08.28.11



Madeline doing her sunshine hand prints.

Madeline painting her sunshine

Madeline painting sun rays

The girls watching First Signs - a baby sign language movie.

Abigail mid roll.

Today was a good day. It was really laid back.  The girls and I stayed off the computer and away from the TV - for the most part.  It's nice to have a day like that once in a while. 
Madeline and I had fun doing a craft and painting.  We decided to make a sun out of paper plates, sticks, hand prints, and yellow paint.  We didn't finish so I will post pictures of our creation tomorrow.  Madeline also enjoyed painting on a mini canvas I had.  She loves art and making humongous messes.  They are both a favorite past time so she was ecstatic when I presented the idea. 

Paul came home for lunch today, which is always nice.  We love seeing him in the middle of the day.  I whipped up a noodley chicken fetuccini-type meal with some fruit and we all watched Toy Story 3 while chompin. 

Abigail is a what we like to call a little bull dozer.  She may not crawl. She seems perfectly content on rolling all over the place.  It is really quite hilarious to watch her.  She is really good at rolling. She even rolls herself into a sitting position.  She can sit up all by herself!  Also, she now has two teeth on top.  You can see one better than the other.  They are absolutely adorable.

The girls and I went to pick Paul up from work today so we could all go grocery shopping together.  I haven't been to the Tamimi (Safeway) here in Khobar for a very long time.  Probably since right after Abigail's birth, and they have totally redone the place and Paul wanted me to see it.  It looks awesome!  It is huge; completely rearranged; they even demolished the pharmacy that was next to it.  It looks like a completely different place!  Speaking of the Tamimi.... or the name of the store specifically. 

A long time ago when Madeline was just starting to talk, she confused pee pee with mee mee.  Ever since, she calls her lady parts "mee mee."  So today we are on the way to TA-mimi (ta-mee-mee) and I say, "Madeline, we are going shopping at the Tamimi." and she says, "We are going to a mee mee store?" and she starts laughing her head off and then Paul and I start laughing - it was hilarious.  You had to be there maybe... I dunno.

Anyway, I liked it - being at the store, doing my own shopping instead of having to write a detailed list for Paul.  Paul on the other hand, who was in charge of watching the girls while I shopped, was overheard many a times saying, "Never again.  Never again."  Madeline was a bit of a handful.  But hey - I got to see it right?  Now I have a better idea of what to tell Paul to get during future shopping trips and so on and so forth.

After the store we came home and I made Hamburgers for dinner.  Then I talked with my Mom on the phone for a while and then headed over to our friends house to check on their cats. Then back home to put the girls to bed. 

It was a good day. I love my family and I have a really good life. I'm greatful for what I have.

08.27.11

 Today in a word - HOT!  In every sense of the word, today was a hot day for me and my little family.  We started the morning with a fever.  Abigail, who is teething like a maniac, had a low-grade fever most of the day today. It finally broke late afternoon after she took a 3-hour nap.  It was a bummer because I hate for her to feel gross and we were supposed to catch the bus to the mall this morning with a friend and had to cancel.  poop.

I burned my finger today AND got a sliver in the same finger.

The temperature today got up to 117 degrees F, but thankfully the humidity was low.  Of course, we didn't leave the house but to take the garbage out so I guess it didn't really matter. 

Mads had a poor day of potty training with three accidents.  It always seems like if she starts the day with an accident she wants to stay in suit and just continue the fun throughout the day.  I can't get the odor of urine out of my nose.  I feel bad when she has an accident because she is just devastated that it happened. So I try to help her understand that she is learning and doing such a good job.  I think the stamp thing as a reward has run its course.  I need to come up with something else - other than candy.  She likes candy too much and I am trying to teach my children that food is not a reward, it's a source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals our bodies need to survive - that is all. 

Not that food isn't fun and delicious - cause it totally is.  If food were men, I would practice polyandry (word of the day) and marry spaghetti with meatballs, mashed potatoes, and chocolate cake.  I would have an affair with ice cream sundaes.  Of course, The Man would still be my #1.  My emotional attachment to food is the reason I am such a tub of fun.  I don't want that for my girls.  So yeah... stickers? a day at the spa? A new car?

Madeline, I think, has awesome taste in clothing.  Every morning she asks me to take pictures of her.  She models for me.  I have no idea where she got these poses but she is a natural.  I guess that's what happens when your mom takes thousands of pictures of you - you get kinda good at smiling and posing. 

 Our day was pretty laid back.  I spent my free time, in betweem being with the girls, getting our curtains up over the new roller shades.  I think they turned out nice.  I'm just happy to have nice window coverings that give us privacy and block out light really well, finally.

Poor Abigail was like a vicious little monster today, biting at and growling at everything she could possibly get her hands on.  Her gums were a hurtin'... bad.  I gave her frozen wash cloths, teething rings, binkies, teether toys, my finger, my arm, my teet (not by choice)... anything I could think of for her to gnaw on to relieve the pain of growing teeth.  I tried orajel - she enjoyed how that made her mouth feel and did some really funny noises then, but it wore off quickly.

I tell ya, I can't WAIT to see those pearly whites.  They are going to add a cuteness factor of a bazillion to this little lady. 

After Paul got home we had some chicken and watched a movie together.  Then, because it was still 106 degrees out at 7:30 pm, we stayed in and did some running around the house to release some pent up energy.  The girls love to run and dance and it's even more fun when we all do it together. 

A final note to today... I love my husband so very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very much. VERY much.

08.26.11



Madeline likes to choose her own outfits nowadays and today was... Dance day! This is a little pink number we bought at Target while in the States this Summer.  She wore it most of the morning until after breakfast.  Mads has developed a nasty new habit of wiping everything on her clothes.  We had a talk about it today and she said, "I unstand Mom." Then she wiped her hands on her napkin and then on her shirt - it's a start.

Today was Abigail's first day of peaches.  For the first time she didn't pull a funny face at her first bite.  She loves peaches.  She ate the entire bowl.

Madeline's cars in a cherry container.



After breakfast Paul got started on installing the roller shades we bought yesterday at IKEA.  He started with the upstairs, but once downstairs we realized two of the shades were the wrong size and one was a completely different design.  Frustrating! Because of Ramandan, the store isn't open when Paul gets home from work during the week until 9 pm, when he is usually in bed. So he took a trip tonight to do a quick exchange.

Tonight we skyped with my little sister Amber for the last time before she has her second baby boy on Tuesday.  She is so ready and I think it's nice that she has a scheduled date to look forward to. We are SO excited!  I just love talking to her and Toshie on skype.  It is so nice to be able to see my family every week. 

What an awesome time we live in.  To be able to live in Saudi Arabia, but still talk with, see, email, and check up on my family and friends all over the world on a regular, real time basis.  I often wonder what it's going to be like 100 years from now.  You know, when we will be able to beam all over the place and read each other's thoughts.



Our Star Wars fairy





Watchin the TV





08.25.11

This morning (our weekend) we wre up early... way too early, but I guess that can be a good thing.  Paul went grocery shopping after going to the gym and the girls and I got ready and did some dancing. 

This is Madeline showing Abigail how to jump really high  We had a good time laughing and running in circles.  Madeline does this move where she points her bum at you and shakes it back and forth really fast.  It is hilarious and I have NO idea where she got that.  This is just the beginning of things she will pick up from friends and strangers. 

Abigail loves when Madeline dances. After Paul got home from grocery shopping, we had lunch together and Abigail took a nap.  Then we heade for IKEA because we wanted to get some roller shades for our windows.  This "house decorating" thing has really been a challenge for me. I wouldn't say that I have an eye for interior design, but I am trying to make our home warm, comfortable, clean looking and friendly.  I may still try to do some painting on a couple of the walls because I think I went a little overboard when we did the brown walls.


Madeline acting sad.


For some reason, when all the dancing and jumping and silliness stopped, Madeline decided it was time to be sad.  She has been doing this a lot lately.  A future career in acting? Possibly. She is very good at making herself cry for no reason at all - a talent I often shared with my friends when I was little.  Yes, this dramtacism is from me.  I often have emotions to large to be contained in my body and it looks like it's in the genes.  Shs started out just playing and then minutes later I was holding her in my arms telling her she is a beautiful, fun, smart and WONDERFUL person and that being happy makes things so much better - as she cried and cried.  I continued, happiness brightens our home, helps people relax, and makes people want to be with you more. I told her it's okay to be sad when it is appropriate and when you have a reason to be sad, and that when those times happen, I will be there for her.  Yeah - I'm an awesome Mom. 

Abigail, on the other hand, is so happy it explodes all over the room and happy rays beam throughout the house.  I true characteer and a true joy!

The big surprise of the day was a surprise guest in the house.  She will be here for 3 weeks.  Our neighbors, who we unfortunately have only spoken with (briefly) 4 or 5 times sprung Sandy the Fish (that's what we are calling her) on us at the last minute right as they were departing for their vacation.  Paul was leaving to the grocery store and they happened to run into him in the drive way.  Apparently, and I didn't know the whole story until later in the day, their original fish sitter was out of town this weekend.  So, they trusted us with their fishy and hurriedly left us with these instructions: Feed once a day, clean bowl once a week.  Hmph. Thanks!  No contact info., no name, no "the bowl was just cleaned and we just fed her."  So we fed her and I cleaned out the container to start the week off fresh.  I don't believe fishy will suffer with a little extra food in her dish today.  I just hope she is still with us in 3 weeks when our trusted friends and neighbors, of whom I do not even know their name, return.  EEEK!

08.24.11

Today we had another playdate at our friend F's house.  I tell you, F is a playgroup hosting queen!This time it was me and my girls, F and her boy, another mom we know and her three kids, and it was supposed to be a new mom on camp and her two kids, but she didn't show.  We had a good time talking and playing and reading to the kids.   

Mads and B both have favorite buddies.

After our playdate we came home and I made a delicious beefy italian noodley concoction for lunch.  We watched a couple episodes of Go Diego Go!, Madeline's new favorite show, and then we turned off the tube to play blocks. 

Abigail is teething pretty hard and was viciously chewing on everything in site today. She would grab anything she could with such vigor and vim she almost reminded me of a beast in the wild.  I tried to put some baby orajel on her gums but she hates that stuff. She she sucked on teething rings and ice cubes in her mesh nets all day.  Poor thing. I gave her gums some massages several times too.  Abs is also getting really good at spitting her food.  Her sweet potatoes went EVERYWHERE tonight at dinner.  I think she somehow even got some up underNEATH the table.

Abs in her jumperoo at F's house

I decided to rearrange my living room today.  I like it much better how I have it now.  I decided to move the entertainment area to a different wall, which in turn opened up the room significantly.  It gave us another wall to put a couch against.

Before dinner I checked on our friends K and T's cats.  They watched Kitty-roo while we were away on repat vacation and in return we are watching their kitties. It's the least we can do.  K and T always help us. They're good peeps.

I got in an argument with Paul tonight over something stupid. I wouldn't bring it up at all, because those things are our business and not important when it comes down to moments in life that really matter, but it was funny because while I was standing there talking to Paul, Madeline comes up and stands right in front of me and says,

"Listen to her, Daaad. Listen her while she tawkin' to you!"

It made me laugh and lightened the moment.  I say that to Madeline all the time because she gets distracted so easily and doesn't listen to me sometimes.  Apparently she does hear me.  haha

So then I got upset again, cause I am good at taking things too far, and while I stood at the top of the stairs in anger (while Paul walked downstairs away from my sillyness) Madeline stood there with me with her little hand on her hip.  She kept looking back at me and smiling so big. Then she offered to take my hand and help me down the stairs.  It almost made me cry.  My kids constantly teach me lessons!

I realized - THIS is what life is all about.  God gave me an amazing husband and these wonderful little girls to keep me humble, to teach me to be a better person, and to teach me patience, love, and what true happiness really is.  These people that surround me daily - my amazing little family, my friends, and even strangers in my path - are put there for a reason.  I am so unbelievably blessed.  I have no reason at all to complain or be moody. 

Paul spent some time building his computer tonight while the girls and I listened to music and played in the front room.  Then he came down and we made some popcorn and watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together - the good one with Gene Wilder.  We really like that movie.

Then Paul started playing his video game, Assassin's Creed, and Madeline and I played a wicked game of Tic Tac Toe on my iPad.  She kept getting mad because she didn't understand that X gets a turn and then O gets a turn. She would tap the pad continuously hoping for O's to appear. 

It was a long, fun day. Both girls dropped when it was time for bed - how it should be.  We hope to get a lot done this weekend. 

08.23.11

 I love my family so much.  This morning we woke up to 92 degrees out, which isn't bad (I never imagined I would ever write such a thing) until you mix in the humidity - 85% this morning.  The windows were foggy and wet. I probably  could have just stepped out front for a shower. 

 Here's Abigail right after she woke up.  She always wakes up with the biggest smile.  She is so happy all the time! If nothing else happened in my day, just seeing my girls happy would always be enough.

 We started our morning with pancakes, and then instead of watching a movie, which we do a lot, I decided we should play.  Madeline built a tall tower with her blocks and was very proud of this accomplishment and told me to take a picture. Here she is standing next to the tower. 

 After we played some, we did some painting.  I have a project idea for the playroom that has to do with manners and rules.  This picture is of the beginning of my project. Hopefully it will turn out. 

Madeline did some major awesome painting herself.  She is quite creative and really enjoys art. 

 After our art project we decided to take advantage of our over ripened bananas and make some banana bread and muffins.  They turned out really good. Even Paul liked them.  I always feel like mini muffins are easier to eat... sort of like popcorn or potato chips.

Tuesday night is hobby night, so tonight we ordered steak from the hobby farm.  Paul and Madeline went and picked it up while Abs and I watched a show from National Geographic about babies.  I loves shows like that and there are a ton of them on Netflix. 

After dinner Madeline and Paul went outside to play.  They came back shortly after soaking wet! Madeline also had literally filled her shoes with sand and ran all up and down the hallway when she got home before I realized it. 

Homemade strawberry/raspberry popscicles and Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets ended our evening.  Paul and Madeline fell asleep on the couch and Abigail and I are still going strong!

Abigail's top left middle tooth has broken through the skin! This will be tooth number three and the beginning of some major cuteness in her photos. Not that she isn't already the most adorable baby on the planet. With that smile and a couple of teeth on top? Aye yay yay!

08.22.11

This morning the girls and I met a friend at the 3rd Street pool. I was surprised to find it empty when we arrived. Usually during the summer, and in this heat, swimming is one of the only activities you can tolerate that isn't in your air conditioned house.  It was kind of nice to have the entire pool to ourselves. Madeline and Abigail had a good time swimming in the kiddie pool, and then we eventually moved over to the big pool to play on the steps.  Madeline got brave enough, at one point, to jump off the side into my arms, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to swimming.  I think I will sign her up for swim lessons next time they are offered to get her more familiar with the water. 

I've never been a "water lover." I wouldn't choose a day at the beach over a day shopping or seeing a movie.  So we don't go swimming much.  I think I can count the number of times we have been swimming here in Saudi on one hand... well two hands, unless I had 6 fingers, cause I think it's about 6 times now.  I thought Mads might turn out to be a water lover, and who knows maybe she still will if we give her the opportunity, but I think she is more of a nature, dirt lover.  Which saddens me a bit cause there are not mountains here.  Not the kind of beautiful, green, high, rocky kind of mountains I grew up next to.  So I think places like that will be high on our list of future vacations.

I brought along the lily pad baby floaty tube thing (sort of like the one in this picture but dark green with a pink flower in the center) and it made a perfect swimming walker for Abigail.  She was walking all over the kiddie pool with it and was kicking and lounging... she had a great time. I didn't take the camera because it clearly states in the swimming rules that cameras are not aloud. I regret this decision because, like I said, there was NO ONE there and it was such an adorable moment!

On our way out to the parking lot we had a rough time.  It was really humid today and it made for a hot afternoon.  The car was cooking and so were both the girls carseats.  To make matters worse, Madeline decided to walk into the car door just as I opened it and bash her forehead.  I was holding the baby and all our bags when this happened.  I was sure we would all suffer from heat stroke before we got home, but we made it. 



Mads playing with my iPad


After baths, we decided to watch a movie and eat lunch upstairs in my room.  Normally we would never do this, but we were all tired from swimming and it's fun to cuddle up in a comfy bed and watch a movie and eat.  Plus today was "change the sheets" day so crumbs didn't matter much.  We all ended up falling asleep.  I rarely take naps and when I do I feel a little wierd.  Sort of like I am breaking some kind of rule or like I am in the twilight zone. I'm not sure why because naps are so freakin' awesome.

A family down the street is moving and for some reason they are selling a huge amount of their belongings, so after we all woke up from our naps, I headed over to look at what they were selling.  Most of their large items had already sold, which is good for them.  I was just excited because no one had taken... The Crockpot. 


Abs gettin' her crawl on

 When Paul and I got married I bought a small crockpot.  It was really, really small.  It was enough for two people just starting out in life though, and it was cute.  We rarely used it though so when we moved, I gave it away.  Ever since then I have planned on getting my own real, big one.  Like my mom had when I was growing up.  There are SO MANY things you can make in a crockpot. Now that I am more intrested in cooking, and now that Paul will eat and try more things compared to when we were first married and he was so darn picky, I have had this yearning for crockpot cooking. 

So, I bought the crockpot and a wall mirror.  They were good purchases and I am happy.  I will divulge you on my first crockpot meal when I make it.



Paul reading stories to the girls

 After dinner Paul took Mads out to the swings for a while and then it was home to get ready for bed. 

P.S. Madeline is going potty just fine again.  I guess we just had a couple of bad days with #2. I'll leave you with that pot.... I mean thought.



08.21.11

Last night the A/C unit in our garage - to which there is a large vented opening in the hallway - started making a strange banging noise.  It sounded like a ticking time bomb and I was sure it would explode any minute. It progressively got worse as the night went on. By one or two in the morning it was so loud I couldn't get to sleep.  The kids and Paul had no trouble sleeping, but I just couldn't stop repeating the rhythmic sound along with it as it was made over and over and over and over.  Paul turned it off so I would stop complaining and I actually slept.  But by morning the house was pretty warm (about 77) so I had to turn it back on.  I called the service center.  That is one great thing about this place.  If you have any problems at all in your home all you have to do is call the service center and they will come out and fix it or replace whatever might need replacing.  It was good that I called them, because by the time they arrived and turned on the A/C to see what the matter was, it was no longer working.  They knew immediately it was a problem with the belt and in about 30 minutes it was replaced and the air was cool and quiet again. 
After breakfast, and after the service guys left, we headed over to our good friend F's house for a playgroup.  It ended up just being us, her and another woman and her two kids.  I like the smaller groups.  It's nice when the kids will play together and get along.  I think when there are too many kids running around control is lost and Mr. Chaos, who didn't get an invitation to the party, crashes.  I also love how "at home" we feel at F's house.  She is always very accomodating and kind to me and my babies... a true, good friend. 

We're having some poopie issues. Madeline has not pooped in the potty for two days in a row now. I'm not sure what it is that is the problem. I don't think it's a scared thing or regression thing... I think it may just be that when she gets the "urge" she may not be right next to a toilet? I'm hoping anyway. Potty training is so fun!

08.20.11

I am annoyed at my behavior today.  We literally did nothing.  The girls and I sat and watched a bunch of movies.  Because of my lack of interesting activities to offer, my toddler had several tantrums, and was extremely disobedient, which led to timeouts. She pooped her pants once and peed her pants twice - had absolutely no interest in going potty. 
So there you have it... we are regular people who - once in a while - have a down day.  I'm getting a little depressed about my weight.  I wish this wasn't one of my struggles in life.  I wish I was stronger when it comes to food and laziness. 

When Paul got home things got a little better.  I made a nice dinner and fed the baby and got her ready for bed.

Then, I actually went to the gym.  I wasn't there long, but it's a start right?  When I got home Abigail was passed out on Paul - at 6:30 pm... way too early, but her naps had been interrupted all day by little things like the phone ringing or Madeline screaming.  Paul took Madeline out to play on the swings down the street to get out some energy while I showered and then did some reading.  Abigail would not wake up... she was out.  She finally woke up when everyone else wanted to go to bed, so her and I had a good time playing until about 12 am. 

I probably shouldn't have even blogged about today, but I made a promise to myself and I am sick of not keeping my promises to myself. 

08.19.11

Lots of pictures today, but not much happened. Fridays are always like that for us... very laid back most of the time, which is nice.  I got the girls ready for the day while Paul went to the gym and then the girls and I got to playing.  

One of our favorite things to play since repat vacation is cars.  Madeline was exposed to playing cars a lot while in Utah visiting with my side of the family, and enjoyed it, so Paul and I got her a few more than the one green one she already had.  Madeline likes to make the cars talk to each other and acts like they are falling off a cliff and saving each other with a string - she is doing this with all her toys lately and I am not sure where she got it from - and Abigal loves to nibble on the cars - she does this with all her toys as well.

Madeline and I have also been working on her numbers.  She can count to twenty and does really well with counting things, but actually recognizing the number when she sees it is still something we are working on. 

Abigail loves to smile. She is the happiest baby I have ever known and I love it.

Here she is doing some serious work on the music table top. 

After we played some, we decided to dress up like a princess and do some modeling and dancing while Dad made some yummy dinner for us.  Madeline does some very beautiful posing. 

Abigail woke up from her nap and Madeline gave her some loves...

After we ate dinner I skyped with my sweet sister AmberLee and her little boy, Toshie.  Amber is expecting her second little boy soon. We found out tonight that she is scheduled for a C-section on August 30th!! I am so excited.  She said she would skype with me while in the hospital.  I know better than to really expect that will happen.  But my entire afternoon on the 30th will be free just in case.  We are SO excited for her and her husband and Toshie... we really wish we could be there for the special event and the welcoming of Abishaik Manik Shakya.
Later, after tubby time, Madeline taught Abigail how to pull herself up using the side of the crib... I can't believe this is already starting.  So we had to lower the mattress.  Abigail can't really get herself up into the crawl position or sit up by herself yet, but the way things are going we are not going to take any chances.

Abigail does not like to be left alone in the crib. Here she is showing me...

Then I made her smile and told her I loved her...

Then she started nibbling on the crib rail... this is something Madeline did A LOT and the teeth marks are there to prove it.  So I guess I will look into one of those teething crib rail covers?

Paul spent most of the day playing one of his new video games, Assassin's Creed.  He had made us dinner and is always so awesome with me and the girls, I thought he should have some time to himself to do something he enjoys.

At the end of the evening the girls and I watched Paul play a bit.  One of the things the Assassin can do to hide from soldiers is to jump into a pile of hay.  Madeline was SO CONCERNED about this.  Every couple of minutes she asked, "where's the hay, Dad?! Where's the pile of hay??!" And when she would see some hay, she would yell at him to jump in it.  It got pretty hilarious at one point and we were all laughing... probably an "you had to be there" moment, but we enjoyed ourselves. 

Then Madeline and I had some fun with the camera being goofballs...

I just love my little goofball.  She is so adorably fun and sweet.