Nine months old!

Amara is 9 months old! She is growing taller by the day (and getting longer hair) and she is moving around much more. She practices crawling (scooting around on her belly and rolling over and over) and is getting closer every day. She especially loves to practice on soft surfaces (like the bed) so Mom and Dad have to watch closely! Amara loves being around people and watching kids of all ages crawl, walk and play. FIRST WORD: Mamma -- Amara started saying Mamma at about 8 months while we were in Hawaii. She talks in baby language often -- adorably making new sounds and using different intonations. Amara is definitely a vocal child! FAVORITE FOODS: Amara has started eating yogurt and she loves it. She also has tried "puffs", blueberries cut in half, beans, oh yes and a couple of french fries! Really she loves to feed herself and has developed a great "pincer grasp" to get objects to her mouth. FAVORITE TOYS: Anything new is fun to play with! Amara was given some wooden blocks and funny animals recently. She was also given a colorful lama. Sometimes the most exciting toys are not toys! Amara loves to play with spoons or straws at restaurants and she loves tupperware! Who knew? FAVORITE OUTINGS: Amara has been to the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park recently. She likes to sit on a blanket and play with another baby. She loved seeing the fish and the gorillas at the Zoo. She also enjoys looking and listening to the fountains at Balboa Park and visiting the artists in the art studio village. We are so happy and proud and love watching Amara grow!

Trip to Kauai!!

At 8 and a half months Amara took her first trip to Kauai with Mom, Dad, Grandma Patty, and Grandpa Hamid. She had a fantastic time! Amara enjoyed playing in the water at the beach, pool, seeing new plants and animals (birds, geese), and most of all-- spending time with her grandparents. It was a great chance to "bond with a view". We stayed in a condo in the Princeville area and had the most beautiful view of the "mountain" and ocean. It was lovely falling asleep to the sound of the waves!