to change a blow out diaper at 1 a.m.) Aliza was loving the rice cereal though! I only gave her a little bit just to test it out, but she let out a whine when the food was all gone just to let me know that she would have liked a little bit more. She is such a happy little girl, and so darn cute!!!

For the most part, everything is going well down here in Austin. Amelia seems to like it here, and Jason is really liking his new job. I enjoy school, and I keep reminding myself that I came here for the challenge. However, it is definitely not easy!!!

Aliza--4 Months

Aliza has passed her four month mark, shots and all!! She weighed in at 13 lbs, 10 oz (55th percentile), measured in at 23 1/4" long (50th percentile), and her head measured in at 16 3/4" long (75th percentile).

So what is Aliza like these days? Well, she loves to get her clothes changed.

She loves to talk to Mom and Dad and to stick out her tongue. We love her great blue eyes, and we think that they may be turning green.

She loves to suck on her fingers, and yes, watch TV. When we turn her the other way so that she can't see the screen, she will wiggle her way around so that she can see it.

She loves to suck on her blanket, and just recently, her binky.

She loves to hang out and try to stay cool.

And of course, she loves her big Sister!
All and all, she is such a great baby. She is trying to roll over, and she is very close to making it! She cries when she is tired, but most of the time, she is pretty happy. She is still working on sleeping through the night, and we all pray that she will figure that one out soon! We love you Aliza!

In the day of 31 year old

I'm doing this blog for my mother because she wanted me to tell this story. This is Jason by the way. This morning I went to go do laundry at the community building. When I left the apartment, I put Aliza in the the basket with the clothes. It is pretty cute if you ask me. Amelia walks and I can't leave Aliza at the house, and I can't hold her so there you go, girl in the basket. When I pass people in the area all of them check to see if they are seeing a girl in a basket. It is funny, but I don't have any other choice, moving on.

I retain my machine and go through the routine. Press the start button, and feel like I should hang around for a minute. It is a good thing I did, well you can make up your own mind. Right off the bat clothes get jambed in the door and the drum. I can't open the door because it is locked. The washers are front loaders so the water was flying every where. Aliza in hand, Amelia asking me why the machine is acting funny, not sure what to do. I grab a chair slid it over and placed my foot on the door. Amelia, well what do I say was up to what little girls do. All over the place, climbing things, dragging chairs, playing in the water all over the floor, and even helping me hold the door shut with her little foot. I didn't mind, I realized I was going to be there for a few minutes. I just didn't know how Aliza would take it just sitting there. Thankfully she spent her time watching Amelia. Well for the last ten minutes Amelia was curled up on my legs stretched out. I was holding Aliza on top of Amelia, water was flying everywhere. Sorry I don't have picture if I only had five arms. The best part was the other people that came in. Very few of the people speak English. So a little awkward, in my desperate attempt to explain the situation. It was futile to explain, mostly just nodded and went about their business. That is about it I just thought it was funny. Stay posted for a possible reenactment photo.