Big Girl Bed

Bella in her big girl bed reading and playing in the mirrors. She turns 2 next month and we are getting her ready to be a bit more independent.

Abu Dhabi

Mommy and Bella enjoyed a few days by the pool in Abu Dhabi.

View of the pool and the cranes in the background. Our hotel will lose its man made beach and waterway as the reclaimed land is finished and swamped with more buildings. Abu Dhabi has plans to become bigger and more luxurious than Dubai. Currently there isn't much to see outside of hotels or the corniche (beach area). They contain 90% or so of the UAE oil and do not have the same urgency as Dubai to obtain other sources of income.

Bella playing with mommy's sunnies.

Deira - Dubai

Gold Souk (market place) full of stores selling any and all sorts of gold jewelry.

Spice Souk

Market place

Building and cranes in Dubai

The Burj Dubai under construction - once complete will be the tallest building in the world.

More cranes and building.

A view of the financial district by our hotel and the Burj Dubai on the right in the background.

More in Dubai

Madinat Jumeirah just adjacent to "The Palm Jumeirah" and "The World". You are looking at man made lakes and new buildings that house restaurants, bars and shops.

The family

The Burj Al Arab - the only 7 star hotel in the world. It costs $75 just to view the lobby. Of which we opted not to do.

So cute in the warm weather and of course in Daddy's arms. She did not want to be put down.

From the beach a view of both the helipad and outdoor viewing deck on the opposite side.

Sight seeing in Dubai

First stop was to the Mall of Emirates. This is quite the establishment. Bryan made the statement that it reminded him of the Mall of America in MN.


Bella loves steps and the escalator is just as much fun.

Here is the infamous indoor skiing Dubai has installed. You are able to rent a ski suit and helmet. The hats and gloves you needed to purchase on your own.

Yes, that is a quad lift as well as an indoor tabogin run and sledding hill equipped with a tow rope to help you up the hill.

Flying to Dubai

Daddy took a last minute work trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of course Mommy and Bella had to tag along. Here is Bella with her back pack of goodies for the plane cruising thru the airport with Daddy.
Bella did sleep a bit on the 9 hour flight to Dubai. She was a great traveler as usual and read lots of books and played with her toys. She even ate the airplane food.

New Year Sun

Bella is performing a sit in wanting Daddy to pick her up and carry her everywhere.

The tulips planted in the park for chinese new year.

The bright flowers and cherry blossom trees with the money packets deck out the area and bring luck to everyone.

In Starbucks for a warm up baby chino and muffin.

Gung Hay Fat Choy - Happy New Year

Bella is in her bright new chinese outfit. Everyone wears brand new clothes on chinese new year day to promote prosperity and good luck.

Bella is modeling her hat that Nonnie made.

Bella opening the cabinet door. She can't be in the room and not have the doors open.

Bella at playroom

Bella and Alana at the indoor play room in Happy Valley. Bella wanted to climb the side like the bigger kids instead of the steps.

She did scale to the top but had to resort to the steps.

Weee! Down she came on the slide and a little smile afterwards.

Superbowl

Bella and Daddy watching the superbowl together. Bella wasn't really cheering her team must not have been playing.

First Haircut

On our way in the rain to get our hair cut. Both Daddy and Bella are due for some reshaping.

Bella sat very still and patient in her Daddy's arms while Tan combed and evaluated what to cut.

Of course she moved her head in the middle of the chop. So the bangs are not quite straight. But they immediately curled up in this weather so it didn't really matter anyway.

All smiles and what a difference it made to get just a bit cut off the front. Now she can see again.