Happy last "month" birthday!

A euses suesse Baby;

Alles Gueti zum 11 monatige Geburi chline Engel!!! De letscht bevor du en richtige doerfsch fiire! Unglaublich! Mir sind voll beschaeftigt mit dir s Lebe z'gnuesse und d Ziit vergaht jede Tag schneller! Du lernsch jedi Minute neui Sache, wachsich vor eusne Auge und es isch schwierig zum mit all de neue Sache i dim Lebe mithebe und alles moege ufzschriebe dass mirs nie meh vergessed.

Die paar Highlights de Monet sind gsi: mir hend dir Truube geh, wo du mega fein gfunde hesch; aber sind nued so sicher gsi ob du die au vertreit hesch. Da Du in letschter Ziit zimmli konstant am Zahne bisch, isch es chli schwierig zum sege ob'd jetzt es neus Esse nued vertreisch oder ob'd eifach en Usschlag hesch vom Zahne. Mir hend dir jedefalls Melone (die grueni) geh und das isch den ueberhaupt kei gueti Idee gsi!!! Du hesch de schlimsti Usschlag uebercho i de Gschicht vo eusere chline Familie - Du hesch sogar es paar chline Narbe devotreit und mir hoffed die goend mit de Ziit no weg. Isch also schrecklich gsi!

Du hesch erlickt wie mer Esse umeschmeisst - und Du findsch das selbstverstaendlich ganz toll; vorallem wenn de Uki a z springe chunnt und au en Bisse wet. Du hesch die richtig vernarrt i dini violetti und wiisi Decki mit de Schmetterling druffe wo dir d Nona gmacht het vor villne Monet. Du erkennsch sie und liebsch es demit s kuschle. Du kuchlisch s Gsicht drinine und findsch es s Besti ueberhaupt! Richtig Wohl bisch demit!

Mir sind uf L.A. abegfahre zum de Grandpa, d Zorka und dini Urgrossmuetter Nana z bsueche ueber Thanksgiving. Mir sind uebers Wucheend bliibe und hend zeme gfiired. Mir hend eigentlich no vor gha zum dini Urgrossmuetter Gigi go bsueche und sie zum Brunch usfuehre; aber es het en Notfall geh und sie haett in Spital muesse und det au muesse es paar Tag bliibe. Da mir dich nued hend welle in es Spital mitneh und riskiere dass Du no chrank wirsch oder oepis, isch de Papi den allei no det abegfahre zum ihre Hallo sege, ihre es paar Foeteli vo Dir geh und ihre alles Gueti wuensche. Es gaht ihre vill besser mittlerwiile und sie isch au wieder dieheime so dass mir fescht vor hend sie naechst Jahr so schnell wie moeglich go bsueche z gah.
Am 29. November hesch den endlich no din 3. Zah une lings uebercho - obe immer no keine!

D Ziit fluegt, d Erinnerige hoered nueme uf!

Alles Gueti zum Geburtstag chline Sunneschii!

Mir hend Dich gern bis zu de Sterne und zrugg!

s Mami und de Papi

To our sweet baby;

Happy 11-months birthday little angel!!! The last one before you get a real birthday! Unbelievable! We have been busy enjoying life with you and it is going by faster every day! You are learning things by the minute, growing in front of our very eyes and it's hard to keep up with all the new things in your life and write them all down so we'll never forget.

The main happenings this month were: we fed you grapes, which you loved; not sure if you tolerated them though. Since you are pretty much constantly teething lately, it's hard to tell sometimes if you are sensitive to a certain new food or if you just got a rash from teething. We did try to feed you some cantaloupe which turned out to be the worst idea ever!!! You broke out in the worst diaper rash in history of our little family - you got a few little scares from it which we hope will go away in time. It was just awful!

You figured out how to throw your food - and of course it's hysterical to you; especially when Uki is nearby and comes running for a treat. You really fell in love with that purple and white butterfly blankie that Nona made for you many months ago. You recognize it and love to cuddle up with it now. You grab it and burry your little face in it, just thinking it's the best thing every!

We went down to L.A. to see Grandpa, Zorka and your Great-Grandmother Nana for Thanksgiving. We stayed there for the weekend and celebrated with each other. We had planned on visiting your Great-Grandmother Gigi as well and take her out to brunch, but there was an emergency and she had to go to the hospital and stay there for a few days. Since we didn't want to bring you into a hospital and risk you getting sick or something, Daddy just drove down there by himself to pay her a visit, bring her a few pictures of you and wish her well. She's much better now and is back home so we are planning on going back to see her sometime in the new year.

On November 29th you finally got your 3rd tooth at the bottom left - still none on top!

Time's flying, the memories don't stop!

Happy Birthday little sunshine!

We love you to the stars and back!

Mommy and Daddy

Princess Mina is 10 months old!!!

Dear Princess Soraya,

Happy 10 month birthday!!

Wow, what a big girl you are! I just cannot believe that we are this close to your actual first birthday! We just took you home from the hospital last week....or so it seems. But now you are crawling faster than we can look, you're standing around all day long, holding on to things, shuffling your little feet along tables and the likes.

This month just flew by and I'm trying to remember all the things we did. We didn't go on any trips for once and just stayed home, enjoying the weather changing and with it the leaves . It was your first Halloween! And you even wore your first costume! Man, you were cute! We went for dinner over at uncle Dylan and aunt Daisy's house and you scooted around their hardwood floors with your cape and had a blast. You went to bed over there and at around 11pm we woke you up, strapped you in your car seat and drove home. You were really good about being woken up out of a deep slumber - something that has never happened before - and at home you just went right back down without a fuss!

Mainly you just got a lot better at all the things you already knew how to do: sitting, crawling, standing, laughing, making silly noises and so on. You say "Mamama" a lot but I think you somehow associate it with eating. You started to do animal sounds as well; or shall I say animal gestures? You do the bunny mostly, which consists of you wrinkling your little nose, squinting your eyes and making sniffle noises by breathing in and out of your nose real fast. You sometimes do the fishy, just opening and closing your mouth with no sound, and you try to bark - every time Uki barks or you see him you make this funny noise that like your saying "He!" but making it sound like a bark. It's really adorable!

We took pictures of you and applied for your very first passport - which we received in the mail shortly thereafter. We got another little visit from Grandpa and Zorka and the three girls went shopping and you got a bunch of cozy winter outfits. We're ready for the cold now!

We're enjoying you so much!

Love you like crazy!!!

Mommy and Daddy












Happy Halloween!



Soraya as "Nibbler"!




Passport Picture!



Liebi Prinzessin Soraya,

Alles Gueti zum 10-monatige Geburi!!

Wow, was fuer es grosses Meitli Du scho bisch! Ich chans kum glaube, dass mir scho so noech a dim erste richtige Geburtstag sind! Mir hend dich erst grad letscht Wuche vom Spital heibracht....oder zumindest fuehlts sich so ah. Aber jetzt chruechsch schneller als mir moeged luege, Du stahsch de ganz Tag ume, hebsch di a Sache, ruetschisch mit dini chline Fuessli a Tisch und sustigem nah.

De Monet isch wie de Wind vergange und ich versueche mich dra z erinnere was mir so alles gmacht hend. Mir sind emal uf kei Reise gange und sind eifach di Heime bliibe und hends gnosse wie s Wetter und demit d Blaettli a de Baeum gwechslet hend. Es isch din erste "Halloween" gsi! Und hesch sogar es Kostum gha! Laeck hesch Du suess usgseh! Mir sind zum Onkel Dylan und de Tante Daisy go z Nacht esse und bisch uf em Parkettbode umeduesed mit dim Umhang und hesch es uh Chaeferfest gha. Du bisch den det is Bettli und um die 23.00 hemmer dich den gweckt, hend di in Autositz ipackt und sind hei gfahre. Du bisch richtig brav gsi obwohl mir dich hend muesse us de tuefschte Traeumli hohle - oepis wo no nie vorcho isch - und di Hei acho bisch ohni Muule grad wieder is Bett go wiiter pfuse!

Du bisch hauptsaechlisch eifach besser worde i allem wo'd scho hesch choene: sitze, chrueche, stah, lache, lustigi Gruesch mache und so wiiter. Du seisch vill "Mamama" aber ich han s Gfuehl du verbindisch es irgendwie mit Esse. Du hesch agfange Tierli nahmache. Du machsch vorallem s Haesli, indem Du dis Naesli ruempfisch, d Auegli zemekneifsch und denn schnueffle Grueschli machsch indem ganz schnell dur d Nase i- und usschnufsch. Maengmal machsch s Fischli, eifach s Muul uf und zue tue ohni Gruesch, und Du versuechsch z belle - jedesmal wenn de Uki belled oder Du ihn gsesch machsch so es lustigs Gruesch wie wenn sege wuersch "Aeh!" aber es toent wie belle. Isch mega herzig!

Mir hend vo dir Foeteli gmacht und hend di fuer en Pass agmeldet - wo denn au churz drufabe mit de Post cho isch. De Grandpa und d Zorka sind wieder emal uf en churze Bsuech cho und mir druee girls sind go shoppe gange und Du hesch ganz villi kuscheligi winter sache uebercho. Jetzt simmer parat fuer s chalte Wetter!

Mir hend mega Freud a Dir!

Mir hend Dich wie verruckt gern!!!

s Mami und de Papi

9 Months!!

Dear Soraya,

Happy 9 month birthday, Baby!!!

This month we went on our very first road trip! All the way out to Colorado to visit Nona! We left right around Labor Day and drove all day; stopping to eat and play with Uki for a bit. We had a nice stop over at the Tehachapi dog park where we had lunch. You did very well in the car! It was an extremely long drive! Then we stayed the night at the Best Western in Kingman, Arizona and drove again all day the next day until we arrived at Nona's by dinner time. We had a blast at her house!! You tried and tired really hard to perfect crawling but it was still only an incredibly fast scoot. You played with all her musical instruments and the swing she had installed for you out in the forest! We went on hikes every day and enjoyed nature with you. After a good week of play time it was time to say good bye again and head back home. This time you were a little bit less happy about spending so much time in your car seat! I think you knew what awaited you. But your most favorite game to play during the long days of driving was clicking your tongue! You discovered how to make that new noise and did it all the time - and that was the only time we ever heard you do it. During our tip - on Sept. 10th - the corner of your second tooth poked through!!

By the end of the month you learned how to pull yourself up, standing, holding on to tables, chairs and whatever else you can find. On the 23rd you let go for the first time; completely unaware of it; and you stood there; no hands; for a couple of seconds! WOW! Getting closer to walking - we just got done learning how to roll over!

We had our 9month check up with Dr. Shah and you are of course healthy as can be. You measured 29.3 inches and weighed 19lbs 6oz!!! He's very happy with your development and the only problem we got going on is your very dry skin! You have little dry patches all over that sometimes turn red - especially at high altitude in Colorado! But he says some good lotion should take care of that. You got another shot and this time didn't cry at all!!! Acted like no one even poked you! We were all very surprised! He gave the OK for you to start eating yogurt, cottage cheese and other soft cheeses. You already love chicken and tofu and all sorts of vegetables and fruits - even bananas are awesome now! ;-)

On Sept. 26th - you turned exactly 38 weeks old - and it was your "Inside Outside Day". You have been an outside baby exactly as long as you have been an inside baby now! Wow; the world is becoming more familiar.

Of course there are a thousand more things you did this month than just the ones I'm writing about; but I'd rather spend the time with you than sitting here and typing for hours on end. I'm sure we'll remember all of our good times either way ;-)

We love you to the moon and back!!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Liebi Soraya,

Alles Gueti zum 9 monatige Geburi, Muesli!!!

De Monet simmer s erst Mal i d Ferie mit em Auto! Ganz wiit weg bis uf Colorado zum d Nona go bsueche! Mir sind grad um de "Labor Day" ume abgfahre und sind de ganz Tag unterwegs gsi; und hend nume aghalte zum esse und chli mit em Uki spiele. Mir hend en schoene Zmittaghalt gmacht in Tehachapi wos en Hunde Park gha het. Du bisch ganz e bravi gsi im Auto! Es isch e schrecklich langi Fahrt gsi! Den hemmer in Kingman, Arizona im Best Western Hotel uebernachtet und sind den am naechste Tag wieder de ganzi langi Tag unterwegs gsi, bis mir am Abig zum Znacht bi de Nona dihei acho sind. Mir hends mega laessig gha bi ihre dihei!! Du hesch dir so fescht Mueh geh zum dis Chrueche z perfektioniere aber es isch immer no nume es ganz tiefigs Robbe gsi. Du hesch mit allne Ihrne Instrument gspielt und gritseilet im Wald usse uf de Schaukli wo sie dir installiert het! Mir sind jede Tag go wandere und verusse und hend mit dir d Natur gnosse. Nach enere guete Wuche isch es den au scho wieder Ziit gsi zum Tschuess sege und eus uf de Heiweg mache. Das Mal hesch nueme ganz so Freud gha, dass hesch muesse so vill Ziit im Autositz verbringe! Ich glaub du hesch gwuesst was uf dich zu chunnt. Aber dis Lieblingsspiel uf de lange Fahrte isch gsi mit de Zunge schnalze! Du hesch das neue Gruesch erlickt und hesch es die ganz Ziit gmacht - und sit det hemmers nie meh ghoert. Waehrend eusne Ferie - am 10. September - isch de Egge vo dim zweite Zah fuehre cho!!

Bis am Endi vom Monet hesch glernt dich selber ufzieh, stah, dich a Tisch und Stuehl und allem sustige festhebe. Am 23. hesch s erst Mal losglah; voellig unbewusst; und bisch fuer es paar Sekunde ganz allei det gstande; ohni hebe! WOW! Mir noechered eus am Laufe - und mir hend doch erst grad glernt wie mer sich am Bode umtreiet!

Mir hend euse 9 monatig Check-up gah bim Dr. Shah und di bisch natuerlich cherngsund wie immer. Du hesch 74.4 cm gmesse und 8.8kg gwoge!!! Er isch sehr z friede mit dinere Entwicklig und s einzige Problem wo mer hend isch dini troche Huut! Du hesch chlini trochni Flecke ueberall wo mengisch rot werded - vorallem i de Hoechi obe in Colorado! Aber er het gmeint das soetti mit enere guete Creme besser werde. Du hesch nomal e Impfig uebercho und das mal hesch ueberhaupt gar nued bruelet!!! Ueberhaupt nued reagiert; wie wenn nued passiert waer! Mir sind alli ganz ueberrascht gsi. Er het gseit es segi in Ornig fuer dich zum afange Joghurt, Huette Chaes und sustige weiche Chaes esse. Du liebsch Poulet und Tofu und allerlei Gmues und Fruecht - sogar Banane sind jetzt voellig cool! ;-)

Am 26. September - du bisch haargenau 38 Wuche alt gsi - isch din Inne-Usse-Tag gsi. Du bisch es "inne" Baby gsi genau glich lang wie'd jetzt es "usse" Baby bisch! Wow; d Welt wird der immer meh bekannt.

Natuerlich gits no tuusig meh Sache wo du de Monet gmacht hesch ; als nume die wo ich drueber schriebe; aber ich tuen die Ziit lieber mit dir verbringe als da hocke und alles notiere, Stunde am Stuck. Ich bin sicher, dass mir all die schoene Ziite au so werded in Erinnerig bhalte ;-)

Mir hend dich gern bis zum Mond und zrugg!!

Kuessli,
s Mami und de Papi

8 Months and counting...

Dear Soraya Mina,

Happy 8 month Birthday little Princess!

You are getting around the house with your superb army crawl. Still can't quite figure out the last step to this crawling on your hands and knees thing. It's really though. But in the eating department you're doing great! You've accepted Multigrain and Oatmeal cereal, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes and a little hesitantly at first, Plums. So we've got a real got repertoire at this point. Just a few days ago you successfully ate your first puffs!! (This happened on your 34 week birthday). A couple of weeks ago I tried giving you one, but it got stuck on your tongue and you started hacking like you had a hairball in your throat ;-) Now you pretty much demand them about 2 minutes after you finish your lunch. Awesome desert, you'll say! You've pretty much mastered picking them up and trying to stuff them into your mouth; kinda tricky since they stick to your fingers so easily.

On August 16th we packed our things, dropped Uki off at Camp Bow Wow and drove to the airport. Boy it was a big day! Baby on a plane! Pretty darn exciting! You were really interested in all the things going on at the airport, people everywhere and different noises and things to look at. We took a flight up to Portland to visit our friends. You must have been the only baby on the plane that wasn't crying! I swear! You complained for about 2 minutes until I got you all settled in on my lap and covered your head with a cloth and off you went to nappy town. Then you woke up in the middle of the flight and started smiling at people. You did really well with adjusting to our new schedule for a few days. Different nap and food hours, napping on the go instead of in your bed; you were a trooper! Never complaining, just super happy fun times!

Your new buddy Swift taught you all about sharing and non related to that, you figured out how to shake your head and you crack up when I say "no, no" and do it back. We went to the "beach" at the river, went hiking and just enjoyed being with friends and checking out a new town. Swift did a real good job at showing you how to crawl (she's proficient at walking already!) but you didn't really care so much; you did try to eat all of her books though;-)

A couple of days after we got back Grandpa and Zorka came to visit again and we had a good time with them as well. When I came home from work on the 21st, you and everyone there was full of pride and showed me your very first toothie!!!! You been working on the darn thing for weeks it seems; and when I had left that morning, there was still nothing; by the time I came home, there it was: a shiny, white corner of your first tooth!! Yay!!! What a cute addition to your already adorable smile!!

You love to play with water! Any kind of water! You even discovered Uki's water bowl all the way in the kitchen and every once in a while you make a go for it and scoot all the way in there, slam your little hands in his bowl, squeal and make a huge wet mess! You try to drink from it by licking your hands and sucking the edge of his bowl. Don't worry, I make sure it's clean water first and there are no floating kibbles in it ;-)

So between, army crawling, laughing, squeaking, water playing, Uki grabbing, going for anything with letters on it (tags are more fun than the toys they're attached to!) and going on vacation on an airplane - it has been quite an exciting month.

Just today the old lady at the jewelry store looked at you and said she could tell how beautiful you were; not just on the outside but that she knew you were a beautiful being!

We sure think so! Please stay like this.

We love you so much!!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy























Liebi Soraya,

Alles Gueti zum 8 monatige Geburtstag chlini Prinzessin!

Du flitzisch durs Huus dur mit dinere super Militaer-Chruech-Technik. Immer no nanig ganz so sicher wie das uf de Haend und Chnue soell gah. Isch echt schwierig. Aber im Essensbereich bisch mega guet! Du nimmsch jetzt Multichorn and Haferbrei, Pfirsich, "Sweet Potatoes" und bitz zoegerend zerst, Pflume. Du hesch also es guets Repertoire bis jetzt. Nume vor es paar tag hesch erfolgrich din erste "Puff" gesse!! (Das isch genau a dim 34 wuechige Geburi gsi). Vor zwei Wuche hani probiert dir eine z geh, aber er isch der uf de Zunge chlebe blibe und du hesch afange chueche und hueste wie es Buesi wo en Haarballe im Hals het ;-) Aber jetzt verlangsch "Puffs" zimmli oepe 2 min. nachdem fertig Zmittag gesse hesch. Mega coole Dessert, findsch du! Du hesch es voll im Griff die ufzneh und is Muule schoppe; was recht kompliziert isch da's ja immer a de Finger chlebet.

Am 16. August hemmer eusi Sache packt, de Uki im Camp Bow Wow abgeh und sind an Flughafe gfahre. Laeck was fuer en grosse Tag das gsi isch! Baby ime Flugi! Absolut ufregend! Du bisch extrem interessiert gsi a all dene Sache wo im Flughafe abgange sind, ueberall Luet und verschiednigi Gruesch und Sache zum aluege. Mir sind uf Portland ufegfloge zum Kollege go bsueche. Du bisch glaubs s einzige Baby im Flugi gsi wo nued bruelet het! Ehrlich! Du hesch knapp 2 min. gschumpfe, bis ich dich uf mine Bei richtig platziert gha han und din Chopf mit eme Tuech deckt han und den bisch ab is Land der Traeume. Denn bisch zmitzt im Flug ine ufgwache und hesch afange d Luet um di ume agrinse. Du hesch die echt guet a euse neu Ziitplan apasst fuer die paar Tag. Anderi Schlaf- und Essensziite, Mittagsschloefli unterwegs anstatt im Bettli; du hesch di tapfer ghalte! Nie protestiert, eifach "super happy fun times"!

Dis neue Gspaendli Swift het dir bibracht wie mer tuet teile und unabhaengig vo dem, hesch du erlickt din Chopf schuettle und du findsch es mega lustig wenn ich sege: "nei, nei, nei" und min Chopf au schuettle. Mir sind an "Strand" am Fluss gange, go wandere und hend eifach eusi Ziit gnosse mit eusne Kollege und de neue Stadt. D Swift het dir ganz toll zeiget wie mer tuet chrueche (Sie isch halt scho perfekt im Laufe!) aber dich het das nued gross interessiert; hesch defuer alli ihri Buechli welle esse ;-)

Es paar Tag nachdem mir zrugg cho sind, sind de Grosspapi und d Zorka uf Bsuech cho und mir hend au mit ihne e gueti Ziit gha. Wo ich am 21. vom Schaffe hei cho bin, sind du und alli andere voller Stolz gsi und du hesch mir dis erste Zaehndli zeiget!!! Du hesch scho sit Wuche a dem cheibe Zah umechrampfed und wo ich a dem Morge us em Huus bin isch no nued ume gsi, und denn wo ich wieder hei cho bin isch er da gsi: glaenzend, schneewiis de Egge vo dim erste Zah!! Jupi!! Was fuer e herzigi Ergaenzig zu dim sust scho suesse Laechle!!


Du liebsch es mit Wasser z spiele! Alli Art vo Wasser! Du hesch sogar am Uki sin Trinknapf entdeckt ganz am andere Endi vo de Chuchi, und du quietschisch und machsch ei Goetschete! Du probiersch sogar drus z trinke indem dass du dini Haend abschlecksch und am Rand umesugisch. Kei Angst, ich luege immer dass s Wasser suber isch und das kei Fueterstuckli drin umeschwuemed ;-)

Mit Militaerchrueche, lache, quietsche, mit Wasser spiele, de Uki schnappe, alles mit Buechstabe dra packe (d Zettli a de Spielsache sind interessanter als d Sache selber!) und i d Ferie gah mit em Flugi - isch es also en recht ufregende Monet gsi.

Erst grad gester het die alt Frau im Schmucklade gseit du segisch sehr schoen; nued nur uesserlich aber sie gsechi dass du e gueti Person segisch!

Mir findet das au! Bitte bliib so wie'd bisch.

Mir hend dich ganz, ganz fescht gern!!

S Mami und de Papi

Soraya turns 7 months old!

Dear Soraya-Mina,

Happy Birthday Princess!!

It's true: you are 7 months old! I cannot believe it has already been 30 Sundays, since you came into this world! And my God, are you adorable!

Just a few days after your last month's birthday (July 6th) we had our 6mts check up with Dr. Sha; and our last round of the PC-Shot. You weighed in at 16 lbs 14oz and had grown to already 27 inches! That's over 2 feet long! Which is more than one third of me!! You are healthy like always, everything went great and the Dr. is very pleased with your development. You turn your head when we call your name, your little fingers are busy picking things up, passing them to each other and dropping stuff to see who will pick it up again and you finally figured out how to bang on the animal buttons in your office to make sounds. One of your favorite activities this month: banging your palms on things and grinning when we accompany it by saying: "bam bam".

The morning of July 7th we spent enjoying the last hours with Grossi and Opi and early that afternoon we drove back to the San Francisco airport to drop them off. Another great visit had ended too quickly. We know there are many more to come and we are looking forward to them.

You have spent some more time in your jumper and on July 11th the synapses in your little brain permitted a crucial puzzle piece of information to be put into the right place: "If I push off the ground with my tippy toes, I can make myself bounce! And it's FUN!". And there you went. You finally ARE having as much fun as we hoped you would. You are going crazy with it, drooling, making all kinds of noises, hopping towards Uki trying to get him and just being besides yourself with joy!

You have transitioned from 3 naps a day to only 2; all by yourself. We realized quickly that trying to force you into a schedule we picked for you, wasn't going to work. So we went along with your program and after a one week "yuk" period of 3 naps being too much but 2 being too little; we worked it all out. You like to get up anywhere between 7.30am and 8am; stay up and play a bit; go down for a 2 to 2 1/2 hr. nap at 10am; then another 1 1/2 hr. nap around 3pm and then go to bed around 7pm at night. It's perfect. It makes life easier and much more enjoyable for all parties involved. You have also perfected the art of locating, grabbing and inserting your paci all by yourself; which comes in great handy while you try to fall asleep or during those early morning light sleep phases.

We've added green peas, chicken, potato and pears to your diet and you love them all! A couple of times we tried banana which is the first thing you just cannot stand! Man it tastes just as bad as those awful vitamins we try to feed you! ;-) Just horrible apparently.

You're still working on some teeth every once in a while; can't see any yet but there are days when you chew on everything and drool like there's no tomorrow!

On most mornings we go for a long walk with Uki around the neighborhood (Daddy goes with you guys on the days I'm at work) and I'm not sure who enjoys it the most. You and Uki just love each other and we cannot leave the two of you alone without someone getting grabbed, licked or drooled on. You also share your chewy toys without hesitation; awesome.

And just a few days ago you figured out how to push yourself up onto your hands and knees and then you wiggle back and forth on them trying to get momentum to crawl but you don't know yet how to lift up one hand and just go for it. Sometimes you try and launch forward only to flop onto your belly, chest and sometimes face (oops); and so you just continue baby-sealing around the floor. It's all coming together though!

We Skype with Nona, Grossi and Opi , Gotti and some friends and you are starting to get into that as well. You can see the people you know and make faces at them and be entertained for a few minutes. I'm so glad we have a way to stay in touch with everyone that's so far away.

You are a joy to be around!

Happy Birthday little Angel!

We love you!!!

Mommy and Daddy

Mmmmhhhh.......

















Liebi Soraya-Mina,

Alles Gueti zum Geburtstag!

Es isch wahr: Du bisch 7 Monet alt! Ich chans kum glaube, dass es scho 30 Suentig her isch, sit Du s Liecht vo dere Welt erblickt hesch! Und mein Gott, bisch du suess!
Nur es paar Tag nach dim letscht monatige Geburi (6. Juli) hemmer euse 6 monatig Termin gha bim Dr. Sha; und die letscht Rundi vo de PC-Impfig. Du hesch 7,65Kg gwoge und bisch uf 68,58cm gwachse! Das isch ueber en halbe Meter lang! Und das isch meh als ein Drittel vo mir!! Du bisch gsund wie immer, alles isch guet gange und de Dr. isch sehr zfriede mit dinere Entwicklig. Du treisch de Chopf wenn mir din Name seged, dini chline Finger sind damit beschaeftigt Sache ufzlese, hin und her z geh und abezgheie lah zum luege obs echt oepert ufliest und hesch endlich erlickt wie mer die Tierli Chnoepf i dim Buero druckt zum Musik gmache. Eini vo dine Lieblingsbeschaeftigunge de Monet: mit de flache Hand uf Sache abe baengle und grinse wenn mir dezue seged: "Baem Baem".


Am 7. Juli hemmer de Morge gnosse und die letschte paar Stunde mit em Grossi und em Opi verbracht und sind den am fruehe Nachmittag wieder an San Francisco Flughafe gfahre zum s ablade. Wieder mal het en tolle Bsuech vill z gschnell gendet. Mir wuessed aber, dass no villi meh uf eus zue choemed und mir freued eus scho druff.
Du hesch au meh Ziit i dim neue Gumper verbracht und am 11. Juli hend d Synapse vo dim chline Hirni zueglah, dass es wichtiges Puzzle Teili vo Informatione as richtige Ort gsetzt worde isch: "Wenn ich mit de Zeihespitzli am Bode agib, gumpeds ja! Und es macht erst no SPASS!" Und los isch es gange. Endlich hesch Du tatsaechlich so vill Spass drah wie mir ghofft hend du hegisch. Du bisch ganz wild, saeuferisch, gisch alli Art vo Toen vo der, huepfsch gege de Uki zue und versuechsch ihn zschnappe und hesch eis cheibe Chaeferfescht!

Du hesch gwechslet vo 3 Mittagschloefli am Tag zu nume 2; ganz vo alleige. Mir hend zimmli schnell gmerkt, dass es nuet bringt wenn mir Dir wend en Rhythmus ufschwaetze. Drum hemer den halt eifach mal bi Dim Program mitgmacht und nach enere "truemlige" Wuche wo 3 Schloef z vill gsi sind aber 2 z wenig; hets den endlich klappet. Du verwachsch meistens zwuesched 7.30 und 8.00 am Morge; blibsch chli wach und spilsch und verzellsch; gasch go ligge um die 10i fuer 2 bis 2/12 Std; denn nomal go ligge fuer oepe 1 1/2 Std. um die 15.00 und den gasch is Bett um die 19.00 am Abig. Es isch perfekt. Es macht s Lebe eifacher und vill gnuesbarer fuer eus alli. Du hesch es au komplett gmeisteret dini Nuggi z finde, z packe und is Muul z stecke ganz allei; was vorallem sehr hilfrich isch waehrend Du versuechsch i z schlafe oder i de fruehe Morge Stunde waehrend de liechte Schlaffasene.

Mir hend Erbsli, Poulet und Herdoepfel dim Menu bigfuegt und Du liebsch au das! Es paar Mal scho hemmer versuecht Banana z offeriere und das isch den s Erste gsi wo Du absolut nued hesch choene usstah! Laeck das isch grad so scheusslich wie die furchtbare Vitamine wo mir Dir staendig wend ufhalse! ;-) Eifach schrecklich!
Du chrampfsch immer no a dine Zaeh; gseh zwar immer no kei aber es git Tage wo Du eifach a allem umechaetschisch und umesaberisch wie nuet!


A de meiste Moerge goemmer mit em Uki go spaziere i de Nachbarschaft (de Papi gaht mit eui a dene Tag wo ich am schaffe bin) und ich bi mer nued sicher wer dass es am meiste gnuesst. Du und de Uki liebed enand und mir choend eui zwei nued allei lah ohni dass nued oepert packt wird, gschlecket oder sust besaberet wird. Und Du teilsch sogar dini Biisring mit ihm ohni lang ueberlege; toll.

Und erst grad vor es paar Tag hesch usegfunde wie dich uf d Chnueh und Hend ufstuetze und denn schaucklisch fuerschi und hinderschi und versuech Alauf hole zum chrueche aber Du weisch nanig gnau wie mer loslaht mit de einte Hand und eifach druf los gaht. Maengmal laensch voll drii und gisch alles aber landisch denn immer uf em Buch und maengmal sogar uf em Gsicht (Ups); und drum robbsch wiiterhin umenand. Es chunnt aber alles langsam so wie's soet!

Mir skyped mit de Nona, em Grossi und em Opi, am Gotti und sustige Kollege und Dir macht au das faeng richtig Spass. Du gsesch alli Luet wo'd kennsch und chasch Grimasse mache und verzelle und dich unterhalte fuer es Wiili. Ich bin so froh, dass mir so choend in Kontakt bliibe mit allne wo so wiit weg sind.
Du bisch e wahri Freud!

Alles Gueti zum Geburtstag Aengeli!

Mir hend dich fescht, fescht gern!

s Mami und de Papi