It’s Official… She’s Walking!

We’ve decided that Karina takes a bit after her mom and dad in that she waits to try something new until she’s sure she can do it right.  As you can tell by our cheering and Tim’s voice reaching unprecedented octaves, we are a bit excited.

17 months old...almost walking

Karina is finally getting motivated to walk. She is very excited when she is able to stand on her own and waits for our applause :) She is very happy to have Mamma home with her and Mamma is adjusting to the hardest job in the world (but the most fulfilling). Karina continues to be a great eater and is now eating more regularly with a fork and spoon. She will now allow us to feed her yogurt or applesauce anymore. We had some crazy weather today, first snow, then rain, then sun and wind, more snow and more and more rain.















Happy little girl.















Karina loves to color.














She loves to eat Applesauce.















Eating snack at her corner table with a view :)




















Karina loves to talk on the phone, her fake phone that is. We are not able to get her to do this on the real phone.


Karina loves her yogurt.

Photos from our trip to Boston/New Hampshire

We had a great trip to Boston and New Hampshire! Karina was able to meet RP and GG (her great grandparents) and spend time with Ya Ya, Far Far, Aunt Christie, Uncle Bob, Oom Rinus, cousins Daniel and Emilija and friends Lauren and Keith. We even had the opportunity to go to Daniel's 7th birthday party and spend time with old friends there! Karina did not enjoy the first flight, but the second flight was pretty empty so we could lay here out across a couple of seats and sleep. The most exciting news is that Karina took her first steps by herself on Tuesday!!!


Karina and GG getting to know each other.


Karina and Emilija enjoy dinner at Wagamama's in Boston.


Daniel and Karina playing after they finished their dinner.


Happy Birthday Daniel!


Pokeman pinata...luckily neither Tim nor Rinus sustained any injuries :)


Far Far, Karina and Tim pose for a picture.


Karina with her Aunt Christie and Uncle Bob.


Posing with Ya Ya and RP.


Ya Ya, GG, Karina and Tim - 4 generations!

We'll put some video's up soon. Hopefully we'll catch Karina walking on film!

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 :)