Goodbye North Africa

Our last week we had two last gatherings with our group and they gave us our goodbye gifts.  The anticipation is killing us!  

YEAH!  The one on the left is a verse from Daniel in Arabic and the one on the left has a verse and was made by our old Arabic teacher.  These are sooo cool!  

We flew out with only a few minor problems.  Here we are at the airport on Thursday morning. Almost all our checked bags were overweight but PTL the lady didn't even seem to look at the scale and didn't say a word!  Because of the time change we ended up at the airport an hour early (better than an hour late!) so we had some breakfast with our friends that were seeing us off.  While trying to go through security the guy weighed our carry-on's and said they were double the weight and we would have to pay almost $100!  I have never had my carry-on's weighed at security but it was just some scam from the airport to get more money b/c he was very selective about who he made pay.  The American in front of me that I was translating for had to pay for his but because we could speak Arabic we were able to talk our way out it and didn't have to pay.  PTL!  The flight went great and we got all our bags in El Paso.  

We haven't taken many photos in America but we'll try and catch up this weekend.  Hope to start seeing some of you soon.  (By the way if you are a blog reader, let us know when you see us...gives me motivation to keep posting :)  

BG Update:

-As I write this I am using the free wireless at Lovelace Women's Hospital in Albuquerque.  I met my new midwife yesterday and she was super cool.  This morning I am re-doing some of the test I already done in North Africa (figured as much).  I am doing my glucose test again for diabetes and some bloodwork.  

-The hospital is really nice and now I have appointments every two weeks so we will be traveling back until we actually move here at the end of September.  In two weeks we have our breastfeeding class so I hope we get to tour the family birthing unit then.  All my classes, midwife appointments, and delivery are in the same hospital so that makes it really convenient 

-BG is doing great and I read that she may actually start dreaming this week!  How cute is that?!  Her little eyes are opening and closing and she is forming sleep/wake patterns. 

-The most trouble I have is sleeping at night and trying to get comfortable.  She feels so heavy at night, but other than that my rash as completely cleared up and I am feeling great.  

-Here is the three of us after our CPR class with some friends.  We are now officially certified for adult and infant CPR.  

Pottery Village and All Moved Out

We took one last trip to a pottery village across the river this week for a few last minute items to bring home.  Cody wanted a serving dish for our tagines (the traditional meal here) and a new tagine to cook in.  If you come to our house for dinner get ready for some delicious North African cooking!  


Here is what the traditional tagines look like. The colorfully decorated ones are just for looks but these are for cooking in.

This store sold random wrought iron animals.  Such as deer, rhinoceros, and donkeys.  We couldn't exactly figure out which market they are targeting, I have never seen one of these anywhere in the country!  

Well we are officially moved out of our apartment today.  We packed up all the small stuff yesterday and got it out and the movers came today for the big stuff.  We are staying at a guesthouse for the remainder of our time.  

Goodbye, old bedroom.  All we have to left to do is clean the place and give the keys back to our landlord.  We still have our four bags and carry ons to rearrange and get settled.  BUT our flight leaves at 9:40 a.m on Thursday!  So that means the next post will be coming from America.  

I can totally relate to this one.  I am an emotional mess this week!  

BG Update:

-This Thursday (the day we fly out), I start my THIRD trimester, woot woot!

-Trust me, this week I am definitely feeling the affects of ending my second trimester.  My body is so tired and sore from all the moving and this girl is getting heavy!

-Another new development is I developed a rash this week and freaked out, hoping it wasn't PUPPPS, the pregnancy induced rash that doesn't let up until after delivery.  I went to the doctor on Friday (mine was out of town so it was all in French and Arabic) and she thought it was temporary and gave me a wash and some creme to put on.  She did an ultrasound just to make sure everything was okay.  (they hand out ultrasounds here like they're lollipops)  So it has been improving and today the redness is almost gone, PTL!!  I will see my normal doc on Tuesday for my last check up and for her to give me a letter for the airlines saying its okay to fly.  

-This week BG is almost 15 inches long!!  She's over two pounds and at my ultrasound was in the head down position.  She probably won't stay like that, but hopefully she's practicing her moves for October.  

-The last big news of the week is her little eyes are opening up and she can see!  She is developing sleep/wake patterns and may start dreaming as early as next week.  

Went to the beach this weekend.  I had just gotten out of the water here and it sure did wear me out!  

Fine French Cuisine and Baby Shower

Some friends of ours had a dinner party for three couples this week.  They made it like a French restaurant complete with six courses!  It was super fun and we wore these boas and top hat they provided.  We started with appetizer, soup, main course, salad (to cleanse the palate), cheese and bread, and then dessert!  We were SO stuffed!  
I had to add this photo too because Cody looks so darn cute!  

Also, this weekend I had my baby shower with my North African friends.  We had 21 guest from several different nationalities.  It was so super fun and I think BG had a good time too.  She DOES loves sweets!  

Here is my adorable cake that a friend made.  It's a little baby girl on top!  So precious AND delicious!  Cody enjoyed eating the top with me later at home.  

My shower was North African theme and that is what I am decorating my nursery too.  So my hostesses did a terrific job of decorating, plus I got to keep all the things they decorated with around the party!  

Reading the cards and opening my terrific presents!  All the onesies were in French because they were bought here.  I also asked for stuff to decorate the nursery and little North African girl clothes for her to wear.  


HA!  I have such a funny face in this picture.  Most people over-guessed on the TP game but two people hit it right on the money!  
A really special gift came from the ladies of my team.  They made squares for my quilt and did a different candy theme.  Even two of my old teammates in America contributed.  It was super sweet and I LOVE it.  (Cody does too, he was surprisingly interested :)

Here are some of my North African goodies.  The three candles on the left side are super cool because you can put a tea-light or bulb in there to make little lamps.  I got tons of tiny traditional shoes too!  Thanks everybody for a great shower!!!

BG Update:

-I have been feeling pretty good lately.  Sleeping is starting to become uncomfortable and I ate something that my body totally rejected and I felt intense nausea but after a few violent upheavals I felt all better.  

-I am getting so antsy to hurry up and meet this little girl.  I know we still have tons to do and prepare for but it seems like FOREVER away!

-FYI my uterus is now the size of a volleyball...YIKES!  Although it does look about like I stuffed a volleyball down my shirt.  

-That whole pregnancy forgetfulness thing is NOT a myth.  I would lose my head if it wasn't attached.  I'll set something down and within seconds forget where I put it and what I was doing.  

-BG's basic job now is to keep putting on the weight (which means more for me!).  

-I feel behind in the preparations because all the baby blog/updates talk about registering and preparing the room and all that jazz, NONE of which I have started.  But I have read seven books so far and checked out some stuff online.  (BG must know we are talking about her, she's going a little crazy in there, I swear this girl's ears burn when people talk about her).  So, if I should happen to give birth on the plane ride to America, can someone please meet me at the airport with a carseat and diaper?  

Just for another comparison:  

Me and my volleyball.  

Packing Stinks!

This week Cody and I went on a quadruple date with friends to a delicious Chinese place.  I had this caramelized chicken that was incredible.  His curry chicken was blech, but the eggrolls were super fabulous.  I love food...


Our poor apartment is looking so empty.  We took down all the wall hangings, light fixtures, and curtains and it's so bare.  We are waiting for our friends to get an apartment in the next two weeks and then will move all of our furniture into their house.  

Here is what our office currently looks like.  A mEsS!  We have so many piles.  Piles to give away, piles to sell, piles to take home, and everything is just on hold so it's super annoying.  We are taking home a lot of north african stuff to decorate the nursery with.  We are leaving most of our clothes so that's nice.  I can't wait to be out of our apartment and not stressed about all this stuff.  

This week was pretty lame in picture taking so this is the only decent pic I got of us.  No good belly shots so you'll have to wait until next week!  But trust me, I am bigger.  

We got some cute shots of BG at our sixth month appointment this week.  She is so sweet!  She always has her hand on her head or in front of her face so it was hard to get a good face shot.  This is profile shot with her hands and feet in front of her face.  Can you tell?

This one is pretty much directly on the face.  The good news is I had my gestational diabetes test this week and I passed!  Phew!  One less thing to worry about.  She was measuring a little big for her age at 1.6 pounds which put my due date a week earlier.  I am totally okay with that.  As long as she makes it to 37 weeks it doesn't really matter b/c she is considered full term.  The doc also gave me some magnesium and Vitamin B supplements to help with the Braxton Hicks contractions.  

Well that's about all I got this week. OH, we ordered some Verizon cell phones and service that will be waiting for us when we get back.  So weird!   

God Bless America!

Happy 4th Everybody!  Although there were no flags, parades or fireworks we did enjoy spending the day with our American friends in a nearby city.  It was a 4th of July/Going away Garrett's party and it was good to start our goodbyes.  We have to be out of our apartment in three weeks and then we will stay in a guesthouse the last several days.  Our flight leaves July 31st and we have tickets in hand!

We had a whole array of American food:  hot dogs, hamburger, baked beans, potato salad, deviled eggs, watermelon, jello, and tons of desert!  As the guests of honor we got to eat first and I was so stuffed I felt dee-sgusting!  

Random Photo of the week:  "Excuse me sir, where are you going with that giant air mattress on a bike that you and your friend are sharing?"  To the beach of course!  You gotta have somewhere comfy to lay down don't ya?  We turned the corner and sure enough the kids were off the bike and the mattress was on the ground.  

BG Update:
Ha ha!

Here is an image of what BG looks like swimming around in there.  Except I am pretty sure she has more room b/c she does not stay in one position.  She moves all over the place!  Technically if BG was born this week she would have a chance of survival.  I'd rather her get nice and plump before we meet her!

-Cody finally felt her move on Friday!  We were watching a movie and he just kept his hand there until she kicked her Daddy.  

-I am already feeling Braxton Hicks contractions.  I read that it's not strange for short, petite girls to feel them early and often.  My whole stomach gets tight (doesn't hurt) for awhile and then relaxes.  

-My uterus reaches about two inches above my navel so she is really getting high

-This Friday I have my 24 week appointment so this may be the last time to see the baby in 4D

-Here is the three of us last night after a double date to an Italian place.  I ate so much then woke up in the middle night so sick.  (shouldn't have got the combo platter with three different pastas and raviolis with shrimp and salmon...yikes!)  I look huge with cody sitting down but if he stands up his head is out of the pic :)