Bookworm

Books are the in thing right now. No no she doesn't read them yet, she just leaves through them. Once she's leaved through them a couple of times she moves on to the next book.

Relaxing

Bought this chair today for Savita because we don't really have any small size chairs. Looked at several kids chairs with funky prints on it for beaucoups of money, but none of them seemed as nice, sturdy and stable as this one. Savita seems to like it. She can get on and off easily and move it around to where she wants it. Note mom relaxing in the background.

I know Savita looks huge in this picture, but she's not quite that big. She growing fast and is up to Thu butt, but she's petite compared to some other kids I have seen on island her age. At her 1 year check up she was in the 50% for her age.

Lachende Kanibaal

In de knel

Savita had zich aardig in de knel gewurmt vanmorgen op een stoel onder de tafel en toen zat ze opeens vast. De goede vader die ik ben, ik heb haar eerst uitgelachen toen een foto genomen (moest eerst nog even de batterij vervangen, want die was leeg) en haar uiteindelijk uit haar benarde positie bevrijd.


Ze begint een aardige klimmer te worden. Ze heeft het vorige week voor elkaar gekregen om uit haar bed te vallen. Kennelijk is ze helemaal omhoog geklommen aan de spijlen van haar ledikant en heeft toen haar lichaam er overheen kunnen wurmen. Ik hoorde haar alleen vallen. Niks aan de hand geen gebroken botten, blauwe plekken, of schaaf wonden.


Savita managed to get herself in a bit of a bind this morning on top of a chair underneath the table. Good parent that I am I first laughed at her then had to take a picture of course (before I could do that I had to change the battery because it was empty) and eventually freed her from her tight spot.


She's becomming quite the climber. She succeded to fall out of her bed last week too. Apparently she climbed all the way up the rungs of her crib and hurled her body over the top. I just heard the thud. She walked it off though, no broken bones, bruises or scrapes.

Bear Hug

Eigenwijze Drol

Hard to Imagine

It's is still hard to imagine how fast Savita is growing.... She walking, talking gibberish and learning more each day.

Then:

Now:

Samba bal

"Ik heb worstjes op m'n borstjes, preitjes op mijn dijtjes, marmalades en salades op mijn bil...."

Thu thought it was a good idea to buy these maracas (samba ballen) for Savita, when you shake them they count to ten and name the colors of the rainbow (in both English and Spanish) or they just play music. She likes them, but after 5 minutes it gets pretty annoying (to me at least!) when Savita walks around shaking the thing and yells out, rojo!, naraja!, amarillo!, verde!, azul!, morado!

Upgrades

Our new and improved shed.

before:

after:

People sometimes ask us why we live in Saipan. Here's my answer from now on: because the view from our shed is most likely better than the view from your house. Note the reflection of the view in the window.

Aspiring Chair Woman

As soon as we get up from a chair Savita will climb in and make herself comfortable.

Gek Bekkie!

Gekke bekkies zijn altijd leuk. Dit is op dit moment haar favoriete tas. Vanmorgen liep ze zwaaiend de kamer uit met haar tas op haar schouder (net als mama op weg naar werk). De foto is van vanavond voor het douchen. Weet niet waar dit bekkie vandaan komt?!

Strange faces are always fun. This is her favorite bag at the moment. This morning she walked out of the room with her bag on her shoulder waving goodbye (just like her mom when she is getting ready to leave for work). The picture was taken this evening right before her shower. Don't know what is up with the face!?

Child Proof Chair?

Until recently Savita hadn't managed to get on top of our chairs. Right now, if we leave a chair unattended she will be on it. Even if the chair is under the table, she'll pull it out and climb on top. Once on top she will feast on whatever she can find on the table or kitchen counter. How do you child proof a chair? I think there's a patent in the making!

Almost done!

Our bedroom is almost done. We bought a fan and blinds while we were in Guam. The only thing left is the louvre doors for the closet. Working on it......

Before:

After:

It's a Girl!

Our youngest niece: Silke Eva van der Geest. Born Oct. 16th.

Looks like she'll be a longhorn!

Savita would point at the picture and then to herself indicating she thinks it is her in the picture. The confusion is understandable because the only baby pictures she has seen are pictures
of her self.

Canoe Race Pictures

Micro Cup 2008 Results for Saipan: 2nd in 500m, 2nd in 1000m, 2nd in Long Distance (12 miles/19km).

Future Reporter

Savita is trying to decide with our local TV reporter what footage of her dad's canoe race should be shown on TV that evening.

Savita probeert samen met de lokale TV verslaggeefster uit te vogelen welke stukjes video van haar vaders canoe race op TV moeten komen die avond.

Sweet Ride II, III, & IV

Before she got on it she had to check what was under the hood. Apparently whatever was under the bonnet met her approval and she took it for a test drive, easy at first, but soon she was making vroom! sounds.

Sweet ride!

Auntie Sheila & Uncle Kong,

Thanks for the sweet ride and the shovel. I am going to take it outside right now to give it a spin and see how fast it goes down the hill. Picture will follow soon.

-Savita

P.s. I guess that means the package has arrived. Couldn't find your emails so I am doing it this way.

Savita the Crocodile Hunter

The best way to sneak up on the elusive Marianas Sports Hound is in the buff, that way it can't detect your smell.

The approach. Note the arm position, which is thought to be less threatening for the animal.

Entering the personal space of the Hound is achieved by being aloof. Try not to pay attention to the hound at all, just act as if you're supposed to be there and they're nothing special. It will do the same with you.

The touch. Remember, don't make eye contact when petting the Hound as it might be interpreted as a sign of aggression. Producing a low growling sound in return to the animals stare has been known to work well.

Overalls

Savita's new work outfit. After doing a whole lot of laundry we finally figured we should just get one outfit she can wear while she's 'working' in the garden with dad. Savita's nieuwe werk kleren. We hebben eindelijk besloten, na een hele boel wassen, om een pakkie apart voor het 'werken' in de tuin met pappa te reserveren

She doesn't look to happy about it, but the outfit was a big hit, especially the pockets in the front which hold many rocks and other trinkets. Het is net alsof ze niet zo blij is met haar nieuwe overall, maar het was een groot succes, vooral de zakken aan de voorkant waar je een heleboel stenen en andere prulletjes in kunt stoppen.

Note the new storage in the background. It's almost done, they should finish up tomorrow.

Smile!

How's that for a cute smile, aye? How about them pearly whites?

Annie....

Hou jij me tassie effe vast, want die gozer wil met me dansuh....

Sorry English speakers, that's a reference to a Dutch song.

Dry run in Tub

Reading with Mom

New Guest Quarters in the making

Okay we're just fixing up and extending the shed.

Our room with the tiles. The room is not finished yet, but we're making progress. Closet doors still need to be done and the blinds.