Dear Saba (a.k.a. my big 5 month old)

OY VEY, you are five months old today - and all I can think is, "what, you've only been around for five months?" And at the same time, all I can think is, "you're five months already?" To each question I have the same answer, "yep, you're five months." I guess if I repeat it enough I'll get used to it!
One part of your personality that is really starting to come through is your individuality (a.k.a. stubbornness). For example, even though I keep trying to tell you to stretch your earlobes so they're ready for earrings, you seem to constantly get the wrong memo and insist on stretching your eyes...they're getting huge!
Something else that is new is that you chew on EVERYTHING. If you don't have some body's finger handy (pun intended) you make do with your shirt, a toy, your lips...basically anything you can find to gnaw on.I'd like to say that you're teething, but you've been doing this for a couple of months now and there are no teeth in sight - so, who knows what you're doing!
Something else you seem to have an affinity for is the television. Especially, Grandma Didi and Papa Bruce's television. I admit it is huge and seems to beckon you - and it sure is nice to have something entertain you while I get dressed and/or shower and/or vacuum (you know, the luxurious things I used to do before you were born).
You are also getting old enough now that you can be entertained by your Daddy (even though he doesn't have that special bit of anatomy that you just love from your mama). The two of you read books:And just get to hang out!You love spending time with your Daddy...and Mama loves it because you literally SQUEAL with delight when you see me again!
Thank you for being my beautiful baby these past five months - I LOVE being your mama.
Love, Mama

Two down...One to go

Remember when my dad was pretending to be Dereje's patient for about a week? Well, it paid off cause...DEREJE PASSED HIS TEST! Saba is thrilled that she will soon get her Daddy back from under all of those books!
And Dereje is thrilled that all of the studying was well worth it! (This is a picture from our time over New Years up in Pinetop...but I think it perfectly depicts Dereje's mood)!

My latch-key kid

I am very very lucky in that I get to work from home. Mostly, Saba and I are at home doing legal research together, writing e-mails, making phone calls; and yet, we still manage to make time for our afternoon nap. We have a pretty good life.
Sometimes, though, my work requires me to go down to the office for some meetings, or run to the courthouse to file something or another. Usually, this only happens every other week, but this month has been a bit more intense.
Most days, I don't mind going down to the office at all (it kind of gives me a reason to get dressed in the mornings and to wear makeup), and I love that when I leave my Mom always makes herself available to hang out with Saba. It's pretty awesome to know that Saba is in the best possible care even when I can't be there.
The only problem with my mom babysitting is that she tends to "up the anti" when it comes to entertaining Saba. Me, all i have to do is show her a boob and she's a happy kid. My Mom, finds ways to let her drive.
This is what greeted me when I came home from work the other day.
A little baby and a WHOLE lot of attitude.
I couldn't figure out how my mom got her to sit up in the car until I saw that she had basically wedged Saba's Bumbo in the car to get Saba up to the wheel....do you see what I'm saying?....Grandma Didi is a genius!
Another great resource I have in the afternoon is my brother Alex. Towards the end of the day, when I really need to get some stuff done, Alex and Saba get to cuddle together while watching the Sci Fi Channel. Saba is a fan of Battlestar Galactica - but she could do without the Twilight Zone marathons.

Exhibit A through C

Notice anything about Saba?No?
Well, take a closer look.Still don't know what you're looking at? You're looking at Saba's TINY earlobes.
I didn't know that they were the most minuscule things on the PLANET, until I went to go get her ears pierced on Friday.
So, there we were - My Mom sitting with Saba on her lap as Saba screamed her head off when the Claire's associate (actually she was the manager - only the best for my baby) tried to place a dot (WITH INK) on her earlobe. You would of thought she was using a branding iron with the way Saba was screaming. THEN amongst the screaming hub-bub, and the constant reassurance from the Claire's lady that "she would get the right placement no matter how long it takes," a woman came up to the window (awesome that the piercing booth is right at the window) waving her arms, mouthing "DON'T DO IT" - I chose to ignore her, my mom just smiled at her, Saba screamed at her (potentially screaming "help me" in Saba-speak, but that's neither here nor there).
Right around this time the Claire's lady came up for air from her pursuit to "dot my baby" - she proceeded to announce to all of us (lady in the window included) that "HER EARLOBES ARE JUST TOO TINY".
Fine. That just means that for the next couple of months I will be pulling Saba's earlobes daily so as to stretch them into a more acceptable state.And by "acceptable state" I mean adorned with adorable white gold studs.
Now, I have to go - I seem to have misplaced my mother-of-the-year award....it's got to be here somewhere....I bet that lady in the window took it.

A beautiful wedding in Botswana

A good girlfriend of mine was married recently in Botswana - and I just had to share the photos with you because they are gorgeous!Gontle (pronounced hon-t-lay) Modibedi was my best Motswana friend in Botswana. We didn't get to see each other very often because she was living in Gabs, but we always marveled at how we just needed five minutes together to catch up. Her fiance, now Husband, Norman, used to just sit back and watch us finish each other's sentences, and often not finish sentences at all. Norman would often turn to Dereje and remark at how there was no way they were going to get in a word...which was completely true.
And now Norman and Gontle are married - right in Mochudi! These pictures are all taken up by the museum in Mochudi. How I wish we could have been there for the wedding!

I miss Gontle and Norman very much. Dereje and I always thought a lot of them and really enjoyed spending time with them. Congratulations Gontle and Norman!

Snowmen, Sledding, Snowdogs, and Skiing

It was a monumental trip we took to Pinetop New Years Day. Dereje and Saba's FIRST SNOW. In a word, it was awesome!
Ana, Eric, and Emery built a snowman (with the help of Mr Potato Head and Eric's gloves and hat).Azul remembered that he was a Husky and found that he LOVED pulling Ana and Emery in a sled.But when he tried to pull Dereje he found out that he wasn't as "into" it as he thought.Then we tried to get him to pull his friend "Harley" - it was then that Azul remembered that there was a fireplace inside with his name on it with lots of warm humans to cuddle with...thus, the end of his Iditarod dreams.There was a lot of learning on this vacation - Dereje "learned" (or didn't quite learn and became a bit frustrated) how to play a Wii.
Ana learned how to throw a snowball like a champ!
And Saba learned that she does, in fact, fit into a popcorn bowl (sans popcorn).All in all, it was a very successful trip. There was lots of time for playing board games and reading by the fire...along with a little bit of cross country skiing and other snow games!
Best of all we spent the weekend with family and friends...a great way to ring in the New Year!

OY! It's already January 7th

Happy New Year???? Can I still say that???? Well, I said it, so there you go. We actually spent New Years Eve doing incredibly important things... We finished a murder mystery puzzle that CONSUMED Megan and me ever since Christmas.
Then we got back to attending to our neglected children and husbands. (note, Emery sleeping by himself in the corner while Megan and I stayed up well into the night to finish the puzzle)!One of the best parts about the new year (besides being with my wonderful family) was that I got to try Dom Perignon for the first time!
It was.....bubbly, and, honestly, completely wasted on me because I couldn't even tell the difference from the cheap stuff!

Oh yeah, I'm 30 now

Megan and I turned 30 this year. That's right, 30. One advantage about being a twin is that you always get to get excited with someone as the day approaches - and then you get to wish each other Happy Birthday all day long and annoy everyone around you (well, that's what we do)! This year was pretty exciting because my Mom surprised us by offering to watch both of Megan's kids AND Saba as the four of us (Eric, Dereje, Megan, and me) went on a mystery double date (a Birthday gift from my parents).Our excitement mounted as we realized we were driving towards the Suns Stadium! Basketball AND Beer...Happy Birthday to US!
Our seats were awesome - close enough that Dereje ran down to the very front to get a picture.( For the record, he's waving at Megan and me - we were working on beer number two, so we were happy to wave back)!
Happy 30th!!!!!