09.19 - 09.21 and a half

Madeline loves to dress up... big girl shoes,
lipstick, and daddy's gym shorts and a
shawl.

The past couple of days have really been laid back.  I try to enjoy these days and remember that right now it's okay if we are in our PJ's until 11 am because I know once Madeline starts school things are going to get really busy.

Monday I took Madeline in to the doctor here on camp for a 3 year check up.  I've noticed at the hospital here that they don't really spend too much time focusing on "preventitive" medicine. They always look at me like I am nuts to bring her in to the doctor when she is not sick and doesn't need some kind of shot.  I like to make sure everything is running well and she is growing properly.  In the States I believe a yearly check up is normal and I sort of got into that routine. I think next year will look into setting up a regular check up with a pediatrician in the Utah or NY.

Anyway - Mads is healthy and strong and doing well. She is a little under the 50th percentile in weight and height for her age. 
After the doctor's visit we came home and the girls actually took a nap at the same time! I was able to take a bubble bath and watch an episode of one of my shows. It was really nice and has made me realize how important naps really are... for the girls of course.

Dinner time is such an event in our house. Especially now that Abigail is eating.  I am less strict with her eating choices as I was with Madeline. I will usually just blend up or chop up whatever we are eating and give her some.  She has done really well with everything and hasn't had any issues with rashes or anything. I am still a stickler about certain foods being withheld, of course, until she is older, and the size and mush consistency is important.  My baby will not choke! She is really doing great. 


Chewed carrot under a lovely bunch of greens.

 Tuesday night was Hobby night, where we go get U.S. steak or BBQ chicken from the Hobby Farm for dinner and then do something fun together as a family.  It has become a pretty fun tradition.

Part of the dinner you pay for is a nice salad with carrots and cucumbers and lettuce, etc.  Madeline's favorite part is the french fries.  I told her she could have more french fries if she finished her carrots.  After about 10 minutes of chewing and holding it in her mouth, she sneakily took the carrots out of her mouth and hid them underneath her lettuce while Paul and I were talking.  Then she opened her mouth to show me she was done and I gave her the 5 fries I promised her.  After about 2 fries had been eaten I noticed her plate with the carrots carefully hidden under the lettuce.  Paul darted for the fries on her plate and I scolded her - trying hard not to laugh. Madeline dramatically fell to the floor in agony and shame, crying her heart out, now that her secret had been discovered.

After dinner we decided to go to Kings Road park - a different park than the one we usually go to down the street from our house.  It's actually starting to get nice here at night, weatherwise.  I am SO EXCITED for the cool weather.

We met a new friend who has a little boy Madeline's age who will be going to the same preschool she will. Abigail had a great time giving our new friend some adorable looks.  She just laughed and laughed and the character Abs was being. 

Madeline had a great time on the playground for a while.  For some reason she was a little accident prone and she kept falling.  After the second cartoon-like tumble down the slide enough was enough and we went back home.  It was not her night for the slide and I was not excited about possibly heading over to he ER with a broken bone or two. 


Madeline right before her tumble down the slide



 This morning the girls and I got on the Aramco bus with our friend F and The Boy, and we headed to the Dhahran Mall for a change of scenery.  We had a good time munching on chocolate croissants and then walking around the mall.  I found a cute little kitchen timer shaped like an vanilla ice cream cone (I have been wanting one for a while - a timer.... and an ice cream cone I guess). When we got home I used it to time Madeline's time out for pushing her sister and was disappointed when after the three minutes there was no ding. SO, it's back to the mall to return it some time this weekend Grrrrr.

This morning Paul took a taxi down to Udiliyah to pick up our new Yukon XL.  We are SO excited to see it and have it!  It is going to be SO awesome drivin' around in that thing.  His plan was to pick it up and then go straight to work for a meeting so the fun will begin this evening when Paul gets home from work.  Pictures of fun to come!