Dear Saba (a.k.a my big 4 month old)

What a month! Your first Christmas! It was all awesome! Because of my complete inability to blog during the holiday season - I shall do a recap of your first Christmas for your 4 month update - not a lot of words, just a whole lot of pictures (just how you like your books). You didn't really notice our Christmas tree (which I'm sure I will be remembering fondly next year) but I would often set you under the tree throughout the month to remind me of the BEST gift I could ever receive!You were able to participate in one of our family traditions this year! Every year we have eggs Benedict for breakfast - made by Grandma Didi. This year, you were a beautiful centerpiece decorating our breakfast table - you did your job like a champ!Your presents were bountiful - and you had a few you especially loved. Grandma Didi and Papa Bruce gave you a beautiful pair of DIAMOND earrings (mama doesn't even have diamond earrings), and your Daddy and I got you a passport (so you're now ready to travel the world)! Of course, I think you enjoyed your rocking horse more than any passport or diamonds.Another adventure that you have now experienced is Disneyland!Your favorite ride was the teacups (the only ride you were awake for - you strategically put your arms up during the ride to make yourself feel like you were spinning faster - I don't think I've ever seen you look so thrilled and/or stunned!Other than being awake for the teacups you were nothing but fantastically consistent throughout Disneyland! You slept through It's a small world...You slept through the Disney castle lit up at night...And you slept through an awesome viewing of Santa's reindeer and sleigh!
Basically what you're likely to remember about your first trip to Disneyland is being in a sling the entire time until I lay you on the hotel bed with you cousin Analise where you spent your time wondering why in the world everyone was so exhausted.
Other than Christmas and Disneyland there was one other important event in your month - YOU FOUND YOUR FEET THIS MONTH!Your feet keep you incredibly entertained in a pinch - and I often THRILL you by randomly pulling off you shoes to remind you how AWESOME they are!
Your Daddy and I have had an amazing Christmas with you - and we are both so happy and blessed to have you for our baby.
Love, Mama

Merry Christmas!!!!

I promise more posts and pictures soon!!!!

Yay!!!

Remember this?
Well, today Dereje got his Driving License! I can't wait until one evening I can't manage to go out in the cold (as cold as it gets in Phoenix) and I get to send him out for take-out!

A good girlfriend visited, and good times ensued

During my blogging hiatus (otherwise known as my NaBloPoMo exhaustion) a good friend of mine visited and helped us fill in some of the gaps to Saba's childhood memories. First off, she bought her these beautiful boots (which are clearly a must to any childhood):
Then she took Saba out to Ethiopian food at an ACTUAL RESTAURANT
She took us too!Finally, she showed Saba how to run an Iron Girl Competition with style! Thank you for your wonderful visit Aunt Eowen! We had so much fun!

About those milestones

So, Saba and I have started going to Mommy and me yoga. It's great because it's filled with all of the women that I did prenatal yoga with...so it's not like we have to make NEW friends (god forbid). The consensus yesterday was basically, "where the heck have you guys been" - I mumbled something about Thanksgiving, a bad cold, and random trips to Lubbock but I was soon drowned out by the cheering of a bunch of mothers as one of the babies rolled over. Hmm, I thought to myself, we've never tried that. In fact, time out of my arms is so scarce around here that Saba's face was basically covered in PANIC when I put her on the ground and EXPECTED HER TO WATCH ME DO YOGA (In my defense there was a lot of song singing and finger waving, which entertained Saba for a while until she remembered that SHE WASN'T IN MY ARMS).
All in all Saba and I had a great yoga class and we had a wonderful time catching up with friends! We also decided to do a little test run this morning:
First I put Saba on her stomach:
Then I got a close-up of her face (just cause I can't resist her munchkin-like ways):Then, suddenly, Saba flipped over onto her back:
And stared at me in utter delight as I declared her brilliant (this is Saba's "utter delight" look, not to be mistaken with her "what the heck am I doing on my back when I was just on my stomach" look):
So, basically, that's how we do milestones around here...no fuss, no muss, just total disregard until one day Saba does it on her own. I totally expect to completely ignore the whole reading thing so that when she's three she'll crawl up on my lap and read me a story.

Last week we were busy having Coffee with Rhianna...

Here's how it all went down:
Me: wait, wait, hold the door...there's a really cute baby here.

My Friend: Yes, and we're DYING for Starbucks (we've only had two so far today and it's already noon)

Rhianna: Oh, my goodness what a cute baby, I love her little boots (or something to that effect)

Me: (totally singing Umbrella in my head) Thanks! We were going for the cute baby look this morning...mission accomplished!

My Friend: Wow, what a great tattoo on your hand, I love the yellow nail polish (she actually didn't say these things, but she was staring at Rhianna's hand and nails and said them to me later).

Rhianna: hmm, could you guys move a little bit to the side so that I can get my coffee.

Saba: ahhhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh (the one time she's fussy all day! Really, I like to think she was trying to sing).

Me: (thinking: should I ask for a photo with the baby? No, I should just play it cool. Dereje is going to kill me).

Rhianna walks out with her posse (all of them gushing over Saba as they exit)

My Friend: I just love them. They were all so nice.

Me: I know, I almost asked for a picture, but I decided to play it cool.

My Friend: Why the photo? Were they Ethiopians?

Me: You idiot, that was Rhianna

My Friend: (Running out the door) Wait, come back and take a picture with our BABY!!!!

Happy Anniversary! One year and counting!

On Monday Dereje and I celebrated our first year of marriage together! We celebrated by cracking open a bottle of champagne that was given to us by my parents at our wedding (I love the fact that we've had a bottle of Korbel in the back of our fridge for a year)! We also celebrated by eating this beautiful cake that my mom bought for us - it was not only delicious but also very beautiful - almost too pretty to eat - that's why we took a picture and THEN demolished it.Best of all, we got to celebrate with our beautiful daughter!
Happy Anniversary Dereje! I love you!