A Few More Photographs of Anastasia

Isn't she cute and peaceful? She's probably having a poop here.


And this is what she looks like with a dirty nappy!


Here is her Elvis impression


One of Anastasia's favourite positions

Anastasia Meunier Ball

Anastasia Meunier Ball






The Stats:

First name: Anastasia
Middle name: Meunier
Last name: Ball

Born: 11 July 2008 at 21:45 (9:45 pm) at the Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Height: 47 cm (18.5 inches)

Weight: 3.19 kg (7 lbs)

Hair: Dark brown (for now)

Eyes: Bluish grey (for now)

Comments: So far, everyone says she looks like her father, but they also say she is beautiful. Talk about contradictory statements! Her skin is rather dark, and yes, she looks Arabic. Who knew geography could beat out genes! Actually, she's just taking after her father's Syrian ancestry. For people who don't know, I (this is Randy writing this) am often asked if I'm Syrian.

Anastasia has many nicknames, given to her by various people: Tater, Sweet Tater, Tater Baggins, Frodo, Pip, Inchworm, Piglet, Mini Me... But in this house, we call her Anastasia.

I am getting to learn her different cries, trying to distinguish among the "dirty nappy" cry, the "I'm hungry" cry, and the "I'm bored and I just want to have a good" cry.

Exciting days in Abu Dhabi

Some life-alterning changes have been happening in the city this summer. Here are 3 you many want to read up on:

1) New waterfront open!! This has been in construction since we moved here, and now the corniche is a really cool place to go- not just a walk to take :)http://www.gulfnews.com/gngalleries/galleries/10226519.html

2) Midday work laws are being enforced! Now instead of baking during the steamy afternoons, workers are getting to take a well deserved break that has always been a "law".
http://www.gulfnews.com/gngalleries/galleries/10225242.html

3) Public buses have hit Abu Dhabi. So far they are mainly connecting one mall to another, but in the evenings they are packed!! It could have something to do with the price= free! (until 2009). http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/06/26/10223758.html

Things To Do While Waiting for Anastasia to be Born

*Make a "Things To Do" list on our blog
*Go for long walks at one of our many air-conditioned malls
*Go for short walks outside in our 120*F heat
*Play with Leanne's cat Ella
*Water Taylor and Tobin's plants
*Watch episodes of THE OFFICE over and over
*Go to the Corniche Hospital and be told, "Not today! No baby today!"
*Hang out in fancy hotel lobbies
*Play Yahtzee
*Tutor
*Pick lint off the carpet
*Read loads of books, magazines, and newspapers, no matter what the quality
*Check cousins' blogs whose lives are not in a temporal loop
*Sleep
*Be repeatedly dismayed by the offerings at the movie theatres
*Writing letters and postcards (and taking sweat-drenching walks to the Khalidiya Post Office)
*Play "Get-to'know-you" with the nanny
*Try out various labour-inducing activities, including but not limited to: taking long walks, eating spicy foods and drinking ginger tea, taking hot baths and showers, and exercising on the birthing ball
*Write in Anastasia's baby book