Starbucks - Marina Mall

Aysha and Karla are taking a nap, and I have walked over to Marina Mall for a little time out of the apartment. This weekend, between selling the car and finishing up my exam, I'm feeling a little more on top of the game. Nearly everything in our apartment has been sold. There are a couple little pieces of furniture left and odds and ends, but we have sold enough to recover what we had to pay for it all. The car worked out well too. I found someone who really liked it. He agreed to let me keep using it until the English exams - so I will get most of my tutoring done without needing to use taxis or beg rides from families. The other great thing is that we sold the car for 700KD, which is only 20KD (about $85) less than what we paid for it two years ago.

Aysha was pooping up a storm yesterday, which is further evidence that she might be teething. Her occasionally grumpy behavior and reluctnce to eat plus the prolific bottom are all indicators that she is probably cooking up a couple of chompers. The doctor said there still might be a couple months before they poke through, but they could be there causing her some discomfort.

Books!

Aysha and I just went book shopping while mom took a nap. Karla and I got a gift certificate for Christmas and we have been trying to find something to spend it on ever since. We bought four more books. She already has a copy of I Love You for Always from Grandma and Grandpa Hide and one called Dear Santa from Katherine, but we figure she needed some more. Ones that could be read all year round and than mom and dad could get through without crying.

Aysha's expanded library now includes:
Catch by Trish Cooke - A little girl and her mom try to find something that the girl can catch. It's got these simple, colourful pictures that are super. I know Aysha will love to look at them.
Toby by Cyndy Szekeres - Toby's mom keeps him busy (and wears him out) by suggesting that he take his dinosaurs for some exercise. It works.
Give it a Try Camel-o-shy by Sabine P. Moser - Camel-o-shy does visits his friends only to find that they can do something special that he isn't very good at. It's set in around a Wadi near Dubai and features desert animals. After all, Aysha is a desert baby.
The Story of Pea Brain by Jackie Robb and Berny Stringer - Pea Brain was the odd duck in the pod. He sets out to travel the world and has wonderful adventures. On his travels he meets Sweet Pea and the two get married. It rhymes. It's international. It reminds me of our family history. (other stories in the series include the stories of dog, bat, spider, slug, plankton, amoeba and brain cell)

Who says you can't build a snowman in Kuwait?

Aysha's reaction to hearing that she will see Hawksley Workman at the Calgary Folk Festival.

In a Nutshell

Aysha is doing well. She is mostly very happy. This weekend, she has been a bit grumpy. We think it might be teething. If we give here a bit of medicine for the pain, she settles down. She's likes to play with her toys. She smiles a lot now and is making more sounds and squeals. Sometimes she is really loud.

We have been busy selling our stuff and getting ready for the end of the school year. Exams are due on Saturday and then there are just six more days of regular classes and three review days before exams begin. We sold our car yesterday, but get to use it until exams begin (good for tutoring). After that, we can catch rides with friends and take taxis.

The boxes have emerged and packing has begun. Or at least organizaing of stuff yet to be packed into destination boxes has begun.

I have been trying to post photos to the web, but haven't had any luck. I don't know if there is a problem or change with Hello (the picture posting service), or if I'm just having bad luck.

Aysha's Hands

Aysha is using her hands more and more. She is reaching for her toys and batting them around for fun. She can grab them with her little fingers, especially if they are offered to her. She can do new things each day. Now she is grabbing her toys in a kind of crude bear hug and trying to stick them in her mouth. Fortunately, all the toys are about as big as her head, so she isn't getting much into her mouth.

We've been working on tummy-time too. Since back-sleeping is in fashion now, she spends almost no time on her stomach. She has always hated being placed on her stomach. But if we put her on her stomach and rattle her toys, she is motivated to look up for them. And then this morning, she managed to roll over onto her back by herself.

We haven't taken any pictures lately. Between being busy with school and enjoying playing with her, we have not had much energy for posing.