Bahrain

Finally! I was finally able to leave this oppressive country for a day. Even just a day out of Saudi can do a lot for the morale. Micah was able to take this Monday off for a quick trip to Bahrain. We had to take this trip to activate our visas (when we get our Saudi visas we have to leave the country within a certain number of days). Plus I just really needed to get out of Saudi and off of Murjan. We left Murjan at 7:30am and headed for the land of the slightly free.  Our original plan was to eat breakfast at Ric's but the causeway customs was busy and took longer than we had hoped so we headed straight for City Center mall. It was a little sad to not get biscuits and gravy and pork bacon but we will be in the US soon so I guess it can wait.

Shopping in Bahrain is amazing compared to Saudi except for one issue, the prices. I guess we pay a premium to shop in a bright pretty mall with modern clean restrooms and places to actually try on clothes. However, in the end I didn't really buy much because I kept thinking about how much cheaper I could get everything in the US or even Saudi. It's still fun to shop in freedom with no prayer time closings and no abaya.

Micah and I had learned previously that city center was opening a Potbelly Sandwich shop. We LOVE Potbelly. It was our lucky day because it was finally open. Yes, we did eat there for lunch and dinner.... This was Jakes first Potbelly experience. Doesn't he look excited?

Another task on our agenda was to attempt to see a movie. I know, we are crazy thinking we could take a 2 month old to a movie, and not just any movie....we went to see Batman.  I was fully prepared to have to leave the movie at some point with a crying baby. However, I'm proud to say that Jake's schedule worked out perfectly and he slept through most of the movie and ate through the end. We were able to watch the whole movie without a peep from him!

Jacob did awesome the whole day including all the car time. He slept in his stroller while we shopped, he ate when it was time to eat, and played and smiled at us when he was awake. I'm hoping this is a good sign for our trip to France in 9 days!!!

2 Months

Our little man is 2 months old today! Not much has changed since I did the 8 weeks post a few days ago so I won't repeat too much.    We went to the doctor yesterday for his 2 month appointment and vaccinations.  Since he wasn't sick and it is Ramadan I decided to go to the local hospital here in Jubail.  Needless to say I wasn't too impressed.  My doctor in Khobar at SAAD really checks Jacob out. Takes off his diaper to and clothes to check for diaper rash, etc. He really looks at his whole body and explains to me what he is doing while he does it.  This doctor in Jubail listened to Jacob's heart beat for about 2 seconds, looked up his nose, and signed the vaccine forms. Didn't ask me how much he weighed at birth, didn't check length or head circumference and pretty much didn't do anything.  Ohh well, I was really just there for the shots anyway.  We have an appointment with a pediatrician in the US the day after we get back so I will save my questions for that appointment.  One positive thing is that Jake hasn't really had any bad side-effects from the shots except for maybe sleeping more.

Now that I'm done with my doctor rant, he did start sleeping through the night 2 nights ago.  He slept from 10:30pm-5:30am and then eats and goes back to sleep until 7:30 or 8:00.  I'm loving the 7 hours straight. He is a little bit fussier today than normal and wants to sleep more but I was still able to get his 2 month pictures done. Enjoy!

 Age: 2 months

Weight: 11 lbs.

Length: 22”

Eye Color: still blue

Hair Color: still dirty blonde

Eating Schedule: every 3 hours

Night Time Schedule: 7 hours!

Clothing Size: 0-3 (bigger ones) or 3 month

New Activities: He smiles and giggles often, starting to find his hands

8 weeks Insanity!

Jacob is officially 8 weeks old.  Every day I still can't believe he is a part of our lives now and I can't believe how much I love him.  He is such a precious little boy. Jake is starting to grow out of his newborn outfits which makes me really sad.  Of course I have some favorites that I'm not ready for him to not wear anymore. I guess with each size clothing I will have new favorites. He has become such a smiley boy and I love seeing his beautiful smile every day. Click here to read more about Jake at 8 weeks.

This week I also decided to start the Insanity work out.  I tried to start it at 6 weeks but realized my body had not recovered enough yet for that intense of a work-out. So I headed to the gym for lower impact cardio on the eliptical and slowly worked in weights. After my doctors appointment last week and the other exercising I decided to try again.  Today was just the fit test but I actually made it through this time so I think I'm good to go. We will see just how "insane" this work-out is post baby. 

Routine

Now that I'm finally a little over being alone, Jacob and I are starting to find our routine. He really is a great baby and makes it easy to get in a routine.  He is pretty consistently going to bed around 10:30-11 and sleeps till 4:30 or so then eats and goes back to sleep until around 8.  I am one lucky Momma! He then eats, stays awake for little while, and takes a nap on about a 3 hour rotation. It's still hard to get used to living life in 3 hour segments and sometimes hard to get motivated to get things done while he is asleep but I guess thats life. 


First thing in the mornings we head for the gym. He is typically awake during this time but enjoys the walk to the gym and seems to find me on the elliptical entertaining. Only occasionally do I have to get off to walk him around or give him his pacifier. After the workout, we head back home and I put him down for a nap so that I can shower and get ready for the rest of the day.


The rest of our day is very laid back. I let him be on his schedule and at some point find time to eat, do laundry, cook dinner, etc.  I don't have much to do outside the house since it is so stinkin hot (120 AND HUMID) and since it's Ramadan.  Ramadan essentially means stores are open strange hours and no restaurants or food places are open during the day. This makes it even more difficult to go anywhere and it be enjoyable.  Also, most of my friends are back in the US so our social calendar is a little slow.   


I realize my routine will change some when Ramadan is over and my friends are back.  We will have way more social activities then :)  I also know that the routine will always be a moving target as he grows and his needs change but I'm ready for the challenge. 

On a side note, I started a blog for Jacob.  The main purpose of this blog is to be able to make it into a book for his 1 year birthday. So for the most part it's just for me but if anyone is interested it is:

Jacob's World

Blessed

My Mom left last night after 6 wonderful weeks together.  As I was crying in the car on the way home from the airport, I realized how blessed I was to be able to cry over this situation.  Not everyone gets the chance to cry because their Mom has been with them 6 weeks and now they will miss them.   Not everyone would want to cry after being with their Mom for 6 weeks or if they did they might cry for joy :)  So, needless to say, I am very blessed to have such a wonderful Mom who was willing to fly all the way to Saudi Arabia to live with us for 6 weeks. Who helped keep me sane with a new baby, helped keep us fed, clothes washed, and kept me entertained while feeding.  We really didn't do a whole lot while she was here besides take care of the baby but it sure was great to have company.  
Now I have to try to remember how to live in my house without someone always there to talk to or hand Jacob off to if I need to do something. Jacob now has to learn how to not be held all day in order to let this Mom cook dinner and wash clothes.  The first couple days will be hard but I know eventually we will get used to our new life. Every time I want to cry, I think of the joy of having such a wonderful mother. I am truly blessed. Hopefully I can be the same for my precious boy. 

 * Thanks to my Dad for loaning Mom out


Did I mention I also have a fantastic mother-in-law.  She was able to stay with us for 4 weeks and help with Jacob, cleaning, food, and also keep us entertained.  Not many people want to spend that much time with their in-laws but I appreciated every moment. Marvetta and my Mom helped each other out with baby stuff and the not as much fun stuff like laundry.  We are so grateful for all of her help.  It's such a blessing to have 2 wonderful Mom's around to get advice from and to help get me started in my mom-hood. She did raise a pretty fantastic son!

One Month

Jacob is officially one month old (I'm a little late on this post so actually he is older) and I can't believe how much our world has changed.  Everyone tells you all about how much your life will change but you can't really grasp it until you experience it.  Our life has changed. Now there is this little helpless person that depends solely on us to take of him and provide for him.  What a responsibility! I have loved getting to know our little boy and experience the joy he brings to the world.  Jacob's first month has been very eventful.  He has met his grandparents, gone on walks, laid by the pool, eaten at Chilis, Outback Steakhouse, Patya, and Applebees. He has been to a birthday party, had a 4th of July party, and invited all his girlfriends over for lunch.  He has been weighed, measured, and photographed. Here are some of his first month stats.


- weighed in at 8lbs 13 oz.- gained 2 lbs in 1 month
- 22" long - grown 1.5" since birth
- Eats about 3-4 oz a feeding and is doing well with breastfeeding
- Jacob typically go to bed around 11:30pm and then sleep until around 3 or 3:30. Then I take a bottle and sleep until about 7:30.
- I have been very blessed with lots of help. Either my Mom or Micah's have been giving Jacob the middle of the night feeding so I can get a solid amount of sleep= Amazing
- Jacob hated diaper changes, baths, and generally being naked. But he's starting to get used to it. 
- I've had lots of baths and just like diaper changes, at first I hated them. Now they aren't so bad.
- Jake does great at tummy time but doesn't last very long. 
- On his one month birthday he rolled from his tummy to his back
- I've been on walks, went to the pool, had a 4th of July party, and visited Khobar
- We are still waiting on my passport but are hoping it arrives soon


We love our little boy so much and can't believe how much he has changed our lives. He is such a sweet wonderful boy.  I thank God everyday for allowing us to be his parents.

We love our little man so much!!

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