Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas!

Nana and Grandpa are savoring their time with

their two granddaughters, Rana and Elena.

So is Pop-pop!

Life sure is different...

...with two babies around!

USA Visit: Grand Rapids

We had a lovely Christmas with family in Grand Rapids. Rana was very pleased to meet her Great Grandmar and Pop-pop and her Uncle Colin. Nana Janice was thrilled to see Rana again, too!

USA Visit: Pennsylvania

Temperatures in the single digits didn't stop us from visiting

Annie's grandparents in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

Rana throughly enjoyed meeting her Great Grandparents...

and her Great Aunt Jill from California.

Grandpa Tom was thrilled to see her again, too!



We also spent time with old friends,
catching up and watching the Steelers.

USA Visit: Washington, DC

In spite of a few glitches before our departure, we were excited

to be on our way to introduce Rana to her home country

and spend time with family and friends over the holidays.

We received great service from the flight crew and Rana didn't

have any trouble flying. She didn't find her bassinet too

comfortable for sleeping, but she enjoyed the view!

Our first stop is in Washington, DC for a visit with Kata and Justin.

Kata took us on a tour of the Capitol Building...

...including a few secret passages.

Najeeb was very eager to see the monuments and statues and the National Museum of American History.

We stopped by the White House...

...and said "HELLO" to its next occupant!

We also visited the largest Mosque in the US.

It is beautiful, both inside and out.

Real Food!

Rana ate her first "real" food tonight: rice cereal mixed with formula.

She is pretty good at feeding herself already!

Six Months Old!

It is hard to believe Rana is already six months old. Our baby girl is getting so big! She weighs 17 pounds - more than double her birth weight! She is starting to reach out and touch (or grab!) everything around her and she can sit longer and longer without support.

Dazed

After a long afternoon of playing and bouncing in her seat,

Rana sat in a daze on the couch. She didn't even notice

that we got the camera out to capture the quiet moment!

She is starting to play with more of her toys,

especially her stuffed dog, Al-Boo.

Tiger Baby

Rana is very vocal. One day, while we were standing in line at the grocery store, the cashier heard Rana cooing and growling in her stroller and asked, "Is there a baby tiger in there?!?" Since then, whenever Rana makes this sound, we call her Tiger Baby!

Marburg's Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in Marburg opened last night with a festive Night of Lights. The whole town is decorated with greens and lights and the old buildings were lit up in various colors. Marburgers were out and about to soak up the Christmas spirit.

We met our friends Sophie and Martin on the Market Square,

just in front of the Town Hall.

Even the statues were lit up around town.

What a fun night!

Another IT specialist?

Snowflakes are falling on my head...

Rana loves riding around in her stroller. Even if there are snowflakes falling from the sky, she stays warm and dry inside her thermal sack, free to observe the world bustling around her.

Rana keeps us smiling...

Rana chews on everything she can get her hands (and mouth) on, at times leaving one toy in her mouth so that her hands are free to play with something else.

And she just loves to be entertained...

Five Months Old!

Lounging Around

Quality Time

Chatty

Rana loves being in the kitchen. She seems to like all of the action, sounds, and smells involved in cooking, from chopping veggies to cleaning pots and pans. She can see it all from her bouncy seat and it usually puts her in quite a chatty mood...

Whee!

Autumn in Marburg