We're Back

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Life has just been a whirlwind so I apologize for not posting in a long time. Malaika is a month away from turning one. She's been walking for about two weeks now, she has two more teeth and is starting to get the cutest little curls. We've been having so much fun as parents watching her grow, watching her learn new things and changing on a daily basis.

Taking Advantage Of The Sun

Playing in the sand
Chillin with daddy

On the deck
I love to swing

Earth Hour

On March 29th, 2008 turn off your lights for just 1-hour. At 8pm tonight become a part of this global movement. Join us for Earth Hour.

Cancelled

It's been a very frustrating three weeks trying to work with the U. S Citizenship Immigration Services and my immigration lawyer. They have both been absolutely NO help and because of that and my procrastination we had to cancel our two week trip home. Going into the details will just make me even more upset so I'm just going to leave it at that.

We missed Easter with the family and my cousin Rachele's wedding, an event we've been looking forward to for the last 6-months. Is there travel in my future? Well of course there is, I just haven't got a clue as to when. We're going to try to go home for Malaika's first birthday, that will make the trip a bit of a celebration.

It's a sad week for our family - isn't it suppose to be 85 degrees with the sand between our toes....ugh!

Read A Book? What A Good Idea

It's been a long time since I've sat down with a good book. I have a pile of them sitting on my desk just dying for me to dig into their exciting pages. Not all of them will sound appealing to many of you, but here's the list anyhow - in no special order.

Angle of Repose - Wallace Stegner
Making Money from PHOTOGRAPHY in every conceivable way - Steve Bavister
Photoshop Lightroom Adventure - Mikkel Aaland
Camera and Lens - Ansel Adams
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (A year of food) - Barbara Kinsolver
The Road - Cormac McCarthy

I've been wondering. If I had a Kindle, would I read more?

9-Month Check Up

First time on the deck

Malaika had her 9-month appointment yesterday. The Doc was very pleased with her growth and her "tricks". She's waving, giving high fives, clapping, crawling and making every move to walk. Malaika is in the 75th percentile for her weight and height - 20lbs 11oz and 28".

Quick Trip

Our final night in Miami

Malaika and I had a wonderful time in Miami this weekend. Thanks to my cousin Mari we had the opportunity to celebrate my cousin Rachele's up coming nuptials. It was a girls weekend - we got to see Elizabeth (she just moved to Trinidad and is now engaged - yeah!), we got to see my mummy (thanks to Mari - again), we got to meet Harrison (she's my little cousins baby girl - 2 months older than Malaika) and we got to have lots of fun with family and friends.

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No One Can Stop Me Now

Our big girl is now on the move.

Here she is making her way over to one of her favorite toys.

Bath Time

This is probably one of my favorite things to do

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Did You Caucus?

We did. We had no idea what to expect when we walked through the doors of the elementary school. The cafeteria filled to at least 800 people and when they asked how many had caucused before only 4% raised their hand...amazing. It was exciting, fun and a whole lot of chaos.

What a great experience, talk about grassroots politics. We enjoyed meeting families from our neighbourhood with like views and walked away with an Obama win. Tim walked away as one of his delegates. By the way Obama took the state too.

Balancing the Blog

It was back in February 2006 that I became a blogger. I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, the truth is I really wasn't sure if this was something I could keep up with. My main reason for starting the blog was to keep my family 3,000 plus miles away just a little bit closer. With this blog I have shared about the Seahawks, my experience with TNT, our Remodel, family, friends, MALAIKA and much more. My readers have increased from one (my mother) to so many more and I welcome you all and hope you're enjoying Calabash Yard.

Before Malaika was born I was able to share about so much. Since her birth it's been mainly posts about her. I know you all enjoy them and I enjoy writing about her and there is no stopping the photographs and videos of her. However, I have realized that it's easy so I need to challenge myself to write about other things going on in this Bell/Dugaw mind of mine. Don't worry folks I'm not saying goodbye to my blogging days I am however realizing that I need a little more balance in the pieces I post.

ER Trip #2

So we went again last night to the ER. Did we have to go? Probably not, but the conversation I had with the after hours nurse for the pediatrician we go to left a bad taste in my mouth. Didn't like the way she spoke to me on the phone and I really didn't feel as if she helped much at all. So we went.

After Sunday's episode I really thought that Malaika was on the mend. She didn't have her appetite back but she was holding down her milk and any food I put before her. You could also tell that she didn't have a ton of energy but she did have a great attitude and would play till it was time to just lay in mummy's lap. Monday evening around 6pm she went to bed, woke up bawling about 1-hour later and threw up again. It was a messy one.

Tuesday and Wednesday it was the same thing, she seemed to be doing well but at night a repeat of Monday. The only difference was that on Wednesday she really didn't seem to eat much at all during the day and at this point I was a little worried that she was dehydrated. Everything I gave her would come up.

Daddy got sick, I'm feeling a little queasy. It's most definatly a virus and we can only hope that it will pass soon.

ER trip #1

Malaika woke up on Sunday morning sounding happy and energized, eager to take on her day, well that's how it sounded on the monitor. When I went in to get her she had vomited in her bed and was laying in it, no complaints. After taking a bath and getting her all cleaned up she seemed to be feeling OK - until, that's right folks, more projectile. At that point we realized this was more than a one time thing. We headed to Children's Hospital and by the time we got there our little one had had 6 episodes to help lessen her body weight.


She was amazing, she hadn't eaten all morning and there was very little complaining. She just didn't have the energy to fuss too much. The good news was that she was not dehydrated. She took a little pill to stop the vomiting and was sucking down the 5ml's of Pedialyte I was giving her every 5 minutes.

It's Monday morning and she hasn't gotten her appetite back fully but her cheeks are starting to look rosie again.

Video Upload - Take One

We get ourselves a new video camera for Christmas and I'm having the hardest time figuring out how to store the clips we create and most importantly how to share them. If this works I will be amazed and there will be lots more to come.

Featured On The Local Fox Station

Malaika and I went for our morning run on Tuesday with our friends Cheryl and Dillon, it was a really cold morning and Cheryl and I started to talk about how much the little babies need to be bundled up. It's always interesting to see how little some parents put on their children.

No kidding folks, it was only 5 min. into our run when we were stopped by a television crew asking us how much we wrap up our little ones in this cold weather. I said nothing, which was a good thing but you can see that it's me. Enjoy! The Local Fox station put this together. Click on news archives, go to page 2, click on Take Precautions Exercising in the Cold.

Ring In The New

More pictures from Eugene
Happy New Year everyone! Well it's time to say goodbye to 2007 and what a fantastic year it has been for us. From the birth of Malaika to spending some quality time with family and friends.

This New Years we headed down to Eugene, OR to see Dianne and Amanda (Tim's sister and her partner). We had such a wonderful time with the Aunties - playing the piano, singing, doing a little Tai Chi (that was me, not Tim) everyone pitching in to make a delicious dinner and playing with Galatea the kitty.

Malaika is waving hello and goodbye and we're working on her clapping. While sitting up she's making every attempt to get into the crawling position OR she holds on to something to try to stand. She's an eager little one. We do look forward to 2008 and all it has to offer. All the best to you all - one love!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

"Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire"
(The Jamaican Version)

Breadfruits roasting on an open fire
Mongrels nipping at your toes
Dancehall songs, being sung by a choir
'An we dress up in we bashment clothes

Everybody knows,
When gungo cook an sorrel flow
Yu dun know seh season brite
Gal an bwoy wid them starlight a glow
Dem nah go waan fe sleep tonite

Dem know seh joyride deh pon the way
With music, rockin' rockin thru de day
'An all the chicken dem a try fi spy
Fi see is which one a dem is gwine to fry

'An so, we want to big up everyone
All kidz from one to 92
Althou money dun
Have 'hole heap a fun

Irie Chrismus, Irie Chrismus . to you.

Malaika is 6-Months Old

Our little girl is growing up so fast. Everyday I am a little more surprised at how quickly babies learn. I have a friend that would always be looking forward at her children's next move...crawling, walking, talking, preschool etc. etc. As much as I appreciate my friends wisdom, I don't want to rush these exciting moments that only happen once. We have had such a wonderful time as parents watching every new move, experiencing every new food, listening to every new noise etc. etc. I slow myself down when I begin to anticipate the next step and try to remind myself that each milestone should be cherished.

Malaika is now 6-months and 4 days old. She weighs 17lbs 14.5oz, her height is 27.5" and her head circumfrence is 44.5cm. She is currently 90th percentile for weight and height and as her doctor says "Malaika is doing very well". She has added sweet potatoes to her menu, next up - bananas.

Food Glorious Food...

I'll have some peas please

Malaika will turn 6-months old on Thursday Nov. 22nd. She just started to have solids and is loving every bit of it. We honestly didn't expect anything else but pure enjoyment. She had rice cereal first and although she enjoyed eating it we found it didn't really agree with her. So we decided to dive directly into the big stuff, forget cereals we went for peas. She loved them, they loved her and so we're off. Next on the plate will be sweet potatoes, then avocado and then some pears. She tries a new food every 4 days. As you can see from the photos I don't think we have much to worry about.

Our Little Pony