Best smile ever

I discovered that if I stop looking at the back of my camera and talk to Alessandro this is the kind of reaction I can get for photos...of course the Daddy cuddles helped too.

We went to the Dubai dog show and we met this dog- we just could not believe how much she looked like Akos.

Timing is everything...

Today was a great day but one that I learned 10 minutes can really make a huge difference with a baby. I am not really just learning this but today was a comedy of timing mishaps. Since returning from Christmas travels Alessandro has really entered the happy baby stage. He is smiling, showing off his dimples, bouncing in his stroller, belly laughing, chatting to himself, playing with toys and just overall continuing to be an angel baby. He almost never cries, goes to sleep when I put him down, takes 3-4 naps a day and eats on a predictable schedule- what more could a mom ask for? Like everything with motherhood though I know it will all change soon when we enter the inevitable world of solid foods...I can't believe my baby will be eating from a spoon soon! Anyway today on the way to grocery store (1st trip) we bumped into a woman from Turkey that I met when I first got back here with Alessandro. I haven't seen her in a while because she had a baby so we caught up and I continued on. I had the trip timed perfectly between his nap and his next feed. At the store I used a list in an attempt to be time efficient and visited the butcher first so that my meat would be ready when I finished shopping. Well after doing my shopping I went back to the butcher who remembered when he saw me that he was suppossed to be doing something for me. Well then he had to go get a huge slab of beef and cut it all up before giving me the tiny amount that I wanted, by this time my little angel was becoming impatient and jumping, squirming and whining inside his baby bjorn so the walk home was not fun. Luckily only a few tears were shed. After I got home and got him fed I realized that they had charged me for the Australian avocados and not the local ones (huge difference) so that led to grocery trip #2. Later after his late afternoon nap we ventured out for grocery trip #3 (luckily these are all a 5-20 min walk) because our grocery store here didn't have egg noodles or dill, two things I need for tomorrows dinner. You can never go to just one store here...so we ventured across the bridge to the brand spanking new Marina Mall and found egg noodles and fancy olives for Chris but still no dried dill...in the store Mr. Alessandro got a lot of attention and a woman who was 6mths pregnant started talking to us...forever...about strollers and all that baby stuff. She was so sweet but I knew I had to get going before he got too tired and what do you know about 10 min before we got home he fell asleep in the bjorn facing out which is not easy, with all the stuff to look at it is true defeat when he succumbs to sleep in that thing. I just didn't realize until today what a predictable little schedule he has fallen into- at least for now!

Alessandro and Lauren

My weekly coffee date is becoming more and more fun now that the babes are starting to interact a bit, or at least steal each other's toys. Today Alessandro was resting up against Lauren but yet seemed oblivious to her. If only we knew what they were thinking...Lauren enjoyed playing with his favorite toy while he played with his new accessory, a homemade blanket square from my good friend Janell (Peace Corps traveling companion). I just can't believe how fast they are changing. Alessandro is the youngest at 5mths, Lauren and Leo are 7mths and Olivia is 8mths and almost walking much to her mother's dismay.

Wardrobe and diaper changes have become more difficult these days with Mr. Squirmy- it is a bit like trying to dress a cat so I ahve to provide entertainment. This little cow was a Christmas present for Alessandro from the Watts family and he has become part of our changing routine...I thought of Hannah today when I saw how cute the cow looked resting on his shoulder because when she gave me the present she had the cow peeking out of the gift bag just so- I figured she would appreciate this photo.

I think he knows how cute he is...

I was getting his outfit for the day ready when I noticed that he was actually posing for me.

First day at the beach

Back in Dubai

Well, I have been lazy. After our big trip home for Christmas I haven't felt like blogging. Almost everyone I know is on facebook now so I slacked on our blog. Alessandro's first Christmas was great BUT a bit different than my former footloose and fancy free days of traveling. Next year we will have to rethink the initial pace of everything. We landed in Detroit on Christmas night and it took a while for Alessandro and I to get over jetlag and feel normal again. Massachusetts was a lot of fun as well but as always too many people to see and too little time.

Up North

Finally finished...

This is Tony and Lauren's wedding present that I started in the hospital. Finally finished grouting it the day before we returned to Dubai. Yeah!! Now it just needs to be mailed but I will leave that for my mom to put off doing.