Happy Birthday, Topi!

Topi is one year old! We celebrated his birthday October 20, 2007, in the company of friends in Izmit.

Oh, Where does the time go?

My last post was August 2, and today is.... ? November 5th. A month-long trip to the US has passed, and a 1-year birthday! Rather than try to scramble to upload hundreds of pictures, here is a photo from an unseasonably warm October day, when Grammy Judy, Topi and I went to Chicago and found a warm little beach for Topi to play on.

And I must post a little video of Topi walking with his favorite toy, a firetruck. (I'd recommend watching it with the sound off, unless you want to hear me sing the Firetruck song!)

A few more moments from our trip:

In the Chrysler 300F

Comet with Uncle Tony

Tractor ride at the farm with: left front (Johanna, Uncle Gary, Rose, Uncle Tony) right front (Topi!, Grammy Judy, Auntie Lois, Jordan)

Meeting Great-Grandma Jeannette was very special and we had a great time!

On the tractor with Dede (Grandpa Mark)!

Here's a link to all the rest on my Walgreen's page.

Topi in the dictionary

My sister Jeanne just sent me a great link to the Free Dictionary, which has a definition for Topi! I particularly like the reference to an antelope. That explains Topi's speed!

Noun	1.	topi - a light-weight hat worn in tropical countries for protection from the sun pith hat, pith helmet, sun helmet, topee chapeau, hat, lid - headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim shade - protective covering that protects something from direct sunlight; "they used umbrellas as shades"; "as the sun moved he readjusted the shade"
	2.	topi - a large South African antelope; considered the swiftest hoofed mammal Damaliscus lunatus, sassaby antelope - graceful Old World ruminant with long legs and horns directed upward and backward; includes gazelles; springboks; impalas; addax; gerenuks; blackbucks; dik-diks Damaliscus, genus Damaliscus - African antelopes: sassabies

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/topi

Mama + Baby

At home on a very hot July day in Turkey.

Cherries

Topi has teeth! And other curious habits like opening doors, pulling drawers, getting fingers stuck, toddling about (by holding on to people and furniture), and saying ma-ma, ba-ba, de-de, na-na... He also really likes cherries!

Shorter hair, two new paintings, and... a pink scarf?

At home...

Great Grandma Yilanci and Topi

Rose and Devrim out for dinner

to celebrate Devrim's birthday (April 12), our anniversary (May 21), Mother's Day and Father's Day all in one! :) Izmit finally has a great restaurant... it is next to the train station (used to be the old train station) and there is a nice restaurant, outdoor seating, a bar lounge, and a wagon cafe and bar.

On the way to a wedding, bored in the back of the car

pretzel legs

Table-gripper

Yes, I know we should go buy one of those things like a high-chair, but it is so much more fun to sit like a grown up!

Toys!

And some fast-action arm and leg movement... Topi is officially crawling, climbing, and standing... walking with us... so much fun!

Hanging out at home with Mom...

with a strawberry-face.

Friday Morning, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul

Thank you, Jenny, for this photo:) We had a fun night in Istanbul playing with Jenny and Samet. When we woke up, there was even more playing and even some taxi rides, boat rides and a bus ride! What a day!

Bath in the blue tub

Water pouring out the tap is the greatest of inventions. So is splashing and trying to grab the water.

Sunny day trip to the beach

On a warm April Sunday we went to Ulasli, a small seaside town on the Izmit Gulf. Evren loved the sound of the water, but found the glaring sun a bit much. We had fun listening to the waves and drinking tea at a little cafe.

Fun pijamas/pyjamas