August 22, 2006 2:31pm China time—Alia’s 16th month birthday

The usual morning festifications. Wake up, clean up, write the blog—which took forever this morning for obvious reasons—breakfast buffet. After the buffet, we returned to the room, and while Robert posted the blog and answered emails, Alia and I learned to color.
We had purchased a coloring book and crayons the previous evening, and Alia was quite incredulous at these new toys. Her screams of amazement when she first drew a line on the paper made both of us all sappy again. Another goal of the day was to get her more comfortable on her feet, and the crayons became a great lure. We put them up on chairs and before long she was crawling to each chair and hiking herself up to a standing position. Then she got to draw a little, before being lured to the next chair. We put some marching music on and Robert marched around the room as I held her on her feet. Suddenly she began to lift her feet up and down, and I pushed her forward as she did it. We practiced quite a lot, and she is a pro at hiking herself up now. Still working on walking. In the middle of all this, she said “mommy!” She is becoming very vocal, and now has the courage to babble quite loudly. So little Alia is catching up: talking, climbing, marching (while being held under the arms), coloring, nodding and shaking her head when given a choice, and she will come to us when we call her.
We took her to the playroom and I quietly disappeared while she and daddy had a fun playtime together. No tears, only happiness. I watched the two of them playing together from outside the room, and it was a very precious thing. Robert was even able to lift her up and put her into the stroller without any resistance. I hurried back to the room, to get there before them and when they came in together, I got a big smile from my daughter. I felt that she had been very confident that I would be there. Nap time now………..
Nap over and it seems that our babies digestive system is up and running.
After a little playtime in the room we ventured out to the pool for some more fun times.
Alia had a great time in her mummy’s arms swimming around and splashing around the kiddie pool and then had fun watching Daddy get wet…..again and again.
Our evening followed the usual fun pattern that we have become accustomed to, an evening walk-around, Roses Bar and Dinner. Alia drank from the sippy cup by herself for the first time at Roses and asked mummy to help her “play walk” again then we all went to a beautiful new Chinese Restaurant in the hotel.
Back to our room and quickly to bed.

Tomorrow the temple to give thanks for our baby.