Happy Valentine's Day and 16 months old...

Karina is now 16 months old. She is trying out new consonants regularly. Right now she is saying "ga ga ga" and "da da da." She likes to sing along to the alphabet, "de de de de de de de." Karina is still scooting around on her bum, but loves to walk using Mamma and Daddy's hands. She has found a love for cds, or rather pulling cds off of the shelf. She will sit for a good 20 minutes just opening and closing one cd case. We're lucky she is so easily entertained. She also loves to "read" Mamma's law books, especially Understanding Constitutional Law. A lawyer in the making...We also gave Karina her first haircut. She was relatively cooperative :)


Karina and Daddy playing in her tent. If you ask here where her tent is, she either points to it or goes in. She definitely understands everything we say...we need to be careful now :)


Scaring Mamma when she opened the tent. So much fun!


Enjoying a Valentine cupcake.


Mamma and Karina at the Zoo.


Cookoo Karina!


Awww...So cute!


Reading with Auntie Jodi.


Karina, Nicolas, Lilly, Elias and Zoey. We actually got them all to sit still! For one shot at least :)



Karina is really smart. She gets all the walking kids to push her where she wants to go :)

15 months and counting...

Karina is still entertaining us by scooting around on her behind :) She is becoming more expressive and we know she will definitely be a joker. She still loves to read to herself, play with her blocks, her new princess castle and draw on her magna doodle.


Karina and Clare playing in her new tent.


Karina loves to play with the laundry.


The first time Karina said "cheese" when I pointed the camera at her.


Then wondering why I was still taking pictures.


Reading in her little book nook.


Playing with a box. Its always the free "toys" that are most fun.

Christmas 2008

After a snowy start and a missed connection, we finally made it to Atlanta and celebrated Christmas with the Strydom and Quint families. Karina loved spending time with everyone, especially with her cousins and Jesse, Nikki, Aries and Tigger (the pets). It was a great trip. We spent new years with friends on the beach and are heading back to reality (work) tomorrow.



After I had cleaned the car and shoveled (with a garden hoe :) we don't own a shovel and usually don't need one)...this was the night before we left for Atlanta.


More snow...


Hanging out with Oupa and Matthew.


Playing with Ouma and Emilija.


Getting a big hug from her cousin Jonathan.


Learning about fish at the aquarium with her cousin Daniel.


Waiting patiently for something on Christmas eve.


Sitting on Emilija's lap, who is sitting on Rinus' lap.


Not a big fan of posing for pictures...but here she is with all her cousins.


Here they are again, waiting for Santa...


Playing around with Daddy before going to bed on Christmas Eve.


Matthew hugging Karina, who is hugging Jesse.


Optimus Prime (aka Emilija) and Matthew about to engage in battle :)


Karina had fun with everyone, but was very happy to be home :)


Karina walking! (with help)

14 months old!

Karina is really growing! She is scooting faster and faster around the house. She really understands what we are saying to her and tries to test us :)



We had our first snowfall over the weekend and Karina was not a fan.


Karina in a dinosaur egg at the Woodland Park Zoo. I don't think she was too pleased.


Karina with a book. She loves to read.


A happy girl posing in front of our Christmas tree.


Playing dress up with Mamma's scarf.


Flying through the air with the greatest of ease :)


Cute in pig tails drinking her milk.


Karina enjoying her dinner :)

Thanksgiving

Karina really enjoyed her Thanksgiving dinner! She was even nice enough to take her nap while Rinus, Tim and I ate :)



















Mmmm...turkey leg....















Oom Rinus and Karina reading a book together.




















Karina standing at the table.















Peanut butter and jelly...I think jelly made it mostly on her face and into her hair.















Clare, Karina and Dipsy at the toy box.















Karina and her mirror twin.




















13 months old, can you believe it?!


Karina's favorite pastime.

When you cast your vote on Tuesday, remember this from Seattle's cutest pundit...

Happy Halloween

Karina was a little grumpy on Halloween, but still had fun as Princess Leia.

Family fun in downtown Ballard.

Karina and Alice "trick or treating"

Karina and Clare shaking "paws"