Time with Anna and Liam

Every time we come back to the USA it is inevitable that we will spend tons of time packing up, driving, and staying at lots of different places.  Since it wasn't that long since our last trip home I was a little worn out from all the driving. So I had decided I would just hang out in Houston until Micah arrived.  I knew this meant I wouldn't see as many people but I also knew it would give Jake and I more time to relax and spend time with Mom and Dad. Well, to my great surprise, Anna decided to drive to Houston to come see us! We were so excited to still get to see Anna and Liam but to not have to drive.  I can't even express how excited this made me.  Anna and I had a great time catching up, shopping, and eating.  Jake had fun explaining the ways of the world to Liam while Liam looked at him like "dude, get out of my space".

Home for the Holidays

On November 29, Jacob and I headed back to the USA for the holidays.  Micah wasn't able to come with us yet but he would come 2 weeks later.  Jacob once again did awesome on the trip.  He's pretty much a professional traveler.  Mom picked us up at the airport and snapped a quick picture of us.  I'm actually surprised we don't look as bad as we should after that long without a shower. 

We've spent our time in the USA without Micah just chilling in Houston.  Mom and Dad got Jacob a walker for Christmas and let us use it early.  It has been fabulous!  Jacob just recently started wanting to be standing up all the time so it's a lifesaver. 

 Mom had decorated most of the house but she didn't have the tree decorated yet so Jacob and I helped with tree decorating. Dad was out of town so it was just me, Jake, and Nana. 

We have also spent time with my Grandma Eddy and Jake's Great Grandma. 

Jake Met Santa

It was so much fun taking Jake to meet Santa.  Mom and I were shopping in The Woodlands and I just happened to find the perfect meeting Santa outfit.  So when Jake was in a good mood, I quickly changed his clothes and we went for our first Santa meeting.  It was still early in December and kids were still in school so there was absolutely no line.  Jake did great with Santa.  He sat on his lap and wondered what that beard thing was.  Our boy is such a cutie!

Thanksgiving

Since we have lived in Saudi Arabia, we have spent every Thanksgiving in the Kingdom.  Our first year we spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in Kingdom while the second 2 years we went home for Christmas.  Spending Thanksgiving here is the trade off for going home for Christmas.  Although I love Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping, I will take Christmas every year!  So, as usual, we got together with our friends that were here, cooked turkey and all sorts of Thanksgiving food, and had some fun.  We even had the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade playing on our slingbox in the background.  Of course that was changed to football once a game got started. It is so great having such wonderful friends here in Saudi that we can spend holidays with when we are all stuck here!  Sadly, I didn't get many pictures after the few we took of us and Jacob.  I will eventually get a picture from someone of our whole group eating dinner.

*I'm having issues with uploading pictures on blogger so for now here is a link.

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5 months

5 months

Friday, November 16 I turned 5 months old.  This past month was a big month in the sleep department. Once Mom and I were back in Saudi and over jet-lag the pack-n-play was put away and I started sleeping in my own room all alone.  Of course this was harder on Mom than it was on me.  However, what was great about this change is that we now have a bed time routine.  I get my last bottle around 9pm and we head up to my room and we read a couple books. Then I get rocked to sleep and most of the time someone sings me a song.  Most nights Dad has decided this is his job but occasionally Mom steals me and puts me to bed. Another sleep change had to do with my changes.  One night Mom watched me flip myself from my back to my stomach while swaddled so she knew it was time to set me free.  I now sleep completely un-swaddled!  Of course this means I sleep on my side or my stomach all the time now. Well, here are my 5 month stats:

Jacob’s Stats:

Age: 5 months

Weight: 16lbs

Length: ??

Eye Color: deep blue

Hair color: Ash blonde

Eating Schedule: 5 oz  5 times/day

New Activities: Jacob now sleeps completely un-swaddled and in his own room. He is now wearing mostly 6 month clothes. Jacob is much more wiggly and we have learned why certain items have restraints and not to leave him unconfined places. He wants to eat sitting up and facing out and DOES NOT want to be laid down.  He still enjoys playing on his play mat but has started playing in a jumper and enjoys being upright to play.  He wants to see the world. He laughs, plays peek-a-boo, blows raspberries, and is super smiley.  Most of his hair is growing back. He is a cute, happy boy!

Saudi Christmas Decorating

Since we moved to Saudi Arabia it has become tradition for me to pull out the Christmas decorations on November 1.  Our first year, we were going to Australia for the first 2 weeks of December and I wanted the decorations up and ready by the time we returned.  Plus, it takes a lot of work to pull everything out and put them up so I want lots of time to enjoy them.  The following year we were going home for actual Christmas so again we wanted more time to enjoy the decorations to make it even worth doing it.  At first Micah made fun of me for how early I decorated but this year on November 1, he wanted to know why I wasn't decorating yet!  So we got to work decorating.

Once we had the tree out and put together, I was kind enough to take all of our ornaments out of their boxes and lay them out.  That night we listened to Christmas music and decorated our tree!

So here it is, our villa fully decorated for Christmas.

View from our TV area through the "sitting area" and into the dinning room

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Dinning Room table

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Sitting area table

Tree :)

Jacob's First Halloween

I'm really not that into Halloween.  It's not that I have anything against it and I'm all for scary or cool costumes, kids trick-or-treating, etc but it just doesn't rank that high in my priorities. I'm sure one day when Jacob is more into it I will be too but for now our Halloween was pretty low key.  I bought Jake some skeleton pj's while I was home in the states and decided that would be his costume.  We spent the morning at Lindsey's where she had set up a super cute morning full of kids playing and cookie decorating.  It was a beautiful day so we spent time hanging out and playing outside. Jacob and Brooklyn got some time to hang out too.

Halloween evening Jacob and I went to Dan and Heather's to hand out candy to tick-or-treaters.  It was fun seeing all the kids in costume.  I even forced Gizmo into a costume but he wasn't too thrilled with that idea.  After the kiddos were done we went over to the Kyle's house for pizza and more socializing. Overall it was a very fun day!