June and July adventures........

Jamila: Hi this is so funny it made my mama stop and take a picture. I was trying to be funny and I got a laugh out of mama. I have some adventures to share with you.

Elin: I turned around and there she was looking up at me with a big smile and the 1/2 an egg perched perfectly on her head with those curls. Soo cute!! She has a great sense of humor.

Since I am not usually in the pictures this is a stab at a self portrait...hmmm

I love my papa!

When we got back from Colorado I started walking and I would like to show you a picture of me in action. Yippee!!!! I am finally free to follow everyone around and use these legs more. I think I get it now.

Watching the airplanes while waiting for ours...

We made it to Colorado to visit the grandparents Doherty. I love playing with Grammy Debbie. Mama bought me this tutu because she said it was too cute. I like it too as you can see I am practicing pointing my foot.

Grammy Debbie is lots of fun!!! We took a day trip to Ouray with her and mama and my blue monkey. I took Grammy for a walk after it rained. I had to walk down the hill and then back up the hill. I was very focused on the task and I had to bring my new armadillo along too.

Driving outside of Ouray.


A mural by Mr. Richard.....I had to check it out personally by touching it to make sure it is dry.

Mr. Richard painted several walls in the facilitated living residence and now it is a brighter place.

Eastern slope of Colorado....

We took a trip to the eastern slope. These are our friends Catherine, Frederick and Sierra (9 months) in Colorado Springs. We had a lovely dinner of kabobs and salad. Mama gave me some of her food.

Sierra and I both had a drink. I had to have one when I saw her with one. It is only fair.

There is Sierra with each of her parents having a grand old time. Uncle Frederick reminded me of my Papa but it wasn't him so I kept my distance for a while.

We also visited one of mama's very good friends, Auntie Soo-Jin, and her boys, Kyler and Justin. Uncle Josh isn't in the pictures but he was nice too.

Justin sure loves his mama!!

I made fast friends with Kyler. Our birthdays are only a couple weeks apart!!

I saw a picture of a dog and decided to bark since my Grammy's dog taught me how when we were introduced. Kyler is trying to get to mama's camera.

All this traveling made me soooo tired.

Back on the Western Slope....

We had dinner at the Robinson's in Grand Junction and I met Uncle Robin, Auntie Kim and Aunt Kathy. Auntie Kim is now working at the Baha'i National Center where mama used to work. Auntie Kim grew up with mama even though Kim is a bit younger. Uncle Robin just loves playing with me. I love being silly with him!!

For my birthday, a whole bunch of people came to see me. Her I am with Aunt Marti. She is very comfortable.

Her I am playing with some of my presents specifically my eggs from Aunt Marti.

Auntie Sine gave me a pig that oinks!!!!

And here is Grammy, Mr. Richard and Uncle John sitting around talking.

Pool time

The days were hot so we had a little cooling off time. Plus I had to keep drinking liquids, that's what mama said. And here is Auntie Sine again. We had lots of fun together!

Here is Dolly, Grammy and Mr. Richards dog who taught me how to bark. I love chasing her around and petting her. I am learning to be a soft touch.


June - the beginning of summer

I love the water and I love to study new patterns. This pool gave me both opportunities.

We had a mini-vacation in Mobile for a weekend. Mama and Papa are very tired but I am full of energy to learn new things and see what is new.

We visited a submarine which is a National Historic Site.

Thai food

Mama had her birthday dinner at the Thai buffet. There isn't much I can eat there since it is too spicy for me. So I think I will make a protest but I am just being silly really.

Having fun with Mama in the Gulf of Mexico. I love the water splashing on me and looking for shells too.

Bye, bye now!!! I will try to get Mama to post more often. I miss you all and hope to see you soon one day.

Jamila has had many adventures in the last 2 months....

I will be 11 months in ten days and I am growing and learning all sorts of new things. I can now crawl and pull myself up with the help of furniture and people. I love taking my parents for a walk to show them the really interesting things out in the world.

Today we went to Pensacola Beach to try going into the Gulf of Mexico but it was too dangerous to play in it. The Hilton Hotel though had the community reggae concert next to the pool so Jamila had her first pool experience. As you will see this pool is great for the children since it has water squirting out. This is Jamila investigating the first high squirts.Daddy helped Jamila to the circle of squirts and this is what happened next...
I decided to run around and step on the squirting water to see how it felt.

Then I decided to sit down on the squirting water and figure out how it was coming out of the ground.

I really like sitting in the water and splashing too but it always seems to get into my eyes. But I keep splashing anyways... :)

Like I said before, sometimes I have to take the parents around to show them the best stuff.

And here we are putting our feet in the Gulf of Mexico but nothing else since the flag warning was for dangerous surf. Some of those waves were too big for me just standing on the edge.

Dominic decided to make chicken wings for the weekend and though messy they turned out excellente!!!

The daily routine of washing the bottles.

African Sing-A-Long....our monthly gathering of fun and interesting conversation.

Dominic, Martin and Lal drumming, cow belling and singing.

Auntie Diane was having fun with me but she likes to hide.

Adalia preparing herself for the singing and dancing. Devin and Carmel practicing their drumming.

A morning at Navy Point...just down the road from our house.

Samantha is taking her mom (Auntie Kelly) around to see the interesting things along the shore.

I decided to sit down in the water and sand to have a more fun time during our visit.

Carmel's 5 th Birthday....

Devin is helping Carmel read her card.

Charlie set a precedence in blowing up those long skinny balloons and I think he was the only person who could blow them up. So all the children kept asking him to blow them up and make shapes.

Carmel getting some Birthday CAKE!!

My Northwest trip...

This is my trip to see my Grandpa Bill and Grandma Nancy and all the other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. I had lots of fun meeting new people and seeing the scenery.

We had a lovely walk through the park behind Bell Square....

We sat down for awhile and watched the children and parents play and later

we saw some ducks who were just as curious about me. They probably thought I had some food for them.

Here is Uncle Greg, mommy's brother. He visited me many times and he was lots of fun to play with.

I met Great Grandpa Harry and Great Grandma Barbara from the Bush side of the family.

Here I am with Auntie Katy, mommy's sister. :)

Our trip to Oregon....on the way we stopped at Evergreen in Olympia, WA, where I graduated from in 1999.

This is the Library and the graduation takes place outside in the plaza.

Evergreen has not changed-this picture is very typical- only the faces. I stopped to see a professor, Tom Womeldorff, and we were lucky enough to find him even though he was in the middle of a faculty retreat. He is now a dean or something like that.

In Portland, we visited Auntie Mara one of mommy's old friends from New Mexico and her children who are now my friends Soren (big grin) and Rainier (being held).

We also stayed with mommy's other long time friend Auntie Layla from way back in Colorado and her daughter Isabella and we had lots of fun as you can see.

We had a lovely dinner at an Indian restaurant with more friends David, Prema and Jonah and of course with Grandpa Bill, Auntie Layla and Isabella.

I am trying to play peek-a-boo with this blanket but it doesn't work.

We then went to visit Cousin Ruben in Rockaway Beach along the Oregon Coast. I had a lovely time with him too. We went to the beach just about 50 feet out his door.

A beautiful sunset our first night with Cousin Ruben.

I decided to sit down and play in the sand while the grownups looked at the scenery. And taste a little too.

The wind was making my eyes water but I still wanted to stay outside.

More beautiful pictures of the Oregon Coast.

We went to the creamery in Tilamook where they make the cheese and other dairy products and I had fun there looking at all the people.

Back in Bellevue....it was a beautiful and clear day just days before we left. Actually most of the time was clear.

Me with Grandpa Bill and Grandma Nancy. I love practicing standing.

I spent some time with Auntie Rochelle and Cousin Brielle too.

And my mommy's good friend, Auntie Malaika!!!

Bye Washington!! We had such a lovely trip.