Far More Than Rubies

The Language Diaries- One and a half years

2012-01-22T17:48:00.000+04:00

It's been a long time since I updated on my progress in learning Arabic. Mainly because when I am on the computer, the last thing I want to think about is the language. The last official update I gave was after the first three months and alot has changed since then.

In my second semester of Arabic, Ian and I were in a different class together. The institute split up the students into a class with prior experience and a class without. I fell into the latter and Ian fell into he prior category. But, since I was big ol pregnant and an emotional wreck, I asked for Ian to come with me into my class, mainly for emotional support.

Being the awesome husband that he is, he complied and was wonderful for me during those first 8 weeks before Grace was born. After her birth, I had 4 weeks of maternity before I started back to private lessons for the rest of the semester. The goal was to get me caught back up with my class so I could rejoin them in the Fall 2011 semester.

Just 4 weeks after starting back, I took the end of semester exams with my class, even though I had missed so much and hadn't even made up half of it. I didn't do well and barely showed any progress. But I pressed on and that summer I saw a great improvement in my understanding of the grammar and my willingness to try to speak, even if it meant failure.

Fall semester began our third term studying full time Arabic. Ian and I were in separate classes and I (shockingly) didn't mind and really enjoyed myself. I was in a class where I wasn't necessarily the slowest or the least informed, and, as the semester wore on, that became more and more apparent.

Nearing the end of the semester, the gap between the two halves of the class were rather wide. But luckily, several of the students left for private classes and several said that this would be their last term.

During this last semester, I really saw growth in my vocabulary base and my use of past, present, and future tense verbs. I still have these huge gaps in those areas, that would help my fluency tremendously, but I was happy with the progress I was seeing.

I also had alot of success with my cultural adaption. I just became alot more comfortable in my own skin in my new environment. It made me more relaxed when I was out in public, which, in turn, made me more at ease when using the language.

This past week we took our exams again, but this time, when I came out of my interview portion, I wasn't really kicking myself for any one thing (except using the verb "to dance," instead of "to run." my bad.) My results showed a HUGE leap in progress and I am on track with where I should be with my class. My written portion wasn't the best, but I think I just had a case of test anxiety/end of semester jitters, since the day before I had answered alot of those same questions with ease on our review. The written portion doesn't really bother me though, since the teacher still gave me good marks on my overall semester evaluation.

Ian, of course, did amazing, seeing as he is neck and neck with getting the best possible score you could ever get. It is very possible that at the end of neck semester, he literally gets a 100% on his spoken, pretty much meaning he is fluent.

It is hard to believe we only have one more semester of full time language study! I am so ready for this phase of life to be over and to get on with the real living like adults part of our life.

This Week

2012-01-21T22:40:00.003+04:00

Where We've Been? Just here, in our house most of the time. Exciting, huh?

What have we been doing? Being entirely too wrapped up in final exams for our third semester of studying Arabic full time. That, and I can officially say, "Spring Cleaning, Check!"

Obviously, there hasn't been alot of blogging going on around here. That's because both Ian's and my laptop batteries died within the last month, making my computer time alot shorter than before.

Grace has been her adorably charming self. She's been teething and working on a yeast infection for he last 3-4 weeks (it's just awful, but hopefully we have her on the right medicine now,) but she is just infectiously fun (and infectious in other manners as well. Did you know yeast infections are contagious? Yeah. Now I know.)

Who are we with? As of right now? Just our little family. Alot of our friends are out of town or traveling during our between semester break right now. But, in just 24 hours, my parents arrive! I can't wait to give them both a huge hug and let them see their granddaughter for the first time ever!

When does life get back to normal? I suppose it depends on what you mean by "normal." We start back to school in two weeks, and will be beginning our fourth and final semester of language school. After that we'll be moving to a BIG CITY! We're pretty sure it is one city but it could possibly be a different one, so I'll wait to announce that until later.

Why do two weeks of vacation go by so much quicker than two weeks of work/study? And for that, I have no answer.

For This Child I Prayed

2012-01-15T23:09:00.000+04:00

What now seems like "long ago," was really just 2 years ago. We had been trying to get pregnant for six months with no progress. I was praying every day that God would bless us with a baby, and bought a baby shirt to hold as I prayed for a child. Something tangible to help me focus on what I was asking for.

2 years later and we have a 9 month old who finally fit into that shirt. As I looked back on my journal entries from those long months of waiting, it is so surreal to hold this precious bundle in my arms...

"I long to be a mother and hold my child in my arms."

"I desire to start our family, a family together."

"My whisper of a prayer to God is that He will bless us with a baby in His timing, instead of ours."

Caught in the Act

2012-01-10T21:33:00.000+04:00

Grace isn't quite to the age where she can get into actual "mischief," but the other day, when she started fussing in the family room, I came out to find this:

Poor baby girl! She had backed herself up under the couch and the flap came down leaving her in darkness. It actually took me a second to figure out where she was, ha! Only the good moms leave their babies there to get a camera and snap a picture, for their blog of course.

Accidental Breastfeeder

2012-01-09T20:44:00.001+04:00

Early on in my pregnancy with Grace, I only had one dilemma. What to do about feeding a new baby?

Although I knew the benefits of breastfeeding, I wasn't one who was sold on the fact that it was the only way to get those benefits. I was bottle fed and I turned out alright!

All of the children that I babysat and and nannied for were bottle fed, and they were in good health and of average to high intelligence. I loved that I, as the babysitter, got to take part in their feeding routine, and, as a soon to be mom, I was hung up on the fact that Ian would have little to no part in the feedings if I decided to breastfeed.

I weighed the pros and cons, read alot, and talked to alot of breastfeeding advocating mommas. I still felt uneasy about it. It didn't seem natural. And every time I told someone that I thought it didn't seem natural, they would laugh and say "But it's the most natural thing you could do!"

All the same, it didn't feel right to me.

About 3/4 of the way through the pregnancy I realized one of my hangups was that I could somewhat picture nursing a baby boy, but nursing a baby girl (for whatever reason,) seemed really foreign to me.

As the pregnancy drew to a close, I decided that we would breastfeed.

I'm going to be honest, the winning point for nursing? Free baby food.

Grace was taken to the NICU right after she was born but, at my request, was not given any sugar water or formula. About 12 hours after she was born I got to nurse her for the first time and she latched on pretty well. The hospital didn't have any lactation specialists, but they did have tons of nurses who are moms themselves, so I had a constant stream of well meaning nurses checking Grace's latch and checking to see how much and how often she was nursing.

We went home and settled into a routine. I had to have a friend go over the border and buy some nursing bras, and Ian went over to border to buy the pump one day, but other than that, nursing was such a routine for us.

And you know what?

I loved it.

It was quiet and peaceful. It was convenient. It was a time of bonding. It was, well, free!

Through the next couple of months we had next to zero breastfeeding issues. The only two that came up repeatedly in my mind was how I was going to store up enough milk for when Grace started daycare, and how to be as modest as possible.

I'm going to step on a few toes with this, but I don't think breastfeeding in public is modest. I think that I want to teach my daughter that certain parts of our body are not meant to be seen by the general public, and that what we wear and how we act, even if we don't mean to, can make people think on and dwell on things that make them stumble.

Does that mean it shouldn't be done? No. I have nursed in public. Covered and as discrete as possible, but still in public. We traveled all over France that summer and it was necessary, but I never felt 100% okay with it. For me, the struggle was a good thing. It reminded me of why and how I want to display modesty for my daughter in the future. I want to always remember this realization I had about what modesty is and how we are called to look out for others thought and possible stumbling blocks.

After our whirlwind summer trip to France, we came back home, started Grace on solid food, got her to sleep through the night, dropped her night feed, my cycle returned to normal, and we started back to school, all within several days of each other.

From then on, my milk supply dwindled.

I could no longer pump and get even a half of an ounce.

Grace started nursing for shorter periods of times and was always hungry right afterwards.

She started eating a TON of solid food.

Then, just 4 weeks later, at her 6 months check up, her growth percentiles dropped from the 25th percentile to the 10th percentile. She had actually lost weight.

Poor baby was hungry and wasn't getting enough.

My doctor encouraged me to try to reestablish my milk supply and to keep nursing. He told me to keep my eyes on her growth and if I still felt things weren't going well, to start supplementing with formula.

So, for two months I increased my water intake. I took my prenatal vitamins. I slept more. I nursed more (or tried.) I pumped every night. I stopped sending pumped milk to Grace's school and instead used my lunch break to walk next door to her school and nurse her.

Still, it wasn't enough.

As we reached her 8th month mark, she was so tiny. She was so thin. She was SO hungry.

I reluctantly bought our first can of formula after being on the fence about it for several weeks. I sent her first formula bottle with her to school. Soon after, we added in her late afternoon bottle. Just days after, we switched her completely to formula. I would try to get her to nurse before and after a bottle, but she would only eat for 15-30 seconds, and that's not really eating.

On December 19th, 2011, we came home from school, changed out of our work clothes, and I pulled Grace close, one last time. The sun was streaming in through the window and she was being cuddly. I told Ian to snap a few pictures. Because, they say you always remember the firsts, but it is the lasts that slip by without notice.

I'll always love those pictures, because that was the last time she nursed. That afternoon when the sun was bright and the house was quiet. The hum of the AC's lulled us into relaxation and shortly afterwards, Grace slipped into a long nap. That afternoon was the last time this accidental breast feeder nursed her first born.

Just one month later, at her check up, Grace had put on nearly 2 and a half pounds. I am so happy with her growth and adjustment. Now, Ian and I can share in her feedings and snuggle together as a family. I can go out at night and Ian can put her down with out me there. The formula and bottles are so good but also such a mess. I dread bottle washing and dread even more the purchasing of the formula.

Would I have loved it if we could have nursed until her first birthday? Yes. Absolutely. That's how much I loved nursing.

Will she be the worse for the wear? No. She's brilliant. She's beautiful. She's just who God wanted her to be, so I'm really not worried about it.

Whenever baby number 2 comes around, we'll definitely breast feed, but this experience has reassured me that if there are any nursing issues, that the switch to bottles will be alright.

If I could give any piece of encouragement it would be this: try breastfeeding. Just relax and try it. If it is not for you, no problem. But, even if you couldn't before, or chose not to before, or this is your first time, give it a try. I have loved our experience with it and am so grateful for those still and quiet moments with my baby.

Happy Nine Months, Grace!

2012-01-08T21:36:00.000+04:00

Weight: 16 pounds no ounces
Height: 26.5 inches
Head: 16.5 inches

She's in the 10th percentile all around. My tiny baby girl may be small, but she IS growing, praise the Lord! She probably put on 2 of those 16 pounds, just in the last 3 weeks, since putting her on formula.

Clothes: Grace is STILL in 3-6 months clothes. I almost switched her up to 6-9 month clothes but didn't because 1.) my reason for doing so was because I was bored with her 3-6 months clothes and 2.) she doesn't actually fit in 6-9 yet. Poor small, petite baby!

Food: During her eighth month, I completely weaned Grace from nursing and started her on formula. It was a very easy process and she has adjusted well to the bottle and formula. Before the switch, Grace had dropped from the 25th percentile to the 10th and had actually lost weight. For the two months following that weigh in, Grace did not put on more than a pound or two. Grace was getting the majority of her calories from solid food, and only 1-2 oz per nursing session. She could put a way HUGE amounts of solid food, but when we switched to formula, she was suddenly getting the appropriate amount of calories from milk and stopped eating solids almost altogether!

She finally started eating some small amounts of food near the end of the month. I've been so happy with her weight gain though!

Sleep: Grace sleeps from 7pm until 7am, but the change to formula has also brought about a change in her sleep schedule. She started waking up around 3 very hungry. We give her a bottle and then she goes right back to sleep. She naps for 2-3 hours in the afternoon when we get home from school.

Activity: Grace has become so active this month! It's been interesting to see, when compared to other babies her age, how active she really is! She is constantly moving, constantly making noise. There is no snuggle and cuddle moments or fall asleep together. It is go, go, GO, until she falls into bed asleep.

She rolls all over the floor now and she has learned how to scoot on her belly, but only backwards. She learned how to pull her legs up underneath her and she rocks back and forth.

She learned how to splash in the tub, say ma-ma, ba-ba, and da-da.

She lifts her arms up to be held and she holds things out to you in an offer of sharing.

Personality: Grace has become very clingy during this month. She doesn't want us to be in any other room than the one she is in, when she is awake. She's also become quite the ham, loving to make people smile and laugh- I love this about her!

Likes: Grace loves it when we pretend to eat her play food.

*Her Pacifiers, *food, *naps, *bath time, *her feet.*

Dislikes:

*diaper changes, * being left alone, *being dropped off at daycare.*

Book of the Month: "The Very First Christmas," by Suzanne Berry (audio recorded my my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin!) and "Winnie the Pooh's Plan Bee," (audio recorded by Grace's Gammie and PaPaw, my parents!)

Song of the Month: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." This was Grace's lullabye during those long sleepless nights of her first couple of weeks. We say He's Got....Grace Madeline, Gammie and PaPaw, MiMi and Grandpa, the Mammas and the Papas, all the ______ fill in the blank with a nationality.....In His Hands! It's alot of fun to see what you can come up with.

Miscellaneous:

*Grace had her first "case of food poisoning on December 8th. Poor baby got sick in her crib, but after that she felt all better!

*Grace pulled up onto all fours on December 26th (I think.)

*Grace loves to have Ian run his finger up and down on her lips while she makes sounds (what is this called?)

*Grace said Ma-ma, Da-da very loudly!

Grace, my sweet baby girl. You are nine months old and so much is changing. You are on the brink of SO many new changes. I have a feeling teeth and hair are on the horizon and crawling is right around the corner (and then, that is where YOU will be!) I'm so excited to see how you change but I also want you to stay just as you are. I'm trying to cherish every smile and laugh you have to give to us.

Love,
Your Momma

Christmas 2011

2012-01-06T16:12:00.000+04:00

Last year, Christmas of 2010, was our first Christmas all by ourselves. It was also our first Christmas on this side of the world. It wasn't bad, but it kind of felt just like any other day.

This year, although I wasn't as "festive in spirit," as I would prefer to be, we worked really hard to make Christmas Eve and Christmas day as festive as possible.

Christmas Eve we went out to the desert for our (now) annual Christmas Eve S'Mores with a bunch of friends. We made s'mores, sang carols, and drank wassail (another new Galloway tradition, since homemade eggnog does not taste as good and as smooth as store bought, and since we can't buy store bought here, wassail it is!)

We left around 6:30 to come home to talk with Ian's family via Skype. The whole crew was at their house and it felt like we were right there with them!

Grace went down by 8, and although we did not get to read the Christmas story like usual, she wore her cute peppermint/reindeer pajamas and we watched Elf after she went to sleep.

Christmas morning, we woke up and put Grace in front of the tree...
We usually do pajamas on Christmas Eve and stockings followed by presents on Christmas morning. This year, I bargained shopped over 6 months to find clearance gifts for Grace, and Ian and I only did stockings for each other, instead of presents also.
We listened to Christmas music, opened our stockings, and warmed up some of the 8 pans of PW's Cinnamon Rolls (another Christmas tradition!)
Then we skyped with my family! My sister and brother in law were with my parents in Tennessee and we got to watch them open their gifts we had ordered for them and they watched us open two packages they had sent.
Grace had a blow out diaper so we had to switch to Christmas outfit #2, which was in one of the packages from my sister. It says "For Santa, Not Daddy," ha!

The rest of the day was filled with Grace's naps while we ate, watched Nativity story, and played games. We opened Grace's 4 gifts from us throughout the day, but it was definitely a slow and relaxing day. Grace loved to tear the paper and chew on it. We had roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans for our Christmas dinner.
Merry {belated} Christmas!

33, 34, 35, 36

2012-01-03T22:32:00.000+04:00

Grace baby is plowing her way through weeks. Here are her 33-36 week portraits!

Smiley baby! She loves it when the sun shines right into her eyes. Cracks her up. Strange baby!

Ha! For some reason, she wouldn't relax her face and she kept her eyebrows raised the entire time the hat was on!

First experience with spaghetti. I'd say this was relatively clean, wouldn't you?

This might be one of my all time favorites!

2012

2012-01-01T21:32:00.001+04:00

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful time of family, fun, and food this weekend.

We ended our week long break from school by having our friends over for the evening. We ate delicious homemade southwestern egg rolls, salsa, queso, and twice baked potatoes (healthy, I know,) watched a football game that someone mailed them on dvd, played The Office board game, and enjoyed each others company.

They went home around 10:30 and Ian and I were in bed, asleep, an hour later. We didn't even bother staying up the extra half hour so we could celebrate the changing of the year.

I am officially old.

I spent the first day of 2012 with a cold (it keeps coming back!) and have been sleeping and laying around since we got home from school.

I looked at my End of Year Resolutions and realized I did not meet them all. A little disappointed in myself but at least three out of five isn't too shabby.

*Memorize 5 pieces of Scripture-Done. I have them posted by my desk and have read them to myself anytime I sat down to check blogs or email. It was amazing how quickly they stuck in my mind.

*Complete Grace's baby blanket (that I started last year!)- Incomplete. Boo. It was just SO hot here for so long, the last thing I wanted to do was snuggle up with a crocheted blanket and work on it. It's finally cold(ish) here and I've made progress, but I probably still have another 50 rows to go. Will finish before we move!

*Be one credit card out of two, out of debt- Complete! I was most excited about this one, because I hate being in debt! We've made some progress on the other one, but since we're paying off Ian's student loans as well, it's slow progress.

*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe- Incomplete. My kitchen and stove here are very unsuitable to baking. It makes me sad that I have such a hard time regulating the temperature of the oven and don't have my pans and other gear, but I thought I could push through that anyways. I decided not to complete this one, shortly after I set it, and instead will do this in 2012, when I have a nicer oven and all of my kitchen wares arrive!

*Order a photo book from our France vacation- Complete! This one was relatively easy and is already shipped and delivered to my parents. They will bring it over when they come at the end of the month!

So, as I am sure most of America is doing today, here are my goals for 2012:
*Complete Grace's baby blanket.
*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe
*Be completely out of credit card debt
*Order a 2010 and 2011 photo book and Grace's baby book
*Complete Couch to 5k- my friend and I started this a week or so ago and I want to finish!
*Read 20 Books, two of which should be Pride and Prejudice and 1984 (from my bucket list)
*Read the entire Bible (also from my bucket list. I started in Psalms last year and am in John. Now to finish the New Testament and go straight through the beginning of the Old Testament.)

I have a couple more bucket list goals that I am eying but since the list is supposed to be for my whole life, I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. If they happen, that would be amazing. If they don't, no big deal!

There aren't any travel goals this year, since we are saving for our new home and furnishings, but I would love to have a weekend away with just Ian and I this year sometime. Let's call that a tentative goal.

What are your goals for the year? Happy New Year and happy goal setting!

Recap 2011- December

2011-12-31T22:30:00.000+04:00

Recap 2011- November

2011-12-31T18:30:00.001+04:00

Recap 2011- October

2011-12-30T22:53:00.002+04:00

October started out with a quick trip to the big city for Ian's birthday. We ate at On the Border and Texas Roadhouse, and walked around some stores. It was a good weekend away and a great chance to celebrate 25 years of Ian!

Grace continued wowing us with her ability to sleep through the night, a new skill she finally learned in the previous month. She sleeps with two tiny little burp rags and two pacifiers, that usually get flung from one end of the crib to the other.

We celebrated Grace's six month birthday with a photo shoot in the local park and family time. I can't believe she's already 6 months old!

We spent alot of time with our friends, B and A, and despite what this picture shows, Grace sure does love them!

Grace started on solid foods this month, with carrots as her first food. SHe kind of gags and gets the shivers from them, but she keeps on eating!

Grace also got her ears pierced this month! (in retrospect, what a busy month October was!) She did a wonderful job and only cried for 20 seconds, tops. She has never messed with them and hasn't had any problems. I cleaned them for about a week, but, honestly, I forgot to do it regularly after that.

She finally fit into a onesie that my parents sent from the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN. We did a cooking inspired photo shoot to commemorate the day.

AND she finally fit into a tutu/Princess outfit from Ian's parents so we captured that moment as well!

October came to an end and we were looking forward to the beginning of Grace's first holiday season!

Recap 2011- September

2011-12-30T18:30:00.006+04:00

September could be described as Arabic, Arabic, Arabic.

And that's just about it.

I was surprised to see in my files that I only had pictures of Grace this month. It seems that we didn't do any family events besides school and study time.

Enjoy some Grace cuteness....

Recap 2011- August

2011-12-29T22:30:00.003+04:00

In August, we had our first family vacation and it was a big one!

We headed to Montepelier and Paris, France, for two wonderful weeks of friends, exploration, and relaxation!

I loved getting to see my good friend B and her family!

Her girls are so precious to us and we wish we could see them more often.

While in France, Grace snuck a bite of her first food, lemon sorbet.

And posed in front of a lot of famous monuments!
We had a wonderful trip and although it was at a crazy pace and a little hectic at times, I'd do it all over again to have those family memories.

At the end of August we geared up to start our third semester of Arabic language study and our last year in our current city!

Recap 2011- July

2011-12-29T18:30:00.003+04:00

July was another long and slow month for us, as we avoided the heat and tried to survive the long summer.

I was still in class, but Ian wasn't, so we had a simple routine of school, homework, housework, relax, and sleep!

We took a trip to see our friends in Muscat, Oman, where Grace had several firsts.

She had her first trip to the beach and her first swim in the ocean...
She celebrated her first Fourth of July....
And she swam in her first pool!
Our baby girl turned Three Months old this month and we started to see her little personality blossom.
I got to skype with a lot of family and friends in July and got to talk with some loved ones that I had not talked with in a long time!

We had a lot of family snuggle time this month, watched alot of movies, and read a few summer reading choices.
We really just tried to enjoy these early days of Grace's life and our life as a family of three!

Recap 2011- June

2011-12-28T22:30:00.003+04:00

In June, we finally went to Abu Dhabi for Grace's passport appointment. It was HOT and poor baby sweated alot that day.

We took alot of pictures,
even some funny ones,
and again with the humorous pictures,

and Grace attended her first ballet recital of some friends.

We said goodbye to some dear friends who were moving away,

and went out on our first date for our 3rd anniversary!

We even got a picture from her babysitter to prove she had a great time!

Grace, not the babysitter, that is.

We house hunted for some new language students,
Enjoyed Grace's bath time,

And practiced sitting up!
June was a slow month, with high temperatures and very little to do. We survived though and are glad that June of 2011 would be our only full June stuck in our little town!

Recap 2011- May

2011-12-28T18:26:00.003+04:00

May was our first full month with our daughter in our arms and the real beginning of the Middle Eastern HOT summer. Temperatures regularly reached up into the upper 110's and 120's, only getting into the 90's, maybe, at night. This goes on for four solid months and we were ready to hibernate for the long summer.

I started back to school this month, slowly, with four hours my first week, adding an hour a week until summer break two months later. I took Grace with my to most of my classes or Ian watched her in the lobby or at home, depending on his class schedule. It wasn't ideal, but it meant that Grace would get to stay in our care for the first five months of her life!

We started Grace's passport/birth certificate/social security process this month, which included a rather disturbing visit to the local photo shop for some pictures. They made her white(r) and added lipgloss. Oh yes, and they painted faint eyebrows on. I was rather relieved when this picture wasn't the right size and we had to redo the passport pictures!

It shouldn't be a surprise that almost all of the pictures are Grace related, but I figured I would give you a heads up anyways. I was a new mom and was (and am) completely enamored with my baby girl.

We got Gracie hooked on her pacifier this month, and I am totally glad we did. It is such a comfort to her and, I think, she looks completely adorable with these gum drop pacifiers.

She slept swaddled, very tightly, perpedicular in her bed. We placed another small blanket over her, folded into a long strip. I'm really not sure why we did this. I think we started this when she was in the hospital and needed extra blanket, but her little feet needed to have easier access for her blood work. Maybe. Or maybe we thought it might hold her in place and not let her flip over. I'm really not sure. Either way, it looked really cute!

Another normal scene was her burping sessions, sitting on one of our legs with a hand under her chin and another on her back for a burp. She usually loved being held like this and only burped this way, not on the traditional over the shoulder way.

We started doing mat time this month, but she was so uninterested. Luckily we didn't buy this, just borrowed from a friend, because she probably only used it 8 times. She did love looking at that zebra though!
May was also a big month, because I finally learned how to drive stick shift and could finally go out on my own. It only took 10 months until I finally decided to learn!

Everyone always said how much Ian and Grace look alike, and the resemblance, especially in the chin and mouth is uncanny.

My sweet girl loved to be propped up into a sitting position, and we finally captured a smile this month!

May was full of so many first and was so much fun!

Recap 2011- April

2011-12-27T22:30:00.018+04:00

The month started out with a bang, literally, with my contractions beginning on April 1st, they increased during the night, and about 5 am on April 2nd, I knew it was time to think about the border crossing and getting to the hospital.

Long story short, we got to the hospital safely, were admitted after a couple of hours, and just 16 hours later, 6-7 of which was active labor...

Last "just us," picture!"
Grace entered the world!

She needed some help after inhaling her muconium....
But she was soon breathing well and we had our first family picture moment.

She was taken to the NICU and would have to stay there over night for observation. Ian went to check on her while I was stitched up.

Somewhere along the way, she got worse. We still aren't sure what happened. She needed a little help (nothing big,) help breathing and was hooked up to some monitors and had IV antibiotics going on.
We slipped into see her for a little then went back to bed, waking in the morning to nurse her. About six hours later, she was released to our room, still on IV's.

Sweet baby girl did well, though we really had no idea what we were doing, ha!

We had friends who were with us during the delivery and we had other friends come by to see us and Grace and to bring food.

On April 5th, we were released and went home.
The rest of the month was a blur of rec

Grace nursed well, and slept best swaddled (until she was 5 months old,) she slept with a hat on and usually long sleeve footie pajamas.

I think, during the first 2 weeks I didn't nurse as much as I could/should have, meaning we had a sad and hungry baby. If I could do it all over, I would feed her alot more and pump after every feeding. Even if the pumping would be a pain, it would help to store and freeze during those early excess days.

I had a new little model for my photography, and I loved learning how to take pictures of my baby girl.

Ian went back to school about a week and a half after Grace was born, and I watched all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls during those first few weeks.

Grace loved bathtime and would instantly become calm. We learned the trick of diaper changing after her feed, which also resulted in a much calmer baby.

Our tiny baby girl gained weight and grew steadily.

And near the end of the month, got to celebrate her first holiday...Easter!

We had Easter lunch (ham and all!) at a friends house and it was our first real outing.

Ian did such a great job at learning all thing baby and daddy related, considering he had such a sharp learning curve (never changed a diaper before Grace!) He got up with me in the night, even when I just had to nurse her, to keep me company and would rub my feet.

His big arms are perfect for snuggling Grace and he would often pace up and down the front hallway, talking in a super low voice to calm her down.

Near the end of the month, my maternity leave was coming to an end, and I tried to soak up every moment of stay-at-home- mom time that I could. I knew it was going to be a LONG year and 2 months until I could be a stay-at-home-mom again and I knew it was just a strange season in my life.

Recap 2011- March

2011-12-27T18:30:00.001+04:00

March came, and we were READY for this month to be over, because it meant that we could finally hold our little girl, and part of our hearts would forever be outside of our body.

I had done really well with my pregnancy weight gain, but this month, my weight shot up. Picture as proof....
Some careful food choices and an unfortunate stomach bug meant that it leveled off near the end of the month.

We started receiving package after package of loving gifts from family and friends in the States, and were able to fully put together Grace's room. All of her layette items were washed and waiting her arrival!

Near the end of the month, Ian and I took a trip to Dubai as a late birthday get away and a babymoon. We ate, walked around malls, and sat out in the sun. It was glorious.

That was all that happened this month- it was pretty eventful. But the next month, now THAT was an eventful month!

Recap 2011- February

2011-12-26T23:30:00.002+04:00

February always tends to be a busier month than I originally expect. At the beginning of the month, we started into our second semester of studying Arabic. Ian and I were in the same class again and my sweet husband would sit caty corner from me so that I could put my swelling pregnant feet up on his legs and he would rub them under the table.

Mid month, we had Valentines Day, my birthday, and my baby shower, thrown my some of my dear friends over here. My mom even got to skype into the baby shower and watch me open presents!

I made a special "heart," dinner for Ian, with heart shaped pancakes and apple slices (fancy, I know,) for our Valentines Dinner.
Our Norwegian friend Svein, stopped by for a visit for about ten days. We took him to see some cultural things and he enjoyed getting to know our new country. He also helped us hang all of the pictures in our house.

I was big ol' pregnant at this point, almost to the 8 1/2 month mark. Walking around in the heat was brutal, even though it was winter!
We were looking forward to March- our last full month before we became parents!!

Recap 2011-January

2011-12-26T18:30:00.002+04:00

At the end of 2010, I recapped each month of the year with some of my favorite pictures and memories. It ended up being an amazing way to document the year in brief fashion and gave me something to reflect on during the month of December. I will be doing this again this year, as we have celebrated Christmas and approach New Year's Eve.

January-
We kicked off the New Year with having friends over to our house for games, movies, and fried chicken. We had a good time, and it was the first holiday, living over here, where I wasn't really sad the whole time.

Being that I was 6 months pregnant, I really began nesting this month. I borrowed a huge stack of baby clothes from my friend, cleaned out the guest bedroom, bought the baby furniture, and ordered the bedding and decor.

Ian put together the crib and helped to get the room all ready for his baby girl.

At the end of the month, we took our final exams for our first semester of Arabic, and had a two week break from school. Somewhere before February, we took down our Christmas tree.

One

2011-12-21T14:29:00.002+04:00

{One} hour until I go for a walk/run. In the sun. I'm extremely excited to get some sunshine. I told Ian it should be our New Year's resolution to become un maggoty in our skin color.

{One} day until it is Christmas break. WE have nearly no plans, and I am perfectly fine with that! Good food, family, and alot of movie watching is in our future.

{One} week until we lose our car. Boo. I suppose we should figure out our taxi plan for when school starts back up.

{One} month until my parents come for a visit. They will be the first people to come from the States to visit us. They will also be the first family to meet Grace!

{One} more semester left in our Arabic language study program! We'll take our exams in January and start our new and last semester in February! I can't believe it has already been three semesters, but at the same time, it feels like our time here will never end.

{One} ingredient that I forgot to put in our crock pot Chicken Tortilla Soup. Must. Hunt. Down. Cilantro.

{One} post in more than 10 days. I am having serious writer's block.

{One} book that I am reading on the Kindle "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." I love it!

{One} present that needs to be wrapped for a little friend of ours. It is actually the third present that we picked out for her and then changed our minds. And when I say "we," and "our," I totally mean "I," and "mine," because Ian doesn't really have much of an opinion on gifts for a two year old.

{One} movie trailer that made my husband really excited. Me too, but really, not as excited as he is. We're looking forward to The Hobbit next year!

{One} baby of our friend was born today- a whopping 10 pounder! I suppose that is better than their first, who was over 11 pounds!

{One} anniversary of my in-laws, yesterday, for 31 years of marriage!

Our Weekend

2011-12-10T21:39:00.000+04:00

Our weekend was a long weekend, we had Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off from school! I started off on Thursday with an early morning (my time) skype date with my parents and Grace was cute as a button for them. I went on a walk with my friend and then we spent the rest of the day just lounging around.

Early afternoon I began making preparations for our church's potluck that night but I was feeling really nauseous and ended up having to lay down while Ian finished the food and kept Grace entertained. We went to church anyways but at the end of our service I had to excuse myself because I became very VERY sick. Never fun when that happens, but especially when you are at someone else's house!

Spent the rest of the evening in bed or puking my guts out (sorry, TMI?) and sweet Ian was right there with me. Too bad if he ever gets the stomach bug, he's on his own! I have a very sensitive gag reflex and can't even hear the sound of it before I start gagging. Grace is going to have to have her Daddy hold her hair back when she's sick (just like my Dad did for me when I was little!)

Friday I woke up super early but was feeling better, it must have just been food poisoning. I had some questionable meat that day. And some questionable milk. Hmm.... maybe my food shouldn't be so questionable.

Got Grace up and found out she had puked all in her crib and just slept in it. Praised God that she was okay and that something terrible didn't happen. Promptly bathed Grace and changed her sheets while we got ready and headed to the Big City for the day.

The day, as a whole was a bust. I was exhausted from being sick the day before and Grace was crankier than usual. We had a good lunch at Texas Roadhouse with our friends, but then after that we just didn't enjoy ourselves like we usually do. We might have to go on a Big City strike for awhile.

Ian forgot that one of the main reasons we went that day was to do stocking shopping (we're not doing presents for each other this year, just a few little things for stockings,) and he was so cute when he remembered.

I mean, he remembered when I told him I had to slip away so I could go get something, ha!

Poor man had to think quick on his feet and come up with a shopping plan.

We left the Big City earlier than we usually do and came home, Ian with a headache and a stomachache (umm, he ate an entire chicken fried steak- he was totally ashamed of himself afterwards, ha!) and literally fell into bed when we walked in the door at 9:30.

9:30! When did I become such an old lady?

We woke up today, Saturday, to a baby girl who wasn't acting herself. She was clammy and wouldn't wake up and I had a million articles from web md running through my head at what it could be. We finally got her awake enough to eat and then she perked up and the clammyness went away. I'm no doctor but my guess would be she was a little dehydrated from not eating or drinking alot while we were in the Big city and from throwing up.

Chores were finished, Arabic was studied (we took our final exam for our first book of Classical Arabic on Wednesday and now get to start book two!) naps were taken, Grace's four Christmas presents were wrapped, and tv was watched.

We ended our weekend with a mini date night, just Ian and I, by playing a game and watching episodes of Army Wives.

Whenever we start a new week at school, our teachers always ask us how our weekend was (in Arabic of course,) and my answer is always, "Too short!"

And this weekend, that holds true, it was much too short!

Happy Eight Months, Grace!

2011-12-05T21:13:00.001+04:00

Grace turned 8 months old on December 2nd! Somehow this feels like such a huge milestone in the first year.

Things are a little repetitive this month, my apologies.

Clothes: She is still in 3-6 month old clothes. She's worn everything in this size except for a couple of dresses. It's started to get "chilly," here and she doesn't have enough pants in this size, I'm kind of ready for her to move up but I don't want her to! Plus there is no way she could fit in 6-9 months stuff- way too big!

Food: During her seventh month, we really struggled with breastfeeding. She wasn't latching on well, she didn't want to stay focused, my milk was low, our schedule was hectic, etc. I finally began truly thinking about supplementing with formula, since she was on the low side for her weight and since I couldn't get my milk supply back up. We pressed on though, and continued nursing every 3 hours from 7 am until 7 pm until just a couple of days before she turned 8 months, when we began supplementing her mid morning feed with a bottle.

While in Turkey, Grace began several new foods, including green beans, yogurt, mashed potatoes, chicken, beef, french fries, pears, prunes, bread, and a lick of ice cream, ha!

She is an AMAZING eater and will eat anything we give to her. She loves food and just eats and eats

Sleep: Grace sleeps from 7pm until 7am, usually uninterrupted. The week in Turkey, Grace slept on a crib mattress on the floor of our hotel bathroom, with the door closed, and because of hallway noise and a new environment, she woke up every night at least twice. It was rough. I'm not sure how parents do it- having a baby who is this old not sleeping through the night!

When we returned she slept for almost an entire day straight! Poor baby was so tired. It took her about a week to readjust to sleeping through the night but she is all straightened out now.

Activity: Grace learned how to roll this month.

And roll she did.

She loves her time, when we first walk in the door from school and we lay her on our bed. She rolls from one side of the bed to the other, laughing and giggling, pulling her legs up and trying to push off. It's precious, and is my favorite time of the day. Usually, we both plop on the bed with her in between us, laughing and tickling her until she starts rubbing her eyes for a nap.

Sweet baby girl.

Personality: Grace has gotten alot better with being with other people. She has really become a joy to be around and her schedule makes her moods very predictable.

Grace loves being around and watching children. She loves listening and singing along to music. She hates to be left alone on the floor to play while we are getting ready- makes for difficult mornings. She has recently begun protesting during diaper changes (perhaps due to the month long diaper rash we are facing- it was thrush and is just taking awhile to clear up!)

Likes: Grace loves her stacking cups and will lift up a cup to her mouth and SLURP like she is drinking something!

*Her Pacifiers, *food, *naps, *bath time, *teething beads.*

Dislikes:

*diaper changes, *rolling on the floor,* being left alone, *being dropped off at daycare.*

Book of the Month: "Shoe Baby," by Joyce Dunbar. Such a fun read, Grace loves when I do the different voices and the pictures are GORGEOUS. Plus, who doesn't like reading a book in an English accent?

Song of the Month: If You're Happy and You Know It was the winner this month. Grace loves this song and starts squealing with delight the minute someone starts singing it!

Miscellaneous:

*Grace had her first "accident," in the bath tub. Made us laugh and I was every so grateful for Ian cleaning up the mess.

*Grace traveled to Turkey and was a hit with the locals. The older people would come up, squeeze her cheeks, kiss her bald head, and say "M'Ash Allah," which is used as a blessing of sorts. I feel like "M'Ash Allah," was the soundtrack for that week, we heard it so many times!

*Grace will smack her lips in between every bite of food. She wants more and MORE food! Recently she started smacking her lips while she is nursing, and if I smack my lips back at her she will smile big and smack back, haha.

*Grace makes a cooing "ahh, ahh, ahh," sound when she is happy, and lately we can "ahh," at her once or twice and she will start "ahhing," with us! She keeps a pretty good beat!

Grace, my sweet baby girl. You are eight months old now, and as we enter into your first holiday season, I want you to remember that I love you, more than you will ever imagine. You are the light in our lives, the laughter in our days. You have taught us so much in your short time on earth and I have a feeling you will continue to do so. My prayer is that you grow big and healthy, and that one day you will come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Love,
Your Momma

Our Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T21:55:00.001+04:00

First, an update on the housing situation: We got the approval for the financial side of things, but we realized to be anywhere near the square footage allowance would mean closing off far too many rooms, so we've turned down the house. There is just too much wasted space in the hallways. Boo.

I've been bummed all afternoon but my wonderful husband has helped me redeem the evening by letting me not cook dinner (instead we ate chocolate cereal. awesome.) and watching Army Wives (so good, and not as skanky as I would have guessed!)

Thanksgiving 2011 was Ian and my 4th Thanksgiving spent together.

In 2008 I was sick as a dog but drudged my way through it (turns out I was seriously allergic to my down comforter at my in-laws.)

In 2009 we were at my in-laws again and their 2 dachshunds tried to eat my Uggs. Sad, but that is the only thing I remember/know about that Thanksgiving!

In 2010, last year for those of you confused about what year we are currently in, we were living here in the Middle East, and had a potluck dinner with some friends of ours. It was our first real holiday away from the States and I did all I could to keep it together and not cry all night.

This year was a great improvement. Same group of people (basically) and same (wonderful) food but I wasn't on a precipice for emotional disaster all night long.

We got there before the sun was down and I helped set up the buffet while Ian and Grace hung outside watching the big kids bounce on the trampoline...

Then dinner rolled around and we fed Grace THREE cups full of mashed potatoes before digging into a delicious buffet full of American goodies. We had some people from Syria, South Africa, South Korea, and England there as well, along with some of their foods, but I had to be very un-PC and not eat their foods. It's Thanksgiving! I only have so much room on my plate!

I brought deviled eggs, a green salad, Northern style stuffing, and apple cobbler. I chose easier dishes since we had school all day and then would only have a couple of hours before we had to be at dinner.

My favorite dish to eat this year? Sweet Potato Casserole. My friend had to dye the sweet potatoes orange though, since ours are a whitish/gray when mashed, but it was amazing!!

It was a good evening and we packed up and headed out shortly after we ate so that we could skype with our families before they sat down to lunch.

I'm looking forward to next year, when we are in a home with an actual table. I think I'll cook my first Thanksgiving meal and host, so that we can have Thanksgiving like we like- a little more formal with more hang out time during the cooking process and afterward!

If anyone wants to mail us a dvd of the Macy's day parade I'd love to see it!
This year, I am so thankful for my husband, sweet daughter, family members who try so hard to stay connected, friends who love me despite the distance, and the technology that holds us all together, ha!

May this season of Thanks continually remind you how blessed we all are!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Galloways!

House Hunting

2011-11-26T23:53:00.000+04:00

Alternatively titled: What Were We Thinking?

Alternatively titled: We Are Out of Our Ever Living Minds.

It is now the end of November (in case you were unaware,) and we do not get to move until after June 14th, 2012. But for some reason, we thought it would be a grand idea to use this Saturday to go scope out our future city.

Ian's boss invited us out and planned the day around a lunchtime meeting and then going to view several different areas of town, to see what we would be most interested in later on. His wife is 9 months pregnant and they are going to be in the States come moving day so I suppose it is a good idea to lay the ground work for this move now.

We arrived in the city with only two minor glitches.

Glitch #1- Our in town border post (the police station) was closed today because the country finally decided to celebrate their National Day. Their National Day WAS on the 18th, but the people don't celebrate/have off from work until a different time (usually after the 18th.) Every year it is different, but usually the king will announce when the celebration days are in the newspaper a couple of days before hand and then every one will just have off.

So yeah, we had to add an hour to our drive time and go to the far away border post.

Glitch #2- We got lost. And I say we loosely, because only one of us was driving. hmph.

I may have told my husband that we're buying him a GPS.

Maybe that wasn't the most festive thing to say.

But we arrived and had our meeting and piled back into the car and headed for lunch at Ikea. Because that's what we like to do.

And also, it is cheap.

While we were there, Ian's boss told him a friend had called him the day before. A friend he hadn't heard from in a year. The friend told him that his brother had a brand new villa (fancy word for condo or house) that he wanted to rent out, and would he happen to know anyone who was in the market?

Why yes, I suppose he DOES know someone in the market!

Us!

We're in the market for a house, in case you are lost in my storytelling skills.

So he drives over to Ikea, picks us up and takes us to the brand new (read: construction schmutz everywhere) house. My mouth is just hanging as we get out. It's gorgeous. It's right by the ocean. Did I mention it was gorgeous.

"We're never going to afford this," I whisper as we step inside.

"And it's definitely too big!"

Too big, you ask. Yes, too big. You see, much like the army used to have, Ian's company has square footage maximum's in order to have equal housing for all of its employees all over the world. So, even though your dollar can get you more here than in say, London, you aren't allowed to have a giant mansion because that's not fair.

So, we step in through the door into a massive walled in patio. The house is in a giant U shape around the patio with a wall closing in the top of the U. We walk to a sliding glass door in the middle of the U and enter the house. The two local men who are showing us the house keep switching between Arabic and English and I tune them out. I look at what could possibly be my future home.

Windows everywhere, light streaming in.

Mental note: Thankful that power bill is included in rent. The AC it would take to cool this place!!!

Before me, a large family room, with sliding wooden doors to close off the room.

To the right, a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and front door. We're told that this area would be partitioned off and used by the owner of the house. My first glimmer of hope, the square footage might be within the limits!

On the left side of the U, a gorgeous kitchen with (fake) wood cabinets and tons of drawers. A dishwasher space is built in. Miracle of all miracles! Off of the kitchen is a small room with a washing machine hook up and a sink, and off of that room is what should be the maid's quarters but would be a laundry room/pantry for us.

Continuing down the hallway, a large room opens up with windows lining one side of the wall. It would be our dining room on one side and perhaps some of our books and a cozy chair on the other.

Further down, a bedroom and a bathroom. This would be Ian's study. Lovely.

Upstairs, two smaller bedroom lie in the middle of the U along with a balcony. Both bedrooms have a bathroom en-suite and the wardrobes are already built in.

On the right of the U is the master bedroom and bath, with a nice walk in shower. Not a ton of natural light in this room though.

On the left side of the U is another larger bedroom and bath, with a wall of windows. I think this would be our master and we could "close off," the other one to be under the square footage allowance. This room also has a patio but I forgot to go out there.

The downstairs patio, in the middle of the U is HUGE. You could have a large swimming pool and deck down there, but we would probably have them put pavers down so we could have a grill and patio set, along with play area for Grace.

Ian's boss talks with his friend, explains that we don't need to move in until June/July. He also asks for the price.

His friend says that it would be okay to hold it until June/July, but that he would need the year's rent in January to hold it (it's customary here to pay for a year's rent at the start of the year.) Ian's boss isn't sure that the company will front all of that money so early. They talk price and I stand in the patio willing myself not to picture us living there.

Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

They get the price down to within our budget.

We get in the car, make promises to call them, and head out.

My head spins. I want this house! It's so beautiful, with windows, and space to breathe!

But no, now we wait. The company has to be informed and they have to tell us what their policy is, whether they would pay for the year 6 months early. My gut is "No," but my heart keeps saying "It was such a God thing- this friend calling for the first time in a year the day before we were coming house hunting!"

Now we wait.

We did look at some other areas. One was an absolute winner- a 3 bedroom plus a study town home with outdoor space and lots of light. Within our budget and in a great neighborhood with a gym, playground, pool, etc. Definitely a fall back..

The other neighborhood. Well, let's just say I told Ian's boss it looked like a war zone.

And I wasn't kidding.

We left soon afterward, ha!

And now, we wait. We have tons of time so we are in no rush. But what was I thinking?! I'm such a dreamer and planner- my heart already wants to decorate and furnish this house into a home!

7 months, 7 months, 7 months.

I must keep myself grounded here for 7 more months.

Oh boy.

Wondering

2011-11-22T22:45:00.003+04:00

Ian and I have been home sick for a couple of days now, him with a sinus infection and horrible cough, and me, well, I believe the Dr said laryngitis, but sometimes language barriers make even a diagnosis misunderstood.

I get fever chills pretty badly when I'm sick, so bad, that I compared them to labor contractions, in that you know when they are coming on and you dread it! Anyone else regularly get horrible cases of the chills when they are sick?

So, as I'm sitting at home, exhausting my many technological avenues (joined Pinterest, read The Hunger Games on Pinterest, watched two episodes of Terra Nova,) I've been pondering doing a question and answer post.

Several of my bloggy friends are in the middle of question and answer series right now, and I was going to wait as to not rain on their parade (or steal their proverbial thunder,) but I figure being bed ridden for several days on end is justification for for going ahead with something I was putting off indefinitely.

SO....what are your questions?

Do you have a question about my story, family, and friends?

What about my marriage, pregnancy, or motherhood?

Or maybe about living overseas and all of the baggage that goes with it?

Likes, dislikes?

I've got loads of opinions on other things as well, so seemingly random questions are fine as well!

Can't wait see your questions!

Happy Seven Months, Grace!

2011-11-18T08:58:00.000+04:00

I am getting more and more behind with my Grace posts. This is 16 days late, so she's technically closer to 8 months old than 7 now!

Clothes: She is still in 3-6 month old clothes. Unless she hits a growth spurt soon, I am guessing she'll be in this size well into January. I am trying to get her into all of her cute outfits at least once- trouble is, she has so many pretty dresses but no "fancy" place to wear them, ha!

Food: Grace still nurses every three hours from 7 am until 7 pm and eats 3 meals of solid food a day. After her 6 month appointment, where the dr was a little worried about her weight (she lost a couple of ounces in a month and dropped from the 25th percentile to the 10th percentile) I worked really hard at reestablishing my milk supply and feeding her more solids. We didn't really see much of a difference until the last week (so technically not part of this post, ha!)

Grace began solid foods on her 6 month birthday, with carrots. Avocados (she's allergic), bananas, peas, apples, squash, pears, sweet potatoes, and her rice cereal were all we got around to this month.

Sleep: Grace sleeps from 7pm until 7am, usually uninterrupted. There was a week when she started waking up at 6 am, and frustrated us since our waketime is 7am. We figured out it was because our upstairs neighbors leave for school at that time and are pretty noisy. If she wakes up at that time, I'll nurse her and put her back down, and then her real wake time will be closer to 7:30.

She started napping a little more at day care, maybe a 30 minute nap 3 out of 5 days there, and takes a 2-3 hour nap when we get home in the afternoon.

Activity: Grace is a master sitter and can even pull herself up into a sitting position if she's fallen back onto her pillow (but not from flat off of the ground.) She's been fascinated with clapping hands, waving, and is now ticklish! She loves watching mouths and music is her favorite thing- might we have a little musician on our hands?

Personality: Grace is still a Momma's Girl, which just melt my heart and frustrates me, as I really want her to be comfortable with a variety of people. I tried to just cherish this time that she just wants to be with me, because pretty soon she's going to be on the move and wanting to go to people that have something interesting, ha!

She loves being talked to, sung to, and danced with. We read to her almost every day and she has become able to sit still for longer and play with the pictures/pages.

Miscellaneous:

*Grace loves her bedtime routine. I know I said this last month but it is so funny how once we start, with dinner, there is not stopping or turning back. This kid knows that it goes dinner, bath, and bed, and she can't wait to be put down for the night!

*Still not really babbling much. Occasionally when you are crying, you'll make a garbled Ma-ma sound, but you really only blow raspberries and suck in on your lip (making a slurping sound,) with regularity.

Grace, my darling baby. We love you so much. I can't believe you are on the downside of the hill to your first birthday. We have a lot of fun things planned for the rest of your first year- a trip to Turkey, Thanksgiving, Christmas, your grandparents visiting, and house hunting! We love you so much and can't wait to share in your exciting life.

Love,
Your Momma

I am Barabbas

2011-11-15T18:29:00.002+04:00

I am Barabbas.

The scorned.
The rejected.
The unwanted.

I am Barabbas.

The plotter,
The schemer,
The murderer.

I am Barabbas.

The convicted,
The condemned,
The sentenced.

I am Barabbas.

The freed,
The redeemed,
The unworthy.

^{Luke 23
13} Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” ^[17

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

I've always wondered what happened to Barabbas after he was released. What did he do? Where did go? Did he tell his story?

And then I think, what have I done? Where have I gone? Who have I told my story to?

Where We've Been

2011-11-14T19:12:00.000+04:00

I've been absent from the blogging world for almost three weeks now, but for a good reason.

Or, perhaps, for several good reasons.

The last week of October was busy, as I had visits, homework, accountability, and walks on top of the normal school and house work schedule.

The first week of November, I came down with a cold and was pretty much useless. Anyone else out there useless when they are sick? I'm not proud of it, but it is what it is.

And here is where your guesses from the last post come in... No, we didn't go to India or Morocco (I wish!) Instead we went to Turkey!

Ian had a work conference and we got to spend the time at a beautiful resort on the Mediterranean.

Ian's work provided child care all week so Grace was in great hands during the day. I would drop her off after breakfast, go back during the day to nurse, and pick her up in the late afternoon. One evening, one of the ladies came to our room to provide babysitting for a much needed date night. It was marvelous.

Ian and I were able to go out for dessert one evening, attend a Turkish dance performance, and play games with other couples. What a blessing to be able to have some normalcy in our lives!

I attended most of the conference and LOVED hanging out with the other wives. There were a couple of break out sessions just for the women, since we all live overseas, we had alot in common, no matter where we were from. I got to meet and chat with a bunch of women I had heard about but hadn't met.

I also really began thinking about how I could use my talents while I am over here. Right now, language school is a priority, even if I would rather it not be. When we are finished though (in 7 months!!) I get to be a stay at home mom, and I am so ready for that! I am also ready to figure out how to best use my talents and gifts to bless others.

There were other believers there too, so we had a great time of fellowship, study of God's Word, and worship together. Can you believe it has been over a year and a half since I've gotten to experience corporate (group) worship?! I actually cried several times, because it was so special to hear all of those people lifting their voices in worship to the one true God. What unity and togetherness!

The food was amazing! The resort had one buffet restaurant that was open for all of the meals, and we would just hop from one platter to the next seeing what was available. No pork, of course, because it is still Turkey, but I got to have a ton of grilled meat and veggies. It made me excited for our next move, because we will be buying a good grill for our next home.

Our travel was both good and bad. We left for Turkey on a 3:30 am flight, which meant we had to cross our border and start driving for the airport at 8:30 pm on the previous night. Right at Grace's bedtime! Needless to say, it was a long night, and Grace didn't do great on the first long flight. She slept for about 2 and a half hours on the second flight but the rest of the day at the resort, she was a mess. That first night, I was the most tired I had EVER been. We put Grace down around 8 pm, and let her just cry for the next hour. (Grace slept on a crib mattress on the floor of the hotel bathroom, since she and I can't sleep when we are in the same room together, ha!) Ian and I sat on our bed praying together and (me) crying for Grace to get some sleep, and she fell asleep around 9 pm for the night. Every night she would wake up several times, which was unusual for her, but it was manageable. Our flights home were much better and she slept more comfortably. She was so excited to walk into our home and for us to put her down in her own crib at night!

29, 30, 31, 32

2011-11-13T23:42:00.000+04:00

Guess....

2011-11-13T20:58:00.000+04:00

Can you guess where we've been for the past 8 days?

I'll give you three clues, all of them involving my incredibly adorable daughter.

{1.}

{2.}

{3.}And yes, this last one IS a clue. It is a clue about the specific place we went....

Any guesses?

Quarter of a Century

2011-10-26T18:09:00.000+04:00

October 1st, 2011, my husband celebrated his 25th birthday. I love that every year he turns older, we get closer and closer to spending more of our life together than apart.

Is there an actual phrase for that? There should be.

We were in the big city for the weekend and ate out at On the Border for lunch....
and Texas Roadhouse for dinner! Ian was in heaven, with a country fried chicken dinner, college football, and endless sweet tea. Grace fell asleep in his arms and I think just about everything was perfect for him!
Three weeks later and I finally got around to making him a cake. We were in an import store and Ian picked out a Cherry Chip cake mix and Cherry Frosting....

Pink Cherry Frosting.

Yes, his 25th birthday cake was pink. And delicious.

I told him that only a real man would be totally okay with a pink cake. He said he didn't care, as long as it tasted good!

And yes, his t-shirt is covered with the silhouettes of famous men's hair/beards.

It's like a very weird Where's Waldo.

On my husband's chest.

Happy Birthday, Ian! Thanks for being such a wonderful husband, father, provider, comforter, and best friend.

25, 26, 27, 28

2011-10-25T20:03:00.000+04:00

I've been doing monthly update posts on Grace along with these picture posts of her life, week by week, and I have to tell you, I'm LOVING having these pictures. My plan is, after her first birthday, to order a photo book with just her 52 week by week pictures and her 12 monthly photos. It may not tell a coherent story but it shows her growth, her personality, and the passing of time.

My Grace baby is such a joy. I've said that before and I'll say it again. She is a happy, smiley, squeally little baby, who is all girl and who loves her momma.

Our Weekend

2011-10-24T18:35:00.003+04:00

I came up with this meme, called "Our Weekend," last month as a way to capture the little things in a not so exciting weekend. We're not always going out and doing things that are blog worthy, but I want to remember the simple things in life that made up weekends! I love that so many of you joined in did your own "Our Weekend" post and would love to read more about your weekend if you decide to join this time!

Outside my window...Scooters zooming past, the call to prayer ringing in the dawning night air, the soccer field (read, dust bowl,) emptying of its teenage occupants as they hurry home before dusk.

I am thinking that emotions get the better of me. If only I could be as logically minded as I would like .

I am smelling chicken baking and cleaners from a freshly scrubbed bathroom.

I am thankful that I only have 2 weeks left before our fall break. My mind is bogged down with Arabic.

From my kitchen- Baked Potato Soup with the precious commodity of bacon and bacon grease, cherry chip cake, homemade pizza puffs, and Grace's new baby foods- peas and apples.

I am wearing a fleece and pajama pants. And socks. I think it has dipped down into the 80's and my house is FREEZING!

I am creating a banner for a baby shower I am co-hosting this weekend. Or rather, the idea behind the banner, as I have yet to track down colored paper in this town.

I am going to the bathroom alot. Is that "too much information?" My bad. I'm trying to drink alot of water because I have not been making enough milk lately. Also "too much information?" Again, so sorry.

I am reading Boundaries with Kids, the book of Luke, and adoption blogs.

I am hoping that my test in Arabic goes well tomorrow. Two weeks ago they "surprised" us with a test before we had even finished the chapter. I was so surprised and SO angry that I just started bawling (silently, of course, I'm a silent crier,) and my poor teacher just stared at me as snot streamed down my face and as I tried to finish the listening portion of the test. Then I excused myself and went home because I was such a mess.

Yeah, I'm hoping I do better than that. Especially since I know this test is coming.

I am hearing the toilet running, cars squealing, the neighbor kids running up and down the stairs.

We Decided to go to bed early last night. I love sleep.

Our Music- the Goldberg Variations- please look them up online, such a CHEAP set of classical music for over 75 minutes worth of music. Beautiful!

Our Viewing- the new episode of Terra Nova, we're really liking it! Anne of Green Gables and the Sequel. Love, LOVE, love!

One of my favorite things- we paid off one out of two credit cards! What a big sigh of relief! Now to knock out the second one!

We're looking forward to fall break in just two little weeks! We have a trip for Ian's work so we'll be headed out of the country but I am so excited to get away!

A Glimpse Within-{And if you can't read it, her shirt says "Made From Scratch!"}

Guess What We Did...

2011-10-23T15:51:00.001+04:00

Guess what we did this week.

Or, rather, guess what Grace did this week!

After her six month check up, on Tuesday, October 18th, where she got her two shots and found out she had dropped from the 25th percentile to the 10th in weight (she's a lean mean fighting machine. The doctor is not worried, but if it doesn't improve then we'll switch to formula in a couple of weeks,) we headed to a local mall for dinner at Chili's and some grocery shopping.

And then, the highlight of the night.....

Grace got her ears pierced!!

Six months is very young, but I got mine done as a baby and I am so thankful that my parents got it done before I had a concept of pain, or, you know, memory of pain!

Also, the local girls get their ears pierced usually earlier than six months so it is not uncommon here at all.

Here we are, getting instructions from the doctor (a Dr. in a pharmacy performs the ear piercing here,)
They brought us back into a little room, marked her ears, then had several other women who work at the pharmacy check the positioning of the marks.

I held Grace while Ian took pictures. Here one of the worker ladies is distracting Grace while the first ear is pierced...
And then the second!
And here, is a strange lady, not an employee of the pharmacy, who oohed and ahhed over our bald headed, blue eyed, white skinned baby...
And then Grace was promptly returned to my arms and she stopped crying.
All of the pharmacy employees doted on Grace and said "And now, she is a GIRL!"

ha!
The upkeep is so simple. Twice a day I wipe her ears with a alcohol swab and turn the earrings clockwise and counter clockwise. So easy!
Sweet baby girl! We're so grateful that we got to share this experience with her!

A View From the Top

2011-10-16T21:55:00.000+04:00

We spent an evening at a local park,
Visiting with friends,
Chatting to locals,
And enjoying the scenery of endless desert skies reaching down to touch the dusty sand-swept ground.
"Rugged," doesn't do it justice.

Low Key {and rain in the desert}

2011-10-12T22:00:00.003+04:00

I know, two posts in one day.

Watch out world.

But sometimes, when you have an amazing day, you just need to share it, if only to encourage someone else in the throes of a horrible day.

Ian and I had an unofficial date night today.

And all because our power turned off!

Our area of our little tiny city seems to have rolling black outs frequently, so when the power shut off, right as I was in the middle of shredding chicken in the food processor, we loaded Grace into her carseat for naptime and set out on a drive (with our car's air conditioning.)

We drove around our little city, exploring a few areas that we had never set foot in.

We sang along to "Sweet Home Alabama," "Island in the Sun," and a plethora of The Postal Service songs.

We watched as a dust storm rolled in, with wisps of sand streaking across the roads.

We stopped and picked up one of our favorite Middle Eastern desserts, basboosa.

And then, miracle of all miracles, it started to rain.

RAIN!

In the DESERT!

Grace has never driven in the rain.
Or seen it.
Or touched it.

She stirred from her nap and was momentarily frightened until our gleeful chatter lulled her back to sleep.

We talked and talked and talked, and finally returned home to feed, bathe, and put Grace down for the night.

Then we went for a nighttime stroll in our neighborhood, with a dust cleared sky and a mountain of fire in the background.

And, even though the temperatures were only in the seventies, we shivered as we walked along and thought of the months to come.

Because Winter, in the desert, is like Spring in the rest of the world.

Growth.
Renewal.
Refreshment.

And all of this was rung in with a walk in the desert with my husband.

Like I said, it was a good night.

Happy Six Months, Grace!

2011-10-12T17:19:00.001+04:00

This is 10 days late but we had to wait for the weekend after she turned 6 months to take her pictures!

Height: 25.2 inches
Weight: 13.4 pounds
Head: 16.5 inches

Clothes: At five and a half months, I changed all of Grace's clothes out, not because she had outgrown her 0-3 months, but because she was 5 and a half months old and still wearing 0-3 months! I was worried that she was going to grow all of a sudden and jump right over her 3-6 month sized clothes! Stupid, I know, but I was also ready for something new!

Food: Grace nurses every three hours from 7 am until 7 pm, and dropped her dreamfeed at the beginning of her 5th month! I pump at night so that she can have her 10 am feed at daycare. We send 4 tablespoons of rice cereal to school, and she eats 4 tablespoons at night before her bath.

Sleep: Grace is completely deswaddled and around September 7th, began sleeping through the night, 7pm until 7 am! I think dropping her dream feed has let her sleep more solidly, and longer!

She doesn't really nap at daycare, for the entire five hours that she is there (sometimes she'll get in a couple 10 minute cat naps, because they don't know how to put her down without letting her fall asleep with a bottle,) but she comes home and sleeps for 2 hours, wakes up for an hour, and then sleeps for another hour.

Activity: Grace learned to sit up, unpropped, this month on September 21st. She will play by herself on the floor, reaches for people, and she finally learned how to roll over from her back to her tummy.

Personality: Grace is an observer, she loves to look around her environment. She is a very happy content baby but likes to be held/played with all of the time when she is awake. She became very Mommy attached this month, sometimes not even liking it when Ian holds her. She shrieks very loudly but is not yet making any syllable like sounds.

Miscellaneous:

*Grace makes a piercingly sharp shrieking noise, and we affectionately call her our little Naz'Gul, which is the black riders from Lord of the Rings.

Except, she isn't the harbinger of death.

*She has really fallen into her bedtime routine. She gets so excited when we start it because she knows sleep is near. At 6, we begin feeding her cereal, followed immediately after by a bath, lotion, and footie pajamas (a must for her!) Then she nurses and I lay her down in her crib awake. I pop in her pacifier and hand her her "deal" blankets, two little burp rags that she holds onto. She rolls over onto her side and is immediately asleep!

Grace, my beautiful baby girl. Every day your personality becomes bigger and bigger. Your smile lights up our lives and you bring so much joy into our lives. I pray every day that God will keep your "heart beating, lungs breathing, and mind functioning through the night" so that you can face another day with your sweet adventurous spirit.

Love,
Your Momma

Life Marches On

2011-10-05T20:54:00.002+04:00

Life Marches On
Or is it Time Marches on?

I'm not really sure, because both seem right.

I've been struggling lately.

With homesickness, fatigue, language overload, policy changes, our apartment flooding, financial responsibility, death of a family member, miscommunications with loved ones so far away, and have I mentioned the fatigue?

I am not complaining, even if it sounds like it.

It just is what it is.

There have been some mighty victories in my life lately.

I've come to terms with several things that was giving me great anxiety. I've had a chance to talk with some of my family members and some of my close friends. I started accountability with a friend and it has been so relieving to have someone to open up to.

I've had some great time out in the community, talking with locals. I've become more comfortable on this side of the world.

Life marches on.

Despite my absence from the blogging world, Ian still had his 25th birthday, Grace turned 6 months, we had a lovely weekend away, our apartment flooded, we had our first round of language tests for the semester, and Ian went on his first business trip since Grace was born.

Life marches on.

Whether I blog about it or not.

One day, I will find the energy to remember these last couple of weeks and share about them, but for now, I breathe in the sweet scent of my baby's clean head, snuggle close to my husband, and try not to fall asleep on my homework.

700

2011-09-30T16:50:00.002+04:00

It's official. I've hit 700 posts. 702 actually.

And to be even more specific, this post will make 703.

703 times I have logged on and written about our lives.

3 and a half years in the making and we've hit 700! I'm a little amazed.

And if 700 posts have taught me anything, it is that a post on nothing but the amount of posts you have written is not really a good post.

So, moving on.

We've taken the weekend off and are on a little retreat/getaway for Ian's 25th birthday with some friends of ours.

We have big plans of eating, shopping, and, you know, being around actual civilization.

We got word from Ian's company that our car will be taken away come January, for financial reasons. bleh.

Did I mention that Ian turns 25 this weekend? And that Grace turns 6 months? And that we are starting her on solid foods? Time sure does fly!

We've been watching the first season of Community, and we've really enjoyed it. It is different, but funny! As soon as you accept that it is not a different version of The Office, it is great!

I'm off to enjoy my weekend! I hope you do too!!

21, 22, 23, 24

2011-09-23T20:41:00.000+04:00

(I L-O-V-E this picture...it might be one of my all time favorites!)

Look who is sitting up all by herself!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T21:35:00.000+04:00

Our Weekend

2011-09-19T19:51:00.000+04:00

Outside my window...Sand and lots of it. A bunch of men playing cricket in the lot next door. Scooters and men. The temperatures have begun to drop here though. Funny, but "only" 100 degrees out doesn't make me pass out like it used to!

I am thinking that my week looks too busy for comfort. I hate when I am so overwhelmed that I feel like I can't do anything. The proverbial deer-in-the-headlights scenario.

I am smelling chocolate brownies and cinnamon room spray. I create for myself Fall in any way that I can!

I am thankful for friends, both old and new who hold me when I'm down and make me laugh.

From my kitchen- Moroccan Chicken and couscous, baked ziti and garlic bread, chicken pot pie with homemade pie crust.

I am wearing comfy pajamas after ridding myself of my ironed school clothes.

I am creating a better schedule to live by. Life with a baby is tough on my study habits. And also, a fall wreath. Because the two go hand in hand, don't you think? No time to study? Eh. Might as well make a wreath.

I am going along with the flow of things. Nap time for Grace means nap time for me!

I am reading my Arabic text books, the book of Luke, and

I am hoping Grace sleeps through the night. And that I complete my homework.

I am hearing my new neighbor drilling holes in the wall, Grace crying from her crib, the click of our ceiling fan.

We Decided on what our family devotional should look like. Now to implement....

Our Music- Jack Johnson, worship in Arabic, classical music

Our Viewing- the entire Bourne trilogy, Eddie Murphy's Imagine That, and an episode of Dance Moms!

One of my favorite things- my new food processor! I'm so excited for all of the things that it can do. It is no KitchenAid Mixer (ahh, one day!) but it made mixing pie dough, dicing chicken, and chopping onions, all that much faster. And it will soon be put to use making baby food!

We're looking forward to getting caught up on things that we have let slip. These past two-three weeks have been a whirlwind and hopefully things will settle down/fall into a routine.

A Glimpse Within-(I'm a good wife. Even though we live in a divided household, with me being a lifelong fan of the University of Florida and Ian being a fan of the University of Georgia, I'll dress my daughter in his team's garb to make him happy.

Even if she'd look a lot cuter in blue and orange.

And even if my team is better.)

17, 18, 19, 20

2011-09-12T22:05:00.005+04:00

I'm a little behind but here are Grace's weekly pictures for 17-20 weeks. My baby is getting so big!

End of Year Resolutions

2011-09-10T21:15:00.001+04:00

It may only be September, but Fall flowing into Winter always feels like a rush of days and I often find myself thinking about the Holiday season and the New Year right after Labor Day.

It got me thinking about my resolutions for the year and *gasp* I realized I never set any!

I was big ol' pregnant and in the middle of language school (still am, I suppose. In language school, that is, not big ol' pregnant.) and didn't want to put any added pressure on myself.

It was probably wise thinking on my part, but now I'm wishing I accomplished something big on a checklist, besides, you know, birthing a human.

I had a great year with my resolutions in 2009 (read the Old Testament, wrote 300 blog posts, and read 50 books,) but failed epically with my 2010 goals (try 50 new recipes, memorize 25 Scripture verses, and complete project 365.)

Not wanting to set myself up for failure, I have set some smaller, more manageable goals for the rest of 2011.

*Memorize 5 pieces of Scripture
*Complete Grace's baby blanket (that I started last year!)
*Be one credit card out of two, out of debt
*Figure out the perfect brownie recipe
*Order a photo book from our France vacation

And that's it! I think that some of these will occur naturally while some will have to take a little forethought and planning.

Ian and I have been talking lately about what success means to me and how I need to feel successful at something, which living in a foreign country and learning a new language has not helped with. I hope, at the end of the year, to be able to look back and feel proud of all that I have accomplished and that I feel successful!

Happy Five Months, Grace!

2011-09-09T22:10:00.000+04:00

Five months old! I can't believe how quickly the time is passing by. Her month four was a whirlwind of adventure and change. Our little newborn is completely in the infant stage, with learning, growing, and changing taking center stage in her little life. I thank God for her every day and pray that Ian and I can be the best parents for her as possible.

This post is a week late, but due to arriving home from vacation and then the start of the school year, things have gotten a little mixed up!

Grace had her four month check up this week (even though she is five months, her doctor was out of town the first half of the month, and then we were out of town the second half.) Our girl is growing!

Height: 25.2 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 13.6 pounds (25th percentile)
Head Circumference: 16.3 inches (50th percentile)

She's held steady at the same percentages, so the doctor is very happy with her growth. She is not a big baby, by any standards, but she isn't particularly tiny either.

Our Doctor explained that her dark pink birth mark is called a port wine stain (it is on the back of her head,) the most common of birth marks, and that it should get dark red when she cries and should fade to nothing around her first birthday (or get covered up by hair.)

She got two shots and one oral immunization and then we were on our way! We'll have to go back in 6 weeks for her 6 month check up, in order to get back on schedule, but we're excited to keep up with her growth!

Clothes: Not much has changed here...Grace is still in 0-3 month clothes and has at least another month in them, if not longer.

Food: Grace nurses every three hours from 7 am until 7 pm, with a "dream feed," right before I go to sleep, usually around 11:30. She also eats 2-3 tablespoons of cereal (mixed with 4-6 tablespoons of water,) each night at 6. She loves her cereal thick and has been great at leaning forward, opening her mouth, and taking all of the cereal off of the spoon! Our doctor wants us to wait until she is 6 months to start other foods and we are okay with that!

Sleep: Grace's sleep got disrupted while we were on vacation. There was alot of cat napping going on in her stroller or in her carrier, and her nighttime sleep was horrible. Seriously, I don't know if I can explain to you how awful it was. She would only sleep swaddled and with her pacifier in her mouth, but we had no AC for most of the time and she would over heat or the pacifier would fall out and then she would wake up. She would really only sleep for about 30-45 minutes at a time.

Of course, as soon as we set foot back in our house, she was fine again! We let her have two nights of good sleep to recuperate and then we weaned her from her swaddle an the pacifier (sort of.) She sleep fine without the swaddle now (it took about 3-4 days to wean her from this,) and though she sometimes wakes up and wants her pacifier (usually around the 1 hour mark for a nap and around the 3 hours mark of night sleep,) we let her cry it out and she usually goes back to sleep within 5-10 minutes.

Activity: Grace learned to blow a raspberry this month, found her feet, learned to be with out her swaddle, can put her pacifier back in all by herself, and started laughing more easily.

Personality: Grace likes her cuddle time but has been working on more independent play time lately. She can usually entertain her self for 10-15 minutes at a time but we are working on stretching that to a 20 minute mark.

Miscellaneous:

*Grace traveled to Europe, stayed in her first hotel, and saw beautiful landmarks in Paris.
*Grace had her first food while in Europe- Lemon Sorbet!
*Grace started her first foods, rice cereal, this month!
*Grace loves to sit in a tripod sit, almost unassisted, and likes to be pulled onto her feet to stand.
*She loves music and songs, and will almost always smile or laugh if we sing her anything.
*She was loving her teething rings, but then I tried to sterilize them and ended up melting them. Lesson learned.

Grace and Food

2011-09-05T20:56:00.000+04:00

The very day we got back from our France vacation, August 24th, we started Grace on food.

I really wanted to wait until Grace was 6 months old, since I have had allergies before (chocolate and peanut butter- praise the Lord I am no longer allergic) but during vacation, two things happened:

1.) Grace showed that she was ready for food. She could sit up for long periods of time and her head no longer bobbled. She had recognized that meal times meant that things went in our mouths and began grabbing for our plates or utensils.

2.) I read that though it is best to hold off on introducing food- foods to a baby until 6 months, that it was recommended to start the baby getting used to the spoon and swallow skills prior to that.

I also knew that with de swaddling and shifting her schedule around to get ready for the school year, it would be a great time to "schedule in" her real food eating, since the schedule would be new anyways.

So, away we went.

Rice Cereal, infant spoon, and some warm milk.

The meal of my dreams.

Not!

Though it did surprisingly look like Grits and made me crave those!
Here is Grace, unsure about what is taking place.

And here is her best "deer in the headlights," look. Priceless.

Be prepared! (anyone here the hyenas from the Lion King when you hear that phrase? I do.)

She wasn't too happy about something coming into her mouth when it wasn't on her own volition.

Tastes....interesting, huh Grace?

Not too bad after all!

Grace ate the entire bowl full!

We feed her every night between her late afternoon feed and her bedtime feed. Last week, we upped the amount, to 2 tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water and 2 tablespoons hot water.

She eats the whole thing in less than 15 minutes, relatively mess free.

That is, if she doesn't try to shove her fists in her mouth while eating.

Silly baby.

I guess I'll have to teach her some table matters sooner, rather than later!

I'll wait until after our doctor gives us the okay to proceed onto other foods, but it has been so amazing to see how fast she took to eating off of a spoon. By day two she was leaning forward, opening her mouth, and then closing it around the spoon!

I can't wait to see how she takes to other foods, but for now, I'll cherish these days with a simple and quick meal.

The Family in Paris

2011-09-04T21:18:00.000+04:00

We only spent 3 nights (a half day, two full days, and a half day,) in Paris, France, but we had a great time while we were there!

I should preface this all by saying that you could spend weeks in Paris and not see everything, but we covered all of the major landmarks in 2.5 days, easy.

Our train from the south of France got in around 2 pm, we got a taxi and went and checked into our amazing hotel. Now, I was a little worried about our hotel. I'm no 5-star visitor, but I am a hotel snob.

A mid-range hotel snob, I suppose.

I expect clean rooms, with AC, and friendly service.

And I want the grout in my bathroom to be unstained, is that too much to ask?

I knew we really would only be sleeping in our hotel, but I still wanted some place that was relaxing and clean.

Our hotel, the Mercure near the Eiffel tower, was wonderful.

The staff checked us in early, helped point us in the right direction, and helped us set up a shuttle to the airport at the end or our stay.

And the view!

Though we couldn't see the entire Eiffel tower, we saw about 2/3 of it from our window, and at night it lights up and is just breathtaking!

The location was pretty amazing as well. A ten minute walk and you were at the Eiffel Tower, which was also one of the stops of our hop-on, hop-off L'Open Tour Bus. (Which, by the way, I would recommend to anyone who ever goes to Paris- buy the 2 day pass and you can get to just about any tourist spot in Paris with a relaxing bus ride!)

Another plus for where we stayed was that it wasn't right in the heart of tourist land, so we got to see a bit of real life in Paris and our restaurant options were a notch lower in price than the ones closer to tourist spots.
Our first day there we saw the Eiffel Tower and went up to the top. By the time we did that (and read all of the interesting signs about the tower,) we were beat and headed back home. We stopped at a little grocery store and stocked up on bottled water, sandwich meat and cheese, bread, and a few snack items. I would really recommend you do something like this if you ever travel to a big city. We saved close to 100-200 dollars just by being able to not buy a few snacks, water, and a lunch or two! Plus we didn't have to track down suitable food when that hunger struck!

Ian dropped Grace off at the hotel to get changed (we were soaked in sweat since it was so hot!) and he went and picked up pizza....with HAM!!

Please understand, ham, bacon, or any other form of pork product was a high priority on our food list.

Ian brought back our pizzas and our first night ended watching TV in bed (a luxury!) and watching the sparkling Eiffel tower out our window.

The second day we had passes for L'Open Tour's hop-on, hop-off, so we headed to our pick up point and went straight to Notre Dame Cathedral. We walked around, toured the inside, and had lunch sitting in the shade by the Seine River.

We took our bus to the Musee D'Orsay to see the Impressionist paintings and also fell in love with their Orientalism section.

Ian gashed his toe on a protruding pipe on the sidewalk outside but we carried on, going to see the Champs Elysee and getting to see the Arc de Triomphe. Having Grace with us got us a lot of "go directly to Go" passes- meaning we got to skip lines and take elevators instead of stairs! Grace had a major blow out diaper and I changed her on a bench on the Champs Elysee, amidst tons of tourists and shoppers. I know, I'm a classy person.

Our last stop of the day was to Les Invalides, a hospital for war veterans that also houses the country's military museums and is where Napoleon Bonaparte is entombed. We got there just one hour before it closed so we were rushed and did not get to see much of the museum part, but what we did see was really interesting.

We walked back to our hotel and got dinner at an Italian restaurant nearby.

The next day we took the bus to the Louvre, bright and early. It is definitely important to get there early so that you don't have to wait in the long lines and so that you can get a head start on seeing this MASSIVE museum!

We were there for most of the day and probably only laid eyes on 1/4 of everything.

Their maps show the "most important," things though so we got to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Code of Hammurabi, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and a few more. My favorite things though, were in the exhibits from Babylon and Mesopotamia, pieces of historical evidence that corroborates the Bible!

We had to take several breaks in the museum cafeteria, in order to feed Grace and rest our legs, but we had packed a snack so we only had to buy food once.

We left the Louvre and headed to Notre Dame Cathedral, because we had read about a classical concert that was being held that night and because we wanted to go to the top of the Cathedral, which had been closed on Sunday for mass.

Unfortunately, by the time we got there the tours were over and then we found out the concert would cost us a pretty penny. So we decided not to do it and went and had dinner at a cafe, ice cream from a famous place I had read about (it really wasn't any good,) and took the bus back to the tower.

We waited around to see the lighting of the tower and then hurried back to our hotel in the rain.

Our final morning there, we packed up, left our suitcases behind the front desk, and went for a stroll through the Parisian neighborhood. We ended up back by the Eiffel Tower and bought a few postcards and a key ring to use as an ornament.

We ate lunch at the Italian restaurant again and then went back to the hotel to wait for our airport shuttle.

Our whole trip felt like two different vacation: the first part was lazy and relaxed with close friends and lots of laughter while the second part was quick paced and full of new things to see as a family!

If you are ever going to Paris and need some travel tips, let me know and I can send my "research," your way!

That Unforgettable Shopping Experience

2011-08-31T16:06:00.000+04:00

I have a little confession to make..

I hate shopping.

But I love buying.

It leads to an interesting anxiety breakdown when I just want to leave the mall but I haven't found anything to buy yet. It has even ended in tears on one or two occasions.

Maybe that's why Ian really prefers we don't go to malls, you know, for the sanity of his wife.

I'm no stranger to odd store experiences either.

Like that time I found out Michael Jackson had died while I was in Target.

Or that time the cops rushed in and arrested the man in line in front of me at a shoe store.

But, usually, I'm just an observer in these strange incidences.

Not the last time though.

Oh, no, I was front and center of this weird escapade.

Luckily, it was in the privacy of a dressing room, so really no on had to know about it if I didn't share with you.

But since I want to be real with you, here is a little account of that fateful shopping day...

It was about 8 weeks after Grace was born. We were across the border for her two month appointment and my postpartum check up and had stopped off at a mall to eat at Chili's and for me to find a few new shirts, since I was down to 3 that fit me.

Ian took Grace and sat with her in the food court while I headed to one of my favorite stores here.

I had picked out several shirts that I liked and in several sizes, since I wasn't sure of what my European size was.

I was alone in the dressing room and had chosen a cute short sleeve v neck blouse with a sewn in (non stretchy) empire waist.

I had fit it over my huge head (trust me,) and gotten my arms and shoulders (I have wide swimmer's shoulders,) in.

Suddenly I realized that it wasn't going down any further.

*cough* *cough*

Due to having Grace, my chest was a little larger than I remembered and I couldn't get the empire waist over my chest.

Mind you, my arms are stuck straight up in the air and my face is covered by the shirt.

But the shirt?

Yeah, it wasn't going anywhere.

Not down, into the right position.

Not up, you know, off of me.

So there I stood, trying to figure out how to get this thing off of me.

A good 10 minutes passed and the nice Phillipino lady came to check on me.

"Hi ma'am sir (their typical greeting,) can I help you?"

"No, I'm okay, thanks!"

"Okay. Do you need any other sizes?"

"No! I'm Fine! Thanks!"

At this point I was mortified. What was I going to do? How was I going to get it off? I knew the shirt was actually the right size, just the non stretchy waistline couldn't get in the right position.

I REALLY wanted that shirt.

Lots of contorting and wiggling later, and the v-neck came in handy as I could, eh-hem, get one side through at a time, until the shirt was on right.

I braced myself and used my new found technique to get the shirt off and then promptly put it in the "to purchase" pile.

It was cute, after all!

Worth it.

Anyone else have a harrowing dressing room experience? Care to share?

Grace Takes on Paris

2011-08-30T23:39:00.000+04:00

After the first part of our vacation, we took a train up to Paris for 4 days/3 nights. I had been to Paris before, on a whirlwind of a trip (oh please, if you have never read my post on a fateful trip to the Louvre, go ahead and give yourself a treat. And then my recap of my first visit!)

But this was Ian's first trip to Paris, and was definitely Grace's first trip. And since, as our friend put it "When you've seen one old church, you've seen them all," I think I want to show you the Paris that Grace experienced....

Grace, at the Eiffel Tower. She really enjoyed it when I carried her up over 200 stairs in my arms. What was I thinking? Always use the carrier!
Grace, at Notre Dame Cathedral. Here she was a little perplexed. Ian had given her a mini lecture on the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism and she thought it was a little over her head.
Grace and the Musee D'Orsay, where Grace got to view Renoir, Monet, Degas, Cezanne, and Van Gogh.

She thought she could do better.
We stopped for a "Gout" or afternoon snack and Grace decided it was time for some food of her own. SO, lemon sorbet it was.

Yes, you read that right. I fed my 4 month old daughter a taste of lemon sorbet.

And it was good.
Grace, at the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.

Grace decided to class the Champs Elysees up a bit and had a blow out explosion. I'm sure the shoppers buying their Gucci and Prada appreciated the colorful work of art that she displayed.
Grace at Les Invalides, where Napoleon is entombed. Grace decided this was a snooze fest and promptly passed out. Ian and I got popsicles. And that is all I have to say about this historical monument.

Grace visiting the Louvre. She loved the history and art that she got to see here. She also loved riding around her stroller, aka her chariot.

Ian tried to help Grace out when she became a little over heated.

Turns out, Grace+Air Vents=Not Happy Baby

Grace dined at bistros and cafes, charming the passerbys and waiters alike. She even elicited advice from a kind (NOT!) french woman who told me Grace's headband was too tight.

Thanks lady, thanks alot.
Grace also got to ride all over Paris on the top of a double decker bus.

That is, until our bus driver drove too close to a tree and, like a scene out of a movie, a branch sprung over the entire 2nd deck, taking out all it could.

Scary moment.

I never thought my life would flash before my eyes on a double decker bus.

But, hey, C'est la Vie!

Grace, if she had the ability to control her small motor muscles, would definitely give Paris 2 thumbs up, and we are so excited that she was such a good little tourist!

The South of France

2011-08-29T23:07:00.000+04:00

Last week, we returned from a two week vacation to France.

Now, before you start thinking we're fancy pants and rolling in the dough, just know that we have never taken a vacation in our 3 years of marriage and that we had free lodging/food for the first 10 days, ha!

We have some friends who live in the south of France, who invited us to come stay with them. We took two flights and a train to get to them, (Grace did great flying!) but then we enjoyed the simplicities of being outside of an Arab speaking country.

My goals for vacation were simple:
1.) Hold my husband's hand in public
2.) Kiss my husband in public
3.) Wear short sleeves in public
4.) Eat copious amounts of pork

I'm happy to report that I met all of my goals.

Check, check, check, and CHECK.

I may have had to borrow a short sleeve shirt from my friend because I realize I no longer own one, but other than that, my goals were easily accomplished.

I could easily break down each and every day for you, but I'm not going to do that, because right now, my plate is full and my bed is calling my name, so instead, here are the highlights.

We toured the city of Montpelier, France, with it's beautiful downtown and largest open plaza in all of Europe....
Took our friends' girls on a carousel ride....
Went on alot of walks around their neighborhood (you'd be surprised at the simple things that made us happy- there are so many things we can't do here that you don't think about!)
Took Grace on her first hike...
Tried our best to snap some good family photos...
Went to a French beach. Modesty had no place here and I was pretty uncomfortable. I think I prayed for protection over my husband's eyes, heart, and thoughts the entire time I was there.

Grace wasn't a fan either. She thinks that the only time those things should be out and about is if she's about to get a meal. I agree.
We went to an amazing aquarium...
And I lost all shame when I gave Grace her first of many public diaper changes.

When explosions occur, the casualties must be contained. That's one piece of advice from this Momma to you.
We babysat our friends' girls while they got a quick lunch date in. We set up a kiddie pool and made it into a water play table. The girls played for over 3 hours straight without getting up! Amazing!
We spent one afternoon just walking around, eating crepes, looking at French bookstores...
And had to get creative in how we carted all three girls back to the car. Turns out, a stroller meant for one infant CAN actually whole a 2.5 year old and a 4 year old!

We had late nights filled with Speculoos, Killer Bunnies, English television, and lots of laughter with their family.
Their girls let us love on them, teach them songs, play with them, and we loved being Uncle E, Aunt Brittney, and "BabyGrace" (one word, must not be separated.)
We ate fresh French bread, croissants, had ham sandwiches, pork chops, fresh bacon, and enjoyed the deliciousness of a Magnum Ice Cream bar several times.

The days were wonderful, but as the sun began to set, my stress level began to go up. Grace was sleeping in our room with us, for the first time ever, and she did NOT do well. She became instantly dependent on her pacifier, and would wake up every 20-30 minutes all. night. long. I'm not sure if it was from the lack of an AC, which provides cool air and white noise, or from us being in there with her, but it was very stressful.

I begged Ian to get a job transfer to the South of France and he just laughed.

I totally wasn't kidding.

Our time ended and we headed out for Paris.....

Topsy Turvey

2011-08-26T21:46:00.002+04:00

Things are all topsy turvey in the Galloway household.

We returned from a two week vacation to France (oh-la-la!)

Grace has found her feet, has learned how to blow a raspberry, can sit up in the tripod position, and stands assisted for 3 minutes at time.

Oh, and we started her on rice cereal.

Our school starts back in one week and we will be starting our 3rd semester of full time Arabic. I'm excited for the challenge but am nervous about balancing all of life.

We are also finishing up some major work assignments that we started long ago but it is now crunch time.

I've set major goals for myself for the year and am trying to organize my weeks better so that I accomplish more than just go to school and exist at home.

Unpacking, cleaning, reorganizing has almost all wrapped up.

Grace is the opposite of all wrapped up.

In fact, she is very unwrapped (and unraveled!) as we have begun the swaddle weaning process. We knew this day was coming, and we talked about it all during our vacation. We just had no idea how hard it would be. We are only on day one of what I have read could be a 5 to 7 day process.

Awesome.

Grace is currently hitting hour 12 without any significant (30 minutes or longer) amount of sleep. We expect a long night and are prepared to be awake in shifts.

Prayers are appreciated.

No, seriously.

Would you take a second to pray this over our Grace "God, please lull baby Grace to sleep, help her stay asleep, and if she wakes, help her learn to soothe herself back to sleep. Also, give Brittney and Ian rest and the patience to deal with what comes their way."

Thanks!

Wouldn't you know it, but it has been 18 days since I blogged last? I might be a little rusty and discombobulated right now, but it will come back to me. Ironically enough, before we left I had a blog post scheduled for every other day for the next 30 days! I canceled them all and decided to take a technology break for awhile though. It's been a nice restart and has opened my eyes to how much time we spend in front of the TV and computer screens.

It may take me awhile to get caught up on all of ya'lls blogs, and I may never. So if any of you got engaged/married/pregnant/quit your job/started a new job/moved or had any other life changing event, could you leave me a little note?

Favorite Author- Suspense

2011-08-06T21:14:00.002+04:00

Everyone has a favorite author, even if you don't realize it.

It's that author you reach for when you just want to read something that is _________.

Exciting.

Mysterious.

Educational.

Stretching.

Humorous.

You fill in the blank.

Being the bibliophile that I am, I have several favorite authors for different genres. For fiction, specifically Suspense/Christian Fiction that would, hands down, be Terri Blackstock.

I became hooked on her writing when I read the Restoration Series, books set in modern day America where a freak solar flare (if I remember right,) wipes out all things that run on electricity. She shows the resourcefulness that our people are made of (no refrigerator, or AC! no access to ATM's and no running cars!) and uncovers the darkness that would emerge in a society that becomes lawless overnight.

God must have known I would be in need of more reading material, because one of my friends here has almost every other book she has written. I plowed through 3 more of her series this Spring and just read Intervention, a book about a drug intervention gone horribly wrong, and Predator, a book about how social media (fictitiously) led to the stalking of young women.

If you are ever looking for a thrilling (clean) read, look up Terri Blackstock's work!

What is your favorite Suspense or Christian Fiction author?

De-Swaddled

2011-08-04T21:39:00.000+04:00

So far, I'm pretty happy with the choices we have made as new parents. We're flexible, she's sleeping through the night, she's happy and healthy. What more could a mom ask for?

But as most of you know, the bane of my existence is her swaddle.

That darn swaddle!

It is SO important to alot of babies, because of the under developed nervous system, to be swaddled tight and secure during their sleep time, however, as they grow stronger, they are able to wriggle out of it, which wakes them up, and makes the parent have to swaddle them again, and start the routine all over.

Now, if I was in America, I would have just bought a Miracle Blanket or something similar, but we didn't have that option here, so we've resorted to swaddling her and "tying" a ribbon around the swaddle to keep it from coming undone.

It's quite the ordeal.

I had plans on weaning Grace from her swaddle sometime in her fourth or fifth month, and I was not looking forward to the process.

Finally though, we have seen a break through. The other morning, I was getting ready to go out on errands and had to put Grace down for a minute. She was happy and content, so I popped her pacifier in, turned on her mobile, and layed her in her crib unswaddled. I took a shower and when I came out, this is what I found!

Sweet baby girl had completely passed out. She only slept for 30 minutes before her flailing arms woke her up, but I say it's a start! We did it one more time since then and it worked! One more additional time, she fell asleep after I got her dressed for bed but before I had fed her again. Such a difference from just one month ago!

I'm in no rush to de-swaddle her for good, because it makes her seem like such a little baby still, but it will be nice when she is able to soothe herself back to sleep!

It is possible!

Happy Four Months, Grace!

2011-08-02T21:16:00.002+04:00

Clothes: Grace is in 0-3 month clothing and will probably be there for another two months! She still has one or two newborn sleepers that we use, but I'm probably about to retire them, as she can't stretch her legs all the way out! Her head is, eh-hm, rather large, which makes it difficult to get some onesies on.

Bless her heart. I live daily with the curse of a big head as well.

Food: We tweaked the schedule slightly this month.Grace is still eating every 3 hours, 7 am until 11 pm. (her last 3 hours is actually a 4-5 hour stretch I suppose, as I do her dream feed right before I go to bed.) She usually eats for about 6-10 minutes per side.

Sleep: I sense the winds of change are blowing in with Grace's sleep schedule. I really think she is close to being able to go to a 4 hour schedule, but when we did a trial run, it wrecked her night time sleep, so we are back to a 3 hour schedule.

Example of a day:

7am- wake, feed, play

8:15- nap time

10 am- wake, feed, play

11:30- nap time (eventually, this would be the nap we'd like to drop, with her wake time extending to a normal lunch time and then going down for an afternoon nap around 1, 1:30)

1 pm- wake, feed, play

2:30- nap time

4:30 pm- wake, feed, play (I let her sleep an extra 30 minutes here,)

5:30 pm- short nap

6:30 pm- bath time

7:00 pm- final feed and then in bed by 7:20

11:30 pm- dream feed

Activity: Grace is on the move! Kind of. Well, not really.

But compared with before, she is really moving!

Grace has rolled over from her tummy to her back many times, but seems to have regressed some this past week. Also, on August 1st, 2011, she rolled over for the first time from back to stomach!

Grace loves her rattles and likes to be pulled into a sitting position by just her fingers grasped on ours.

She also started making some crazy noises on August 1st! At first we thought she was fussy or in pain, but we realized she is just trying out her voice!

Personality: Grace loves to be talked to and likes to be paid attention to. I hope that doesn't mean she is going to be high maintenance!

Miscellaneous:

*Grace really discovered her hands this month. We refer to her now as Big Drool (her rapper name, ha!)
*We also refer to her as Pterodactyl because of the squeaking noise she makes!
*Grace went swimming for the first time in the ocean and pool this month!
*Grace had her first cold in June. It lasted almost seven days and was mainly alot of congestion, sneezing, with two days of (low) fevers. She had a hard time nursing and sleeping because her nose was so stuffed up.
*We finally changed her pacifier from a newborn to a size 3 month one. Anyone know the difference? I compared the two and I could not see one single difference!
*She graduated to a baby tub from her infant sink sponge. She loves kicking and splashing about!

13, 14, 15, 16

2011-07-31T19:21:00.000+04:00

Grace is 16 weeks old now! Hard to believe almost 4 months ago she was still in my belly- it feels like she's been with us forever! More details to come in her four month post, but I just wanted to remember that her little personality is sprouting more and more and her love for gnawing on her hands is growing exponentially!

I'm not as happy with this batch of pictures. Most of them were taken in a rush when I realized her week was almost up! I suppose it is a sign of things to come- life will only get busier and busier, right?

{Memorize}

2011-07-29T21:31:00.000+04:00

Lately, the importance of Scripture memorization has been lain on my heart. This summer has been a particularly dry time for me, spiritually, and I know it has been from not being in the Word enough.

I'm one who thinks that I am not supposed to be "fed," but it is my responsibility to find the food.

If I can be brutally honest, I wasn't eating much. Or, if I was, it was drive through or a smoothie- any way to get "full," as quickly and painlessly as possible.

I came to a breaking point a couple of weeks ago, and the Lord has rebuked me and redeemed me again, pulling me back into His arms and pointing me in the right direction. My quiet time is more stable, I've started Beth Moore's Esther for Bible Study, and my prayer life is stabilizing.

But Scripture memorization.

Phew.

That's a tough one for me.

I know it is important.

I know it is valuable.

I just have a hard time committing them to memory.

So, here is my two part question:
1.) What is your FAVORITE memory verse or life verse (please put the full verse here, not just the reference!)
2.)How do you go about memorizing and filling your life with Scripture?

Can't wait to hear all of your responses, and I hope this helps others out there who may be struggling like I am!

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Four

2011-07-28T20:51:00.000+04:00

On our last morning of our trip, we woke up and got out of the house early in order to make the visitor hours at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

I had wrestled with visiting this mosque for awhile. Or really, any mosque for that matter. As a Christian, I believe that they are worshiping a false god, or idol, and I just wasn't sure how I felt about touring their place of worship. It would be similar to visiting Stonehenge, a Buddhist monastery, or watching a Native American pow wow. In the end, I decided it was more of a cultural event, and would benefit my understanding of the culture I live in.

The mosque is HUGE! Beautifully designed and ornately decorated. I could have stood and took pictures for hours on ends.

We got to see the area where they ritually wash before entering the prayer hall...

Men's and Women's separate, of course.
We visited the women's prayer hall and then the main prayer hall, complete with the LARGEST chandelier I have ever seen.

And it's the second largest in the whole world, so I'm pretty sure it is the largest I'll ever see!

Each of the outer spires are larger than a grown man!

I loved the calligraphy, tile work, and colors throughout the entire grounds.

This is the interior of the dome.

Here's me, standing on top of the worlds second largest carpet (not the blue one.) My head does not usually have to be covered here, but it is required when touring the mosque.
And here's Ian and I, NOT touching. It felt like we were in middle school again, taking pictures without touching, ha!

I went a little photo crazy but decided to spare you the pain of scrolling through dozens of photos...

LOVE the turquoise and blue that was in so many of the tiled niches.

In the end, I'm so glad I went so I could put some conversations I've had with people into perspective!

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Three

2011-07-26T21:26:00.001+04:00

On our third day on our mini vacation (really, just a long weekend away, but the only one we've had in almost 10 months!) we drove out to a marina and used their pool for the day. Alot of the hotels or clubs will let you use their pool if you buy a meal or a day pass from them, so, at about the cost of a meal at Chili's, we got to use a beautiful pool, surrounded by mountains and the ocean and had a great lunch!

I was the most excited about swimming because I would get some sun! I'm all about using sunscreen and being wise, but I always look healthier when I am not pastey white! Can I hear an amen on this one?

It was Grace's first time in a pool, and, as an ex competitive swimmer, I was hoping that she would like the water. We don't have a swim suit for her at this size, so we just let her take a dip in her diaper, which turned out to be hilarious when it filled with water!
Grace LOVED the water (yay!) and stayed in for about two thirty minute sessions, with a nice nap on a lounge chair in between. Luckily the pool was covered with shades or her nice porcelain skin might have gotten roasted (don't worry, I also put baby sunscreen on her and covered her up whenever not in the pool.)
Love this family picture of us- these are few and far between these days!

I hope Grace always loves the water and that she learns how to be a safe (and good) swimmer as soon as possible!

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Two

2011-07-24T22:28:00.000+04:00

I actually don't think this was "day two," but rather "event number two," of our vacation.

But "Mini Vacation 2011- Event Two," sounds weird, doesn't it?

We were in Muscat, Oman, on a mini family vacation, staying with friends of ours and exploring some of this beautiful city. I wish I could sit down with all of you, with a cup of coffee and alot of time to share my love for the Middle East and its people. Oman did not fail to meet my expectations, with a genuinely welcoming people.

On our second night there, (okay, so it was day two!) we headed out to a souq (said like soup but with a "k" sound at the end and it just means market) that was old.

I know, I'm really informative, but there wasn't exactly a tour guide standing around to give me information.

So...I just made up a story as I went along!

History schmistory.

We arrived at the Souq right as it was closing (depressing!) but were able to make a quick run through one part of the labyrinth.

It is such a neat blending of cultures. Oman has the unique position, geographically, to have influence from the Arab world, Africa, and India!
The is the traditional hat for the locals. The red/white black/white checkered scarf like head dress that you see on some Arab men, is indicative of where they are from. Different patterns can mean different tribes/countries (though this is changing in the past couple of years,) so that is why it is SO important that you don't buy one and wear it without understanding what it represents (if you ever travel to this region.)

These are different from the scarf like head dress and is particular to Oman!
Have you ever seen Amazing Race? Well, this was one of their challenges- to bring some incense to Ali Baba's, and this is Ali Baba!
The souq was beautiful and we look forward to retuning when we have more time to savor all of the sights and do a little shopping!

What a Way to Start My Summer!

2011-07-21T22:43:00.000+04:00

As of yesterday, around 1 pm, I am officially on summer break!

I took my final exams in Arabic and passed both, meaning that I get to start back with my class in the fall! It's been alot of hard work, making up for my maternity leave but I am so excited to be back where I should be.

Summer plans include lots of reading, some shopping, skyping, traveling, family time, and snuggles with Grace. Oh yes, and getting caught up on blogging.

That too.

Because things have been pretty exciting around these parts.

*We busted a tire on a recent road trip.

*Grace went from rolling over, to not doing anything at all (her laziness must come from me, ha!) to rolling right off of our ottoman. Guess she shouldn't hang out there anymore.

*Care packages have been coming in! New Bible studies, pajamas, a infant mirror for the car, and Butterfingers are some of the newest treasures.

*My friend got engaged! Yay, Katie!

*I chopped off my hair! I had been waiting and waiting to get over the border and into a salon but it didn't happen, so I grabbed our scissors and snipped away! 3-4 inches later and my hair feels so much lighter and healthier!

*Speaking of the border (the looming giant in our lives,) Grace received her visa! Which means we can cross back and forth with ease now! Yay for access to air conditioned shopping and, you know, medical care!

And wouldn't you know it, Grace gave me the best gift on my first full day of summer break....she slept through the night!

Mini Vacation 2011- Day One

2011-07-10T20:19:00.000+04:00

We took a mini vacation to Muscat, Oman, to visit some friends and get to see the city that Ian fell in love with over 5 years ago.

We arrived late on July 2nd, had dinner near the beach at an Italian restaurant (yum!) and grabbed some gelato before heading back to our friends' house.

The next day they took us to a supermarket that we had heard about for a long time, called Sultan Center, which had alot of imported US products. We stocked up on biscuits in a can, canned cinnamon rolls, black beans, root beer, ranch dressing, and Ian's beloved cinnamon gum. We could have spent alot more money there, but since we hadn't brought a cooler, we tried to limit ourselves.

We rested during the heat of the day and hung out with our friends, and then decided to head to the beach, just 10 minutes away! It was absolutely deserted and was just us!

We set Grace up in a make shift tent (our sun shade from our car perched atop her diaper bag) and she fell asleep in the muggy heat within 10 minutes!

I didn't really feel like getting all the way in the water, I was just enjoying my time NOT in long sleeves and pants, so I walked up and down the beach, took pictures, and checked on Grace while Ian and our friends swam.
I about died from laughter, when checking on Grace I saw that she had latched onto Ian's sunglasses and was mad! She still hasn't figured out how to let go of things....it will come with time! Also, please note her pacifier rope across her neck. It really isn't tight, but it makes her really upset. Since this time we got rid of that and just give her the pacifier.

I played with Grace in the sand (and by played, I mean we sat and I put her feet on the sand and watched her funny reaction,)
and we got her thoroughly sandy....
So it was time to put her teeny tiny feet in the ocean for the first time! At only 3 months old. It makes this Florida girl's heart happy to know my daughter might be a beach baby.
Then Ian took her out into the water! It was so warm, so we figured she might like it, since it reminded us of a warm bath.
And it was a success! It took a couple of days to really get the sand out from under neath of her double chin, haha, but other than that, Grace's first beach trip was a blast!
We had a fun evening planned (more on that later,) so we went home to get cleaned up, rested, and ate dinner!

Grace's New Trick

2011-07-08T22:24:00.000+04:00

We had a first this week! On Wednesday, July 6th, 2011, at 2:00 pm, I layed Grace on the ottoman to get some tummy time and she rolled right over!

I thought it was because I was still leaning on the ottoman and that there was an incline, so I put her back on her belly and stood back and watched, and away she went!

Grace's New Trick from IGalloway on Vimeo.

I guess this means no more tummy time on the ottoman!

Happy Three Months, Grace!

2011-07-07T22:06:00.000+04:00

Grace,

I can't believe you are three months old! This past month has flown by! You are such a good, flexible baby and bring so much joy to our lives. You just roll with the punches and deal with whatever crazy schedule we throw your way. You are much loved by many people- both the friends here that get to hold and love on you, and your family and friends in the USA who wish they could hold you, but for now hold you in their hearts.

I am so excited to see what you learn to do in the next month.

Love Always,

Mommy

Clothes: Grace is still in 0-3 month clothing, while still wearing some newborn pajamas. She's not super tiny so I really feel like clothes manufacturers make their clothing bigger than they think!

Food: Grace is still eating every 3 hours, 7 am until 10 pm, and one feeding between 10 pm and 7 am, usually around 3 am. She started eating faster, and can usually finish a side in 10 minutes or so. When she is finished with one side, she pulls back and just gives me the biggest grins. Too cute!

She nurses almost exclusively, maybe taking one bottle a week of pumped milk. I just can't seem to find the time to pump between feedings and clean the gear- it just takes more energy than I am willing to give right now. It sure would be nice to have more of a pumped supply stored up though!

Sleep: This month her schedule made a big change. She had been eating every 3 hours from 7 am until 10 pm with a 3 am feeding also, but when she came down with her first cold, one night we shifted her last feeding. Where we used to feed her at 7, bathe her, and then put her down, now we get her up from her nap at 6:15, bathe her, and then feed and put her down. This is the only feed where we don't follow the feed-wake-sleep schedule, but it seems to be just fine. She goes to sleep by 7:15 and sleeps until 3 am, when she feeds and then goes back to sleep until 6:30 or 7 am.

This schedule is not really ideal because it requires us to be feeding and bathing her right in the middle of a normal adult dinner time, but for now, it allows her a longer stretch of uninterrupted sleep.

Activity: Grace smiles all the time now. Ian taps her cheek, nose, cheek, and then her chin and it always brings out a big grin! We use the bumbo almost every day and it has seemed to help to develop her muscles because now she can hold her head up better and she doesn't scream when when has tummy time.

Personality: Grace loves to stare at the ceiling fan, which is funny, since it is white and the ceiling is white. It doesn't seem to be very high contrast to me, but she likes it! She also will turn her head to watch what is on tv which leaves me a little afraid for her- I don't want her to be glued to tv and computer screens!

Miscellaneous:

*Bald IS beautiful! Grace has lost most of her birth hair, except for a little bit on the back of her head. It makes her look like a cute middle aged man :)
*Grace went to her first dance recital. Well, it wasn't hers, but it was the first one she attended! Though I didn't dance much, some of my favorite memories were at my friend's dance recitals and I hope, whether Grace dances or not, she can enjoy these type of events.
*She still LOVES her pacifier, but it really isn't an issue for us. It's not a sleep crutch and she really only uses it for 15 minutes a day, usually when she is over tired and having a meltdown.
*She started making many different sounds but her most prevalent cooing noise is a breathy "oooh."
*Grace has put on more weight, though how much exactly we are not sure. She seems so big now!
*Grace had her first cold in June. It lasted almost seven days and was mainly alot of congestion, sneezing, with two days of (low) fevers. She had a hard time nursing and sleeping because her nose was so stuffed up.

9, 10, 11, 12

2011-07-06T22:15:00.000+04:00

Two weeks later and we finally have internet! I've got alot to catch up on and alot of it centers around Grace! So, just brace yourself for several days worth of catch up!

Grace's week by week pictures for her 2nd month...

Cultural Tidbits

2011-06-24T20:45:00.000+04:00

*We're entering our first full summer of living in the desert. As the temperatures soar and energy levels plummet, I've been amused with some of my cultural observations lately*

-You know you live in the middle east when you stop by a restaurant for a plate of hummus to-go, and eat it in the car just as you would fries and a shake in the States!

-According to one of my teachers, the best treatment for a baby's stuffy nose? A little olive oil spread on the outside of the baby's nose. This home remedy was also her treatment for baby's constipation.

Only not on the outside of the nose, *cough, cough,* if you know what I mean.

-According to another teacher, the reason her son is in desperate need of a tonsillectomy? He occassionally eats ice cream.

True story.

-On that same note, it is somewhat maddening to see people drinking HOT tea when it is 115 degrees outside. But they truly believe that you must drink only things that are hot when it is hot out, otherwise you will get sick.

-A common phrase here is Insh-Allah (God Willing,) and they use it to literally mean "God willing," or to slip out of making a commitment. Ask if someone will be visiting you soon? You'll most definitely be answered with Insh-Allah. Leaves you wondering if they mean it literally (as in yes! I want to come and will come as long as it is in the will of God!) or if they are saying it to avoid firming up plans, (as in, crap! I really don't want to hang out with this crazy Westerner!)

-One of our male teachers, who happens to be one of Ian's good friends, just found out that he and his wife are expecting.

And when I say "Just," I mean, he was talking with Ian while he was buying the pregnancy test for his wife, got off the phone to purchase, take home, and use, then called Ian right back to let him know the joyous news.

Ian and some of the guys were going to have a celebratory dinner with him at a restaurant, but the teacher called to say a cow had been slaughtered in their honor (naturally,) and that the feast would be at his house.

Awesome.

On a more serious note, I'm so happy for this couple! They suspected infertility issues which is devastating in any culture, but here it might be worse. Societal pressure and family expectations begin only several months after marriage. The blame is placed on a woman if a baby is lost and no matter who has the infertility (the husband or the wife,) the wife is blamed.

-We finished our first full year of language school! Ian scored amazingly well and is at the top of his class. So proud of him. I'm still chugging away, making up for lost time during the end of my pregnancy and maternity leave. I probably only have one more week of lessons before I am officially caught up, but I will take classes all through July to fill in some language gaps. I have made alot of progress though, and I feel like I am alot better at communicating in Arabic!

Date Night

2011-06-16T16:08:00.000+04:00

On Tuesday, our anniversary, Ian and I went out on our first date, post Grace being born!

I know, I know. 10 weeks is a long time not to have a date night. It's not because we didn't want to, and it's not because we don't have friends ready and willing to stay with her, but since a date night for us means crossing an international border, we have to have a little extra cash in order to do something like that.

SO, Tuesday, our friend Alison came and watched Grace. I only had one bottle of pumped milk, as I was at school all day and couldn't pump much to get a 2nd bottle. I was a little nervous that Grace was going to be screaming mad for her 10 pm feeding if we didn't get back in time!
Ian and I headed off by 5 pm, but the line at the border was so long that we didn't get to the mall until 6:30! Frustrating since the mall is probably only 10 miles away, but since we have to cross the border, it takes longer!

We stopped by the movie theater to go ahead and buy our movie tickets. The theaters work a little differently here. Movies are only out for a short amount of time, so that they can cycle through to something new. So, if you don't get to the theaters for the 7-10 days a movie is showing, you are out of luck! Plus, there are usually only 4 or 5 showings in a day. Well, the showing for the new X-Men was at 6:45, so we went to the counter, picked out our seats (they have assigned seating here!) Ian dashed off to find an ATM so we could purchase our tickets, and then we bought snacks to hold us over.

Afterall, our plan HAD been to eat dinner and then watch a movie, but there was only one more showing at 9:45 and that would be too late, so we adjusted our plan.
We really enjoyed the movie and I loved eating my peanut M&Ms and snacking on the nachos that Ian got. We had some annoying teenagers in front of us who were practically yelling through the first 10 minutes, so Ian had to pull the "adult card," and say "Hey guys, other people paid to see the movie too."

He got a "sorry sir!" And if that doesn't make you feel old, I don't know what will!

I guess teenagers can be disrespectful and loud in any culture, huh?

(on a side note, if you know any teenagers, or are raising your own child- PLEASE teach them the proper decorum for theater going.)

We had a nice walk across the mall to this beautiful Indian restaurant. It was very authentic, no "butter chicken," here! But I did my best to read between the lines and found a chicken dish in a tomato cream sauce and thought that sounded like my beloved butter chicken, and it was!

We exchanged gifts. Kind of. As in, I forgot my card for Ian at home and had written his gift in there. I tried to be all clever, since it was our 4rd anniversary, which means your "Leather" anniversary and had promised Ian to get a new baseball (leather) glove and ball the next time we were in the big city.

Ian got me a beautiful gold necklace that had my name in Arabic script. He had given me a white gold one over 4 years ago, but I lost it in a Target while trying on necklaces in 2009 (boo.)

We headed home and had a good time chatting in the car and listening to some of our favorite music, Jack Johnson and The Postal Service!
And because every post needs some of Grace's cuteness, here is a picture Alison snapped of Grace while we were gone!

{Three}

2011-06-14T23:58:00.000+04:00

Today is our three year wedding anniversary!

We spent our first anniversary in our hometown of Orlando, Florida, our second up in Vancouver, Canada, and now, our third in the Middle East! No one can say we aren't adventurous!

I've loved the last three years and though they weren't picture perfect, my husband blesses me so much every day! I'm so glad I got to marry my best friend!

This year, I am too tired to do a wedding recap, SO...

Want to see a glimpse of wedding history? Read about our one year anniversary, our two year anniversary, favorite wedding pictures One, One-and-a-Half, Two, and Three!

Also read about The After Feeling- that glorious feeling when all of your planning and scheming has fallen into place!

And please, if you don't read any other post, PLEASE do yourself a favor and read The Morning After, to read about how my Dad was at the hotel on the morning after we got married. Especially if you need a chuckle today.

A Baby Will....

2011-06-13T21:23:00.000+04:00

A baby will make love stronger,
days shorter,
nights longer,
bankroll smaller,
home happier,
clothes shabbier,
the past forgotten,
and the future worth living for.

– Anonymous

Grace is 10 Weeks! & Dance Recital

2011-06-12T23:09:00.000+04:00

We had great start to our week, with our baby girl turning 10 weeks old and attending our little friend's dance recital.

Grace is now ten weeks old!

She has become such a joy to be around in the last 1-2 weeks.

After she eats, she usually gives us 20-30 solid minutes of smiles and grins. She loves the sound of my laughter and lights up when her Daddy talks. She'll even stop nursing to smile if I talk to her! Adorable!

This is an unofficial update on Grace, but I want to remember how she has also started sleeping more solidly at night, usually going from her 10 pm feeding to a 5 am feeding.

She's a rock star at our language school, often being scooped out of my arms by a teacher or student the moment we walk through the doors.

She LOVES being around people and seeing new things. It's almost like she could care less about toys or other baby things, but people and events fascinate her! So different from her Momma, who would much rather stay cuddled in bed, reading by herself!

Grace got all dolled up in an outfit from her Great Grandparents to go to the dance recital of some little friends of ours. Though there isn't a dance studio in our little town, a student at our language school offered to teach some classes for a couple 3 and 4 year old girls.

They took lessons for a couple of months and then had their recital today, at the end of our school semester! They danced to Jack Johnson's "Jungle Gym," and demonstrated how they stretch and their different positions- too cute!
Makes me think of my dance recitals as a little girl! I didn't dance for long, but I loved it when I was really little, and maybe, if she wants to, Grace may take lessons too!

{Though, I secretly hope she'll become a swimmer, just like I was!}

Katie

2011-06-11T22:06:00.000+04:00

One of my best friends, Katie, gets married today in our hometown in Florida. I'm not able to be there because my school semester is still going on, and it breaks my heart a little not to celebrate with her, her family, our friends, and her new husband!

Below is the "speech," I sent in to the maid of honor, to read at the reception, since I am the Matron of honor.

Katie,

When Jessica asked if I wanted to send in a toast, as your honorary matron of honor, I stumbled for days thinking what to say, how to summarize over a decade of friendship. I poured through pictures documenting our middle school, high school, and college days.

How could I tell you how much our friendship has meant? How could I express my love for you and my joy for you and Mike on this special day?

I'm not sure if I can do it justice, but I will try.

Though our friendship has changed through the years, the simplicity of it all began when we were starting middle school. My family had just moved to Oviedo and started at First Baptist. I went to the early hour, you went to the later hour. I was starting public school and you were home schooled. For all intents and purposes, we should not have crossed paths, but we did, and God had a plan for us!

To quote a much loved movie of our childhood "If God throws a curveball, don't duck, you just might miss something."

I am so grateful for your friendship.

You were my fellow book worm, my encourager, my "funny valentine," my entertainer, and my travel companion.

We've traveled all over the south, learned together in Washington DC, served in Brazil, explored London, walked in the footsteps of Tolkien and Lewis in Oxford, romped in Normandy, and frolicked through the sights of Paris.

You have been the shoulder for me to cry on, the ear for me to rant to, the sounding board for my ideas.

You are the laughter in my life, the song in my soul, my voice of reason, my kindred spirit, my best friend.

Katie, I never would have guessed, in a million years, that I would not be standing next to you on your wedding day. The miles that separate us as I am living overseas can not distance the friendship that we have, and so I must believe there is a reason that I am not dancing and laughing with you tonight before sending you off as a married woman.

I have loved hearing the excitement in your voice, over the phone, as you and Mike have grown closer together, become engaged, planned your wedding, and began dreaming of your life together.

As you and Mike begin your married life together I wish to pass on a few pieces of advice:
Love with your whole heart, listen with an open mind, and speak to uplift.
Katie and Mike, I love you guys and Congratulations!

Success!

2011-06-10T22:48:00.000+04:00

I've had a good week. A really good week!

School is going well and I love having my private classes (as compared with having to be in a classroom environment where you are just one student among many.) I'm seeing alot of growth in my language learning, which is encouraging.

Speaking of language, I went on two local visits this week, and was able to use my Arabic much more! I was really proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and stretching myself in my language use.

Grace is sleeping in much longer chunks, usually 6-7 hours at night! We're keeping her up a little bit longer during the day between naps, and I think that is helping alot.

I finally got some social time in! I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how I was really struggling with loneliness out here. It's true. My selection of people (who are English speakers) is small and when those friends are busy, you are plum out of luck. I got alot of time with ladies this week though and it made my heart so happy. I miss my friends back home like crazy, and no one could ever replace them, but it is so nice to just "be" for a little while and not be wishing to be somewhere else.

I've also had great success in the kitchen recently. You see, Ian L-O-V-E-S his mom's cajun style meatloaf and I L-O-V-E my mom's midwestern style meatloaf. I can't make Ian's mom's meatloaf because it calls for pork sausage (hard to find in this Arab country!) and I feel bad only making my mom's because it isn't Ian's favorite (not because it is bad, just because he loves his momma's!)

Anyways, I found and tried a recipe that we like alot, so now we have "our" own meatloaf!

I also tackled homemade sloppy joes (I've always just used a seasoning packet, so doing it from scratch was a big deal!) sweet tea (I know, I'm southern, but somehow good sweet tea eludes me,) an orange cake, and fried spicy chicken!

Obviously, I made more food than that in a whole week, but those were the things I was proud of.

Another form of success I have seen this week is in the reading department. The past 3 or 4 months I just have not felt like reading! It always bothers me when I go through these phases, because I love reading, but sometimes I can't get into or am not interested in the books that I have available to me. Well, I picked up and began reading a fiction and a non fiction this week, so hopefully that will jump start me in the right direction.

And, just in case you are in need of a laugh on this wonderful Friday, here is Grace, mid sneeze:
*No babies were harmed in the production of this photograph. Baby was caught and re propped back up, against the pillow.*

Donkey Brains

2011-06-08T22:56:00.001+04:00

I'm not really sure if ya'll will believe me on this or not, so I loaded pictures just so you could see for yourself....

Yesterday, I visited with some local ladies for the first time since Grace was born. They gave Grace several presents, one of them being a toy.

While opening it in front of them, I didn't look too hard at it, just noted that it looked like a "Toy Story," toy and said thank you!

Later, I realized just how wrong I was.

Introducing....

Donkey Brains!

Yes, you read that correctly. The name of the toy is donkey brains.

Donkey. Brains.

Okay, I'll let that one digest for awhile and move on.
Here is the toy, up close and personal. You can see why I thought i was a "Toy Story," toy, as the toy manufacturer has illegally used a picture of Woody and Bullseye. Plus "donkey brains," is in the toy story font!

It's really a white "donkey" (aka, horse with big ears,) with Woody on his back. The donkey's legs move and head and tail sway.

And, according to the front, it lights up! I'm not really sure what part lights up, but I'll leave that to your imagination.

Also, according to the front, it is for 3+ players at a time. They must really be big into sharing around these parts for this one toy to be for 3 players.

But wait, it gets better!

Here is the back of the box....

What? You can't read that tiny print? Here, I'll put it here for you to read. Enjoy!

The knowledge of intellect cartoon donkeys.
Improve children's performing ability.
Develop children's intelligence.
Culticate children's interest and confidence.

(All things are spelled exactly like the box.)

Two things of note:
1.) What does that first sentence mean? Ian and I rolled on the floor laughing, reading "the knowledge of intellect cartoon donkeys." Cracks me up! That's probably how I sound when I try to speak Arabic!
2.) Yes, you read that right. Sentence number four does say culticate, with a C, not a V. I'm not really sure what culticate is, but it has something to do with children's interest and confidence.

Also, this handy little plastic toy claims to increase your child's coordination, visual, creative, and logical associative skills.

Quite the claim from Donkey Brains, don't you think?

And you thought this post was going to be about me eating donkey brains, ha!

Water Under the Bridge

2011-06-06T17:22:00.000+04:00

It's old news now, but I wanted to hold off telling this story for a couple of days, so that I would not dramatize it or over exaggerate anything. I have a tendency to do that, when storytelling, and I try to curb that very bad habit as often as possible.

Last week, we had two days planned where we had to be over the border at appointments. So Tuesday morning came, and we packed up and headed out for our first day, in the big city, where we had a passport appointment for Grace.

The day, as a whole, went down without a hitch. The heat and humidity was oppressive, and, I can honestly say I've never been that hot in my life. Poor Grace soaked through two outfits with sweat (the back of the car doesn't get the best air circulation,) and we had to make a mad dash for a photography studio to redo her passport photos. Turns out, when we got her first passport photos done, at a passport photo place, mind you, they gave us the wrong size. This usually wouldn't be that big of a deal, but the embassy's hours are 1-3 pm. And that is it.

Ha!

But we went as fast as we (legally) could, and made it back in time to submit all of the paperwork.

We had a late lunch at a mall food court, fed Grace in the parking garage, then made the two hour drive back. When we got to the border, Ian went into the office to get our visas cancelled for the country we were leaving. The officer inside asked to see me (sometimes, because of the culture, they will not ask to see the woman,) and so I, along with Grace came inside.

As soon as he saw me walk in with Grace, he demanded to see her passport. We explained that we didn't have her passport yet but we did have her paperwork (birth certificate from hospital and city, which is supposed to be acceptable.)

He said he could not let us through and he called in a higher ranking official who told us that under absolutely no circumstances could he let us into another country without having her passport.

You might think this would make sense. Usually I would say "of course, someone can't cross into another country without a passport!" But in this situation, the border is much more fluid than other borders, and the hospital told us we would only need the birth certificate. Plus, we had crossed back and forth 3 times already!

Ian followed the higher ranking officer backto his office and tried to reason with him.

"I have an 8 week old baby, she needs her bed. We don't have clothes or diapers. Please sir, think of my wife and baby! We don't know anyone we can stay with here!"

He basically told Ian "it's not my problem." He told us to come back once we had her passport, which would be in 2 to 3 weeks.

Frustrated and angry we got in the car and drove back into the country we had just tried to leave. We parked in a nearby apartment complex while I fed Grace and Ian made phone calls, letting people know the situation and trying desperately to find a place to stay. Of course there are tons of nice hotels, but we didn't have the cash to spend on that (believe me, we have reevaluated our emergency fund!) Finally we were put in touch with a guest house, given directions, and checked in.

As soon as we got in, Ian had to turn around and go back out. It was almost 10 and we didn't have any more diapers (problem!) and hadn't eaten since lunch.

I got Grace to sleep and she officially slept for the first time, not in her crib, but on a bunk bed!

The bottom one, of course, we aren't crazy.

Though, I don't think she'll be rolling her swaddled self anywhere soon.

Ian and I sat quietly, eating on the floor of our room realizing what a big deal this could be.

3 weeks, with only the clothes on our back and no way to communicate with our families back home. We decided we would probably go stay in the big city, 2 hours away, with some friends we had there, and we'd have to buy some clothes to get us through.

We weren't giving up yet though.

You see, the whole time I was pregnant, I had morning Dr.'s appointments. We crossed the border in the morning and returned in the evening. At the border, in the morning, we always got the same female border guard, and we had built a relationship with her. We had even brought Grace in to show her when we were first returning home!

She was also the guard who had let us (plus Grace) through, no problem, just like they were supposed to do!

So, the next morning, we got up, went to our Doctor's appointments like planned, then went straight to the border to try to catch our friend before her shift was over.

Miracle of all miracles, she was! I stayed in the car and she didn't even ask to see me or Grace, we got our stamps, then proceeded to drive over the border.

Coming home never felt so good!

Like I said at the beginning of this post, this could have been a much worse situation, but in the end, it all worked out. Praising the Lord for His hand on us during this time.

We can't go back over the border until Grace's passport is in, or we would risk not being able to get home.

I'm fine with 3 weeks of being stuck in this tiny town if it means I can brush my teeth, take out my contacts, and sleep in my own bed!

Happy Two Months, Grace!

2011-06-02T21:55:00.001+04:00

Happy Two Months, Grace!

We love you more and more with every passing day, which doesn't feel possible, but it is. You bring more joy and laughter into our lives and have taught us so much already about what it means to be good parents. We can't wait to see how much you grow and change during this next month.

Love,
Your Mommy and Daddy

Clothes:Today I packed up her newborn clothes and put all of her 0-3 months clothes in her dresser and wardrobe. She can still fit in about half of her newborn clothes, so I may dip back into her pajama selection if push comes to shove. Most of her 0-3 months clothes are onesies, which are awesome for the heat, but not so awesome for a baby that loves to be swaddled. A swaddle blanket works best if it has clothing to 'grip' onto, and when she naps in a onesie, she breaks out of her swaddle 9 times out of 10.

Food: Grace is still eating every 3 hours, 7 am until 10 pm, and one feeding between 10 pm and 7 am, usually around 3 am. She feeds for 30 minutes solidly, at which point I stop her. I'm not really sure how long she would nurse for if I just let her go on indefinitely. During the school week, if I have class during her 1 pm feeding, I feed her a pumped bottle of about 2.5 ounces, and she takes it like a champ!

I cut out almost all dairy out of my diet, around month one, because I thought it might be causing her some discomfort. Things have calmed down and I am adding dairy back into my diet to see if that is what it was.

Sleep: We rotated her schedule around week five, to have a start time of 7 am instead of 9 am, and it has made all the difference (I'm not sure why, it just has!) Before, Grace would nap inconsistently and scream, every night, from 7pm until midnight, even with a feeding at 9pm! We also increased her "wake time," to one hour and ten/twenty minutes. Her naps have evened out, with her napping about 75% of her nap time.

Her bedtime comes after her 7 pm feeding, bath, and snuggle, and her 10pm feeding is more of a 'dream feed,' where we keep her swaddled, lights low, and sounds low. She falls right back asleep after this feed and sleeps until she's hungry.

Activity: Grace has become much more interested in things hanging above her, and rattles and bright toys attract her attention.

She loves sitting up, and is the most happiest when propped against things so she can look about. I've started tucking her in our bed, propped against the pillows in the morning, while I'm getting ready for school. She'll just sit and stare while I talk and sing to her.

On May 16th, 2011, at 11:29 am, Grace smiled at me for the first time, and completely melted my heart. She smiles a couple of times a day, but we have to really work for those smiles!

Personality: Grace LOVES eating, and is inconsolable before a feeding and happy as a lark after she eats. My favorite time with her is the 20 minutes or so after she eats when she is just the happiest baby in the world!

Miscellaneous:
*Grace had her first babysitter! Our friend offered to watch her during a particularly busy school day, when Ian was away over the border at an embassy. She stayed with Grace for an hour or so and Grace proved herself by peeing and pooping on our friend during a diaper change!
*Grace does great at school. Most of the time she stays sleeping in her infant carrier seat, but the teachers love her so much, they don't like it if I leave her in her seat! Most days, we bring her home smelling like other lady's Arab perfume, from when they held her!
*She LOVES her pacifier now, and we're working hard on not letting her use it too often, or as a crutch to fall asleep. Most of the time, we use it to settle her down when she has spiraled into a full on meltdown.
*She still isn't making many sounds, but occasionally she makes a few sounds!
*Grace had her 2 month check up yesterday, and she's put on 3 pounds in the last month, coming in at 10.3 pounds (25%) 23 inches (50%) and she got 3 immunizations, one of which was a 6-in-1 that isn't offered in the States but saves Grace from 5 extra pricks! She did great, peed on the doctor, pooped on the nurse, and screamed for about 2 seconds after her shots.
*Grace had her first night away from home- an unexpected one, but more on that another time. She did great and we're so glad we have a healthy sleeper! Who ever said "scheduled," babies aren't flexible has got it all wrong!

There's A First Time for Everything

2011-05-29T21:48:00.000+04:00

In life there are alot of "Firsts."

First smile,
First laugh,
First crawl,
First steps,
First solid food,
etc.

You get the picture, I'm sure.

The list can go on and on throughout your life, right up until you die.

Hopefully "first death," isn't followed by a second.

Because that is just weird.

Grace had a first today, one that most people don't have until they are well into their teenage years!

First Passport PhotoLet me just note that this is a very "Arab," picture. The photographer edited the picture after he took it, and added make up (to my two month old!) Lip gloss, pastier skin (because apparently we aren't white enough!) and, the cherry on top, he drew on eyebrows.

Oh yes, he did.

So, poor Gracie has her first passport photo and it isn't the most flattering (though it really isn't unflattering, since she's a baby and is cute as can be.)

Good thing I don't have MY first passport photo to share with you.

Talk about unflattering.

I'm pretty sure I got it taken right after a swim team practice, chlorine hair, red goggle eyes and all.

I. was. awesome.

But, alas, that passport was done away with when I was no longer a minor, and then passport #2 was done away with when I changed my name! So now I have the half decent picture of me in my passport.

AND, if you really wanted to see an unflattering passport picture, I wish I could show you Ian's first passport picture. He was about 65 pounds heavier! He still had that picture when he was living in Jordan and traveling alot. The customs and border agents would give him a hard time because the picture no longer looked like him at all! He's now on passport #2 and doesn't have a problem with the picture not matching his face.

And speaking of a picture not matching the face....what happens when Grace is 2, 3, or 4 and she no longer looks like a 2 month old infant? Hmmm.

Grace will go with us on Tuesday for her first embassy visit to apply for her passport, birth certificate, and social security.

The firsts keep rolling in!

So here's to a "first," and many more to come!

5, 6, 7, 8

2011-05-28T21:15:00.001+04:00

Today, Grace is eight weeks old.

8!

It's crazy to see the difference four weeks has made.....

We love our little girl SO much and are enjoying every moment with her. Within the last week or so she's started sleeping better (for the most part. Currently, she is screaming her tiny little head off, in bed, when she should be sleeping,) and her wake time is much more alert and happy.

She's putting on weight and goes to school with me like a champ! She's had her first babysitter and is loving baths more and more- today she didn't cry until we went to take her out!

She still isn't "cooing," like the books say she should be, but we're not worried. She makes plenty of intentional sounds and loves smacking her lips before meal time, ha! More updates on Grace to come on Thursday, her two month birthday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-05-25T21:17:00.001+04:00

With Jamie!

What I am loving this Wednesday in the Kitchen:

*Craisins
(image found here)

My parents sent us a care package, complete with a mega package of craisins, which I have been craving ever since we got here! Definitely on my "if you want to send a care package, here are a few ideas," along with pepperoni, sharpie pens, and Easy Mac. Plus, I had been saving a package of white chocolate chips that our friends had given us for Christmas to make oatmeal craisin w/ white chocolate chip cookies, and now I can make them!

*Major accomplishment for the week, frying food.

That's right, what most people try to avoid doing because of the nutritional black hole that is fried foods, I am all about! I fried my first chicken (besides bacon) this week and we loved it. I promise, I cook all of the time, but I just avoid frying food because I hate getting burnt by the oil splatter! I used Jessica's pretzel crusted chicken recipe and it was delicious! Then today I made up my own "fried chicken" recipe, complete with some peri-peri marinade and a crunchy bread crumb coating. Yum.

*I finally mixed up a container of Paula Deen's House Seasoning and we are using it on just about everything. Please, do yourself a favor and have some handy!

What I am loving this Wednesday in the House:

*My sweet husband, who scrubbed the tiles in the bathroom that I couldn't reach, washed the dinner dishes, and sat me down to tell me what he was planning for our 3rd wedding anniversary, which is next month. Did I mention he is sweet? Because he is!

*A clean shower, 3 loads of laundry complete, a dinner that was a hit, and a baby that is sleeping quietly in her crib. Need I say more?

*An impromptu photo shoot with Grace this afternoon. I've yet to look at the images, but I'm sure there are some keepers. Speaking of photography...my camera is having problems focusing/it won't actually let me take the pictures. I have a Canon Rebel T1i DSLR and I use it on manual. Anyone know what could be wrong? Am I too close to my subject or is it possible the lens or camera body is broken?

What I am loving this Wednesday Out and About:

*Well, it's happened. We've hit 115 degrees a couple of times now. Summer has arrived in the Middle East and it's only really beginning. You'd think that I would hate it, but I'm "loving" it because our air conditioners are working, I have plenty to do in our home, and because of the heat, I don't feel the pressure to go out and about, I can stay home and get things done. Amazing!

*I'm finished with school for the week! It was a long, mind numbing, word losing kind of Arabic learning week, but I have a 3 day weekend followed by only a 2 day week next week! Yay!

*Grace has her 2 month check up next week. 2 months! And we are going to the city to get her social security/notice of live birth/passport from the embassy! Finally she'll be official!

Who I Am

2011-05-21T20:12:00.000+04:00

Who I Am

I am... Brittney.

I want... a vacation somewhere where I can wear short sleeves, eat pork, and not hear Arabic.

I have... a scar on my leg from a surfboard fin from my "surfing," days and a scar on my foot from where a nail went through it, when I fell through the ceiling from our attic.

I wish... I knew how to play the violin and was a better photographer. I don't have a way to work on the violin thing but if I applied myself (and got my lens cleaned, ha!) I bet I could be a little more happy with my pictures.

I hate... telling people no. It's a big problem of mine and I should work on it.

I fear... financial instability, kidnapping, and confrontations.

I hear... Bach: Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould (oh please check it out, it's amazing!), Grace squawking, and Ian shaving.

I search... For Turkey sausage and Tim Tams (an Australian cookie,) whenever we are in big grocery stores.

I wonder... what Grace will be like in 1 week, 1 month, and/or 1 year from now.

I regret... not saving more money during my high school and college years. I worked all the time, and although I paid for some major trips by myself, I really do not know what I did with the rest of that money! To think that we could probably be debt free now if I had saved some is frustrating.

I love... my husband, Ian, for all that he has accomplished, for all he is, and for all that is to come in his life.

I ache... for friendship. I grew up with the same group of girlfriends and I've now been away from them for a year and a half/3 years (depending on how you look at it.) They are my bosom friends, more like me than not like me, and I am so comfortable with them. I'm lonely alot out here.

I always... buckle up in a car.

I usually... eat oatmeal for breakfast. I like feeling full and warm as I start my day, plus, the low sugar varieties are healthier than alot of cereal options!

I am not... an extrovert. I think I sometimes wish I was, but I know the struggles extroverts have and I think I'm content with the struggles introverts have, ha!

I dance... in my living room. I love dancing with kids to fun music, and can't wait to have "dance parties," with Grace!

I sing... in groups. I can harmonize but make me sing solo and I freeze up!

I never... went to my high school prom and I only went to my Freshman homecoming dance. I think they are wastes of time and money and a place where many bad decisions are made by the youth of America. Sorry if that's a downer, ha, I've just seen too much! That being said, I wouldn't stop my children from going if they wanted to. It was my personal choice to go or not and I want to have raised my kids in a way that by the time they reach their high school years they can make smart decisions no matter where they are.

I sometimes... wonder what life would be like if we moved home. Where would we live, where would Ian work? It's fun to imagine, but I know, for now, we are where we are supposed to be.

I cry... during October Sky....every time. I'm not really sure why, but when he is going down into the coal mine and he looks up at the sky and the violin is playing, I lose it.

I am not always... a healthy eater. I have a really big sweet tooth and I LOVE to bake

I lose... things, all the time. And I get very frustrated when I can't find them!

I am confused... about American pop culture. And I'm American! For instance, what is up with "Whip My Hair?" Am I missing a key piece to the puzzle by being over here?

I need... a hair cut. I haven't gotten it cut since we moved to Canada then here. I've trimmed it a few times but it needs a real cut!

I should... be studying Arabic right now!

A Conversation with Her Daddy

2011-05-19T20:44:00.000+04:00

Hey, Daddy....

Hey, Grace!

Whatcha thinking about?

I'm thinking about how much I love you. Do you know how much I love you?

This much Daddy?

No, MUCH more!
This much Daddy?

Try again! MUCH more!
Well, how about this much?

You're getting closer!
Okay then Daddy, do you love me THIS much?

Yes, Grace, I love you THAT much!
Wow, that's alot. I love you THAT much too, Daddy.

Good Intentions

2011-05-18T20:54:00.000+04:00

I had good intentions to do a whole post on Grace's one month check up, that was 2 whole weeks ago, but it never got done. The long and short of it? Grace is healthy. She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces, meaning she gained a pound from birth. Her height is 20.08 inches, meaning she grew almost an inch. Her height and weight is in the 25 percentile and her head circumference is in the 50th. That means that if 100 kids her age were lined up, shortest to tallest or lightest to heaviest, she would be #25th in line, with 24 kids lighter/shorter than her, and 75 heavier/taller.I had good intentions to take new pictures of Grace because she is now 6 weeks old (crazy!) but on the day I was going to do it, Grace had her first fever and was just a miserable little baby. She was also having some, um, stomach issues that led to her having, what we refer to as "Luck of the Irish," diapers, if you get my drift.

I had good intentions of cooking my husband all sorts of delicious meals, but wouldn't you know it, we forgot to buy meat on the other side of the border. Cereal, oatmeal, or take out, it is!

Speaking of the border, we had good intentions of getting Grace's birth certificate (finally,) and Ian went all the way across the border to the office, when he found out that he was supposed to bring my passport with him. And then he locked his keys in the car. Awesome.

I had good intentions of cleaning the house, doing laundry, getting rid of that funky smell that exists in our house (any tips on eliminating diaper odor?,) blogging, going grocery shopping, calling my momma, and writing some thank you notes, but, frankly, I never got around to it.

What to they say about good intentions?

Oh yes, they line the path to hell.

Good thing that isn't true!

Despite all that, this week has been pretty good. Plenty of snuggles with my baby and my husband, a little bit of language studying, and ALOT of coffee. A recipe for success, don't you think?

Lost

2011-05-16T21:40:00.001+04:00

We were in the medium sized city this weekend, meeting up with some friends, doing some shopping, and indulging in Mexican food.

As we were about to leave, we stopped into a big grocery store that is part of the mall. Our mission was simple...frozen bagels, grape jelly, and grape soda. Three things that we had been craving for awhile but couldn't track down.

As we wandered the aisles, heading from one side of the store to the other, Ian and I noticed a small boy, probably 3 years old, crying in the middle of the main aisle. I knew right away that he was lost and my heart broke for him.

Streaming around him were dozens of adults who weren't even giving him a second glance. He was sobbing with tears rolling down his chubby little cheeks and he was slowly walking around, looking up at the faces of the grown up, trying to get help.

Breaks your heart, doesn't it?

Ian and I had walked past him, not realizing he was so lost, and we had gotten about 5 aisles away before turning back and going after him. There's always that risk, when helping a lost child, that his parent is right within ear shot and might be suspicious of you talking to or leading their child by hand, so it always makes me nervous. Also, as we approached the little boy, I realized I didn't know how we would communicate with him. The big city has dozens upon dozens of people groups and this little boy was not Western and he was not Arab.

We pushed our huge stroller right up to him and Ian asked him where his daddy was. The little boy, between sobs asked "Daddy?" He frantically looked around him and then back up at us. I knelt down next to him and asked him if he was looking for his daddy. "Daddy," he replied, slipping his chubby little hand in mine.

We set off down the main aisle, looking up and down the aisles to our right and left with me babbling about his dad and where he could be. I asked him what his name was and I'm not sure if he fully understood my question, but I could tell he recognized the word "Name," and he mumbled an answer. I asked again and he answered. Unfortunately, my knowledge of Eastern names falls short so even though he told it to me twice, my small little mind couldn't wrap around the strange syllables he was saying. I nodded as if I understood, patted his hand, and we all continued on.

I looked up from our aisle searching to see a boy walking towards us, probably 7 or 8 years old. He was holding one arm out and beckoning to the small boy. He looked up at me and I smiled, realizing this was probably his brother, and he ran off to join his brother, who led him just 10 feet away to his father, who was emerging from an aisle.

The father looked nonchalant and relaxed, he leaned down to listen to his youngest son tell of his tale (I suppose that is what he was doing, since he motioned at Ian and I and then the father gave us a smile and a nod of thanks.) He took his youngest son's hand and began to walk away. He was calm and collected. I realized he was probably on the very aisle where his youngest son had probably wandered from in the first place.

Such a simple little moment in time made tears come to my eyes and made me choke up. Blame it on the postpartum hormones or the fact that this was the second lost child I had helped that day, but either way, I was touched.

How much like the young boy are we? I would wager to bet that all of us have had moments where we are going through life, happy and content in our little bubble.

And then, something catches our eye, distracts us from our purpose, and we wander away from our Father.

We forget what we were made for, what we should live for, who our Creator is, and all of a sudden we our on our own, heading for a prize of our own design.

Something shiny.

Something new.

Something our earthly flesh desires.

We look up one day and we realize the Father is no where near. We've lost site of Him. We are no longer walking with Him.

We have left His presence.

Panic overcomes us. We grasp at anything and everything that seems spiritual, that seems right. We throw ourselves in, head over heels into empty and worthless things.

Dead ends.

And then, someone comes along. They ask what we are looking for.

"Daddy," we reply.

"My Father, my Creator, the Sustainer of my life."

Led by the hand we see Him again.

We relearn how to stay in sight of Him.

We vow never to leave His side.

And the Father?

He was right where we left Him.

Waiting patiently, with open arms, for us to return.

Get To Know You

2011-05-15T23:05:00.000+04:00

I'm joining up with Get To Know You today because my brain hurts too much to write a post by myself. I love this week's questions though!

1. have you ever gone to see a movie by yourself? Yes, I saw the "new" Superman back in 2006 all by myself. I was working as a summer camp counselor/lifeguard at a camp up in the Poconos for 9 weeks and this was my only chance to be completely by myself for that whole time. That and when I would go out to the parking lot, crawl in my car and just sit an

2. would you rather go through a tornado or a hurricane? I've gone through both of these and I'll have to say I'd rather go through a tornado. Tornadoes are more powerful and deadly, but they are sprung on you and are over within minutes, and the path of destruction is smaller and defined, while a hurricane has so much dread and anticipation with it. Having lived in Florida my whole life I've lived through alot of hurricanes, and the worst part about them is that they last SO long. I say that is the worst part, not because you get bored sitting in your house for days on end (which you do,) but it's the worst because if your house gets damaged, there is little you can do for hours and hours, days and days to repair it. The hurricane season of the fall of 2004 was just the worse. Orlando didn't get hit compared to other parts of the state, but we still had alot of damage. I had kids at my high school coming early to shower and get cleaned up at school for months after the hurricanes because it was taking that long to get things repaired!

3. have you made summer vacation plans? Kind of! Our school runs until the end of June, then we have to stick around in July for me to take private lessons to get all caught up, and then in August we hope to be taking a vacation to {maybe} France!

4. what's your favorite accessory? I usually like a long, dangly necklace or shoes that make me feel good about myself!

5. have you ever been thrown a surprise party? My friends threw me a going away/early 23rd birthday party in January of 2010. It was such a surprise and so much fun!

6. are you friends with your neighbors? No, our building has 5 units and for our first 5 months or so we were the only ones in the building. Then, the rest of the building filled up, but with all single men or with families that did not speak

7. what's the last movie you saw in the theater? It was Tron: Legacy, that we saw for Ian's birthday last fall. Our town doesn't have a movie theater and the big cities don't show all the same movies that the States do.

8 what's your favorite food network show? That would be Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives! I'm always amazed at the food on that show! We would love to go to a few of the restaurants the next time we are in the States!

Embrace the Camera

2011-05-12T18:20:00.000+04:00

I'm joining in with the Anderson Crew this week to Embrace the Camera!

Ian snapped this picture of me this afternoon and it is noteworthy for two reasons:

1.) This is right before I took Grace out on our first solo drive! We went to the grocery store then drove around town before returning home.

2.) My hair is straight! I borrowed my friend's hair straightener to see if my hunch was right, and it was. My hair texture has changed some in the last 2-3 years and it straightens a little easier now. Yay for some diversity besides my curly hair up in a pony tail!

I love Embrace the Camera because it means a picture of Grace and I, or Grace and Ian! Sometimes I get carried away with snapping pictures of her cuteness and forget to have Ian and I in with her. I want to make sure she knows how much we love her and were with her all the time!

Far More Than Rubies

The Language Diaries- One and a half years

This Week

For This Child I Prayed

Caught in the Act

Accidental Breastfeeder

Happy Nine Months, Grace!

Christmas 2011

33, 34, 35, 36

2012

Recap 2011- December

Recap 2011- November

Recap 2011- October

Recap 2011- September

Recap 2011- August

Recap 2011- July

Recap 2011- June

Recap 2011- May

Recap 2011- April

Recap 2011- March

Recap 2011- February

Recap 2011-January

One

Our Weekend

Happy Eight Months, Grace!

Our Thanksgiving

House Hunting

Wondering

Happy Seven Months, Grace!

I am Barabbas

Where We've Been

29, 30, 31, 32

Guess....

Quarter of a Century

25, 26, 27, 28

Our Weekend

Guess What We Did...

A View From the Top

Low Key {and rain in the desert}

Happy Six Months, Grace!

Life Marches On

700

21, 22, 23, 24

Wordless Wednesday

Our Weekend

17, 18, 19, 20

End of Year Resolutions

Happy Five Months, Grace!

Grace and Food

The Family in Paris

That Unforgettable Shopping Experience

Grace Takes on Paris

The South of France

Topsy Turvey

Favorite Author- Suspense

De-Swaddled

Happy Four Months, Grace!

13, 14, 15, 16

{Memorize}

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Four

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Three

Mini Vacation 2011- Day Two

What a Way to Start My Summer!

Mini Vacation 2011- Day One

Grace's New Trick

Happy Three Months, Grace!

9, 10, 11, 12

Cultural Tidbits

Date Night

{Three}

A Baby Will....

Grace is 10 Weeks! & Dance Recital

*Katie*

Success!

Donkey Brains

Water Under the Bridge

Happy Two Months, Grace!

There's A First Time for Everything

5, 6, 7, 8

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Katie